List of monastic houses in Cheshire

CHESTER (see below)
Combermere Abbey
Curzon Park Abbey
Darnhall Abbey
Mobberley Priory
Norton Priory
Poulton Abbey
Runcorn Priory
Saighton Grange
Stanlow Abbey
Stanney Grange (Cow Worth Grange)
Vale Royal Abbey
Warrington Austin Friars
Locations of monastic houses in Cheshire
Chester Abbey
Chester Cathedral Priory
Blackfriars
Franciscan Friary
Greyfriars
Friary of the Sack (site)
St Michael's Monastery
Whitefriars
Chester Priory (site)
Locations of monastic houses in Chester


The following is a list of monastic houses in Cheshire, England.

In this article alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and Hospitallers). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptory/commandery.

The name of the county is given where there is reference to an establishment in another county. Where the county has changed since the foundation's dissolution the modern county is given in parentheses, and in instances where the referenced foundation ceased to exist before the unification of England, the kingdom is given, followed by the modern county in parentheses.

The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from the details provided by English Heritage Pastscape and Ordnance Survey publications.

A Monastic Glossary follows the listing, which provides links to articles on the particular monastic orders as well as other terms which appear in the listing.

Abbreviations and key

The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus:
* indicates current monastic function
+ indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^ indicates current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
$ indicates remains limited to earthworks etc.
# indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
~ indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown
≈ identification ambiguous or confused

Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location)
or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented)
or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic appellation but lacking monastic connection.
Trusteeship denoted as follows:
EH English Heritage
LT Landmark Trust
NT National Trust

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names 		Online References & Location
Barrow Camera (?) Knights Hospitaller
church granted by Robert de Bachepuz[note 1];
considered to be a confusion with Barrow Camera in Derbyshire[note 2]		 Great Barrow Camera
Birkenhead Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Bromborough Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Chester Abbey + tradition of very early foundation disputed[note 3]
?nuns
founded before 875;
destroyed? in raids by the Danes 875;
secular canons
founded after 907, traditionally by Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred[note 4];
Benedictine monks
refounded as an abbey 1092/3 by Hugh I, Earl of Chester;
dissolved 1540; granted 1534/5;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 1541; extant		 The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Chester (-875)

The Abbey Church of Saint Werburgh, Chester

The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chester (1541) 		[1][2][3][4]

53°11′31″N 2°53′25″W / 53.191832°N 2.890193°W
Chester Abbey secular canons?
founded 689;
destroyed? in raids by the Danes after 875;
secular canons with associated anchorite cell;
(?re)founded c.906-7?;
part of the college of St John the Baptist;
dissolved 1547;
briefly episcopal diocesan cathedral, then co-cathedral with Coventry ?1072/5 until 1102;
in parochial use from 1102		 The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester (1072/5-1102) 		[5]

53°11′20″N 2°53′08″W / 53.189023°N 2.885461°W
Chester Blackfriars Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford)
founded before 1236 by Alexander Stavensby, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield;
dissolved 1538; granted to John Coke of London February 1544; site came into the possession of the Dutton family 1561		 [6][7]

53°11′17″N 2°53′43″W / 53.1880394°N 2.8953427°W
Chester Franciscan Friary * Capuchin Franciscan Friars [8]

53°11′16″N 2°53′35″W / 53.187771°N 2.8930199°W
Chester Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)
founded 1237/8 (1238-40) by Albert of Pisa;
dissolved 1537 (15 August 1538); granted to John Coke		 [9][10][11]

53°11′25″N 2°53′48″W / 53.19037°N 2.896625°W
Chester Friars of the Sack Friars of the Sack
founded before 1274;
dissolved 1284; community probably died out before 1300		 [12][13]

53°11′16″N 2°53′58″W / 53.1876826°N 2.8994572°W
Chester — St Michael's Monastery uncertain order
founded before 1162;[note 5];
Parish Church of St Michael, built 15th century; rebuilt by James Harrison 1849-50, currently in use as a Heritage Centre		 St Michael [14]

53°11′19″N 2°53′27″W / 53.1886582°N 2.8907347°W
Chester Whitefriars Carmelite Friars
founded 1279 (or before 1277) by Thomas Stadham; precinct granted 1289 to build their house;
dissolved 15 August 1538; granted to John Coke (Cokkes)		 [15][16]

53°11′18″N 2°53′39″W / 53.1883126°N 2.8940392°W
Chester Priory, earlier site Benedictine? nuns
founded before 1066;
dissolved before c.1140;
refounded on new site (see immediately below)		 St Mary
Chester Priory # Benedictine nuns
(community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) before 1066);
transferred here refounded c.1140 by Ranulph de Gernon (Randal), Earl of Chester;
dissolved 1537 (c.1540(?)); granted to Urian Brereton and son;
site excavated prior to construction of County Police Headquarters on site 1964		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Chester [17][18][19]

53°11′46″N 2°53′38″W / 53.1960921°N 2.894015°W
Combermere Abbey Savignac monks — from Savigny
founded 3 November 1133 by Hugh de Malbane, Lord of Nantwich;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147;
dissolved 1538; granted to William Cotton, Esq.		 The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Michael, Combermere [20]

52°59′38″N 2°36′46″W / 52.993906°N 2.612742°W
Curzon Park Abbey *, Chester Benedictine nuns
(community founded at Talacre, Wales, 1868);
transferred from Talacre 1988; extant		 The Abbey Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Curzon Park, Chester [21][22]

52°59′38″N 2°36′46″W / 52.993927°N 2.612756°W
Darnhall Abbey Cistercian monks — from Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
founded 14 January 1271 to February 1274 by Edward I;
transferred to new site at Vale Royal 1281		 The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Darnhall [23][24]

53°09′57″N 2°32′54″W / 53.1658614°N 2.5483292°W
Hilbre Island Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Mobberley Priory # Augustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1203-4 (c.1206) by Patrick of Mobberley;
annexed as a cell dependent on Rocester, Staffordshire 1228-40;
manor house built on site 1625 (replacing earlier, ruinous house)		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Wilfrid, Mobberley
____________________
Modberley Priory 		[25]

53°19′06″N 2°19′00″W / 53.318291°N 2.316683°W
Norton Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
(community founded at Runcorn c.1115);
transferred from Runcorn 1134 by William FitzWilliam third Baron of Halton;
raised to abbey status 1391 (1422) (early in the reign of Henry VI or sooner);
dissolved 1536; granted to Richard Brooke;
part converted into private mansion 1545;
demolished 1928;
now in ownership of Norton Priory Museum Trust open to public as a museum		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary at Norton
____________________
Norton Abbey 		[26][27]
Greene, pp. 2–3, 65–72.
Starkey, pp. 9, 35–40.

53°20′33″N 2°40′46″W / 53.342537°N 2.679403°W
Poulton Abbey Savignac monks — from Combermere
site granted to Combermere 1146;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147;
founded 1153[note 6] by Robert, butler to Ranulf II, Earl of Chester;
building possibly completed 12 May 1158;
transferred to new site at Dieulacres, Staffordshire 1214 due to incursions by the Welsh;
subsequently re-used as a monastic grange with chapel;
dissolved; granted to William Cotton, Esq. (Sir George Cotton) c.1544;
ruinous before 1672;
demolished before 1718		 St Mary and St Benedict
____________________
Pulton Priory;
Pulton Abbey 		[28][29][30]

53°07′09″N 2°53′33″W / 53.1190692°N 2.8925478°W
Runcorn Priory supposed monastic house[note 7]
founded c.912 by Æthelflaed of Mercia;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1115 by William FitzNigel second Baron of Halton;
transferred to new site at Norton 1134;
possibly on site now occupied by All Saints parish church		 St Mary and St Bertelin Greene, p. 1.
Starkey, p. 9.

53°20′37″N 2°44′12″W / 53.3435°N 2.73656°W
Saighton Grange Benedictine monks
mainly agricultural grange converted to residential grange of the abbots of Chester 15th century;
monastic site, apart from gatehouse, demolished 1861;
house built on site;
converted into a school named 'Abbey Gate College' 1977		 [31]

53°09′02″N 2°50′03″W / 53.1504219°N 2.8342795°W
Stanlow Abbey Cistercian monks — from Combermere;
founded 11 November 1172 by John FitzRichard, Constable and sixth Baron of Halton;
transferred to new site at Whalley, Lancashire 1296; retained in use as a cell/grange dependent on Whalley from c.1350(?) until 1442;
dissolved 1442?; granted to Sir Robert Cotton, Kt. c.1553;
no substantial remains, site inaccessible		 The Blessed Virgin Mary
____________________
Locus Benedictus de Stanlawe;
Stanlaw Abbey;
Stanlawe Abbey 		[32][33]

53°17′24″N 2°51′36″W / 53.2900108°N 2.8599724°W
Stanney Grange Cistercian monks
grange with resident monk, dependent on Stanlow and Whalley, Lancashire;
founded 1172		 Cow Worth Grange [34]

53°16′20″N 2°53′04″W / 53.2721813°N 2.8844315°W
Vale Royal Abbey Cistercian monks
(community founded at Darnhall 14 January 1274 to 1277);
transferred from Darnhall 1281;
never completed; a project of Edward I;
dissolved 1545; granted to Thomas Holcroft c.1543		 Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Nicholas and Saint Nicasius
____________________
Valeroyal Abbey 		[23]

53°13′29″N 2°32′33″W / 53.22476°N 2.542498°W
Warrington Austin Friars Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln)
founded before 1272? (built 1379?) on the site of an earlier hospital;
dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas Holcroft 1540/1;
church continued in use until 17th century		 [35]

53°23′13″N 2°35′37″W / 53.386923°N 2.5935325°W
Warburton Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Greater Manchester

Glossary


Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Barrow, Cheshire  founder: citing Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum vi, p.835 and T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica, also Ormerod, ii, p.186 and Victoria County History: A History of the County of Derby, Volume 2, p.75, n.3
  2. ↑ Barrow, Cheshire disputed - L. B. Larking, The Knights Hospitallers in England p.233
  3. ↑ Chester Abbey  T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica, p.57, considers the accounts of Chester Cathedral's foundation either in the time of King Lucius or the foundation of a nunnery by King Wulfhere for his daughter Werburg to be later fictions
  4. ↑ Chester Abbey: Christopher N. L. Brooke's communications consider this tradition is correct
  5. ↑ St Michael's Monastery, Chester: T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica p.62, cites Charter of Roger, Constable of Chester and that of Henry II to the Canons of Norton, and states in note i that Sir Peter Leycester, Historical Antiquities p.198, considers this to have been the parish church of St Michael
  6. ↑ Poulton Abbey foundation: Robert died 1153 — date given by W. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum; M. J. C. Fisher, referring to the Chronicle of Dieulacres, Grays Inn, manuscript no.9, f, 138 v. possiby indicates when building started
  7. ↑ Runcorn, foundation by Æthelflaed doubted by T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica p.59, note n.

References

  1. ↑ Houses of Benedictine monks — The abbey of Chester | A History of the County of Chester: Volume 3 (pp. 132-146)
  2. ↑ "Welcome to Chester Cathedral". Chestercathedral.com. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  3. ↑ "Chester Cathedral, Cheshire, U.K". Chester Tourist. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  4. ↑ "Chester Cathedral". Britainexpress.com. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
  6. ↑ "Friaries — The Dominicans of Chester | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  7. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHESTER BLACKFRIARS
  8. ↑ "Articles: 2. FRIARIES: CHESTER — Capuchin Franciscan Friars". Uk.ofmcap.pl. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "Friaries — The Franciscans of Chester | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  10. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHESTER GREYFRIARS
  11. ↑ http://www.capuchin-franciscans-gb.org.uk/chester-history.htm
  12. ↑ "Friaries — The Friars of the Sack | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  13. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHESTER FRIARY OF FRIARS OF THE SACK
  14. ↑ http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=69213
  15. ↑ "Friaries — The Carmelites of Chester | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  16. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHESTER WHITEFRIARS
  17. ↑ "House of Benedictine nuns — The priory of Chester | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  18. ↑ "Other Features". Cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  19. ↑ "English Monastic Archives". Ucl.ac.uk. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  20. ↑ "Houses of Cistercian monks — The abbey of Combermere | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  21. ↑ "Curzon Park Abbey — Title Page". Curzonpark.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  22. ↑ "English Benedictine Congregation — Curzon Park Abbey". Benedictines.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Houses of Cistercian monks — The abbey of Vale Royal | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  24. ↑ "Pastscape — Detailed Result: DARNHALL ABBEY". Pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  25. ↑ "Houses of Augustinian canons — The priory of Rocester | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  26. ↑ "House of Augustinian canons — The abbey of Norton | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  27. ↑ "Museum & Gardens". Norton Priory. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  28. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: POULTON ABBEY AND CHAPEL
  29. ↑ "Time Team 2007 — Poulton, Cheshire". channel4.com. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  30. ↑ "The Poulton Research Project". Poultonproject.org. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  31. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ABBEY GATE COLLEGE
  32. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: STANLOW ABBEY
  33. ↑ "RELIGIOUS HOUSES — Introduction | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  34. ↑ http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=69555
  35. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WARRINGTON AUSTIN FRIARY