List of monastic houses in Lancashire

Barnoldswick Abbey
Beaumont Grange
Burscough Priory
Cockerham Priory
Cockersand Abbey
Heysham Monastery(?)
Hornby Priory
LANCASTER (see below)
Lytham Priory
Penwortham Priory
Preston Friary (approx.)
Sawley Abbey
Staining Grange
Tulketh Priory (approx.)
Upholland Priory
Whalley Abbey
Wyresdale Abbey (approx. traditionally)
Locations of monastic houses in Lancashire
Blackfriars
Greyfriars (approx.)
Lancaster Priory
Locations of monastic houses in Lancaster

The following is a list of monastic houses in Lancashire, 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
Barnoldswick Abbey Cistercian monks
daughter of Fountains, Yorkshire;
founded 19 May 1147;
transferred to Kirkstall, Yorkshire 1152, thereafter retained as a grange;
currently located in a field called 'Monk's Royd'		 Mount St Mary's Abbey [1][2]

53°55′00″N 2°11′45″W / 53.9167534°N 2.1957421°W
Beaumont Grange Savignac monks
dependent on Furness (Cumbria)
founded c.1130: granted by Warine;
a 'large and important colony';
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147		 [3]

54°04′47″N 2°47′13″W / 54.0796255°N 2.7869385°W
Burscough Priory
Burscough		 Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1186 (c.1190) by Robert Fitz Henry, Lord of Lathom and Knowsley probably for canons from Norton;
dissolved 1536		 St Nicholas
____________________
probably Blakesmere Priory[note 1] 		[4][5]

53°34′59″N 2°51′23″W / 53.5830985°N 2.8562897°W
Cartmel Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cumbria
Chapel-le-Wood Cell Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cumbria
Cockerham Priory # Augustinian Canons Regular
cell of St Mary in the Meadows (de Pratis) at Leicester;
founded c.1207 or 1208: granted to Leicester 1153-4 by William de Lancaster;
cell 1281-90, secular chaplain appointed — most of the canons withdrawn;
dissolved 1477		 [6][7]

53°57′36″N 2°49′14″W / 53.9599583°N 2.8204769°W
Cockersand Abbey land granted to Leicester 1153-6 by William I of Lancaster;
Hospital of St Mary
founded before 1184 by Hugh Garth, hermit, with benefactions from William of Lancaster II;
Premonstratensian Canons
cell dependent on Croxton, Leicestershire;
priory refounded after 1184 by William of Lancaster (Lancastre)
raised to abbey status 1192, continuing as a hospital;
dissolved 29 January 1539; granted to John Kechin (Kitchen) 1543/4;
now in private ownership of the Dalton family		 St Mary
____________________
Thurnham Abbey 		[8][9]

53°58′36″N 2°52′28″W / 53.976723°N 2.874581°W
Conishead Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cumbria
Furness Abbey Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cumbria
Hawkshead Grange Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cumbria
Heysham Monastery(?) # suggested early monastic settlement;
14th-15th century church of St Peter built on site, incorporating pre-Conquest remains 800-950		 [10]

54°02′51″N 2°54′07″W / 54.047434°N 2.9018819°W
Hornby Priory # possible hospital 1160-1172;
Premonstratensian Canons
cell daughter of Croxton, Leicestershire;
founded c.1172(?) by a member of the Montbegons of Hornby (the ancestors of Sir Thomas Stanley) probably by Roger de Motgebon III[note 2];
dissolved September 1538; granted to Lord Montegle 1544/5		 St Wilfrid
____________________
Horneby Priory 		[11][12]

54°06′55″N 2°38′53″W / 54.1154066°N 2.6481235°W
Kersal Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Greater Manchester
Lancaster Blackfriars Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of York)
founded 1259/60 by Sir Hugh Harrington;
dissolved 1539; granted to John Polcroft 1540/1		 [13][14]

54°02′53″N 2°47′48″W / 54.0481867°N 2.7967232°W
Lancaster Greyfriars Franciscan Friars
some evidence of short-lived house[note 3], precise site and dates of foundation and dissolution unknown		 [15]

54°03′04″N 2°48′39″W / 54.0512353°N 2.8109282°W (approx)
Lancaster Priory Benedictine monks
founded c.1094 by Earl Roger of Poictiers (Roger, Earl of Poitiers);
alien house: dependent on Séez;
dissolved 1428		 St Mary [16][17]

54°03′03″N 2°48′22″W / 54.050739°N 2.805990°W
Lytham Priory Benedictine monks
cell dependent on Durham;
founded 1189-94[note 4] (1191-4[note 5]) by Richard Fitz Rogers;
dissolved 1535 (1534); granted to Sir Thomas Holcroft;
demolished;
17th century country house built on site		 St Mary and St Cuthbert
____________________
Lythom Priory 		[18][19]

53°44′39″N 2°58′37″W / 53.74413°N 2.9768604°W
Marland Grange Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Greater Manchester
Penwortham Priory Benedictine monks
founded c.1104 (between 1104 and 1122[note 6]) by the bounty of Warine Bussel;
dissolved c.1535; granted to John Fleetwood 1542/3		 [20][21]

53°45′14″N 2°43′33″W / 53.7538085°N 2.7257875°W
Preston Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)
founded 1256(?) c.1260 by Edmond, Earl of Lancaster;
dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas Holcroft 1540/1		 [22][23][24][25][26]

53°45′35″N 2°42′11″W / 53.7598498°N 2.703108°W (approx)
Sawley Abbey Cistercian monks — from Newminster, Northumberland
daughter of Newminster;
founded probably 6 January 1147 by William de Percy, monks probably arrived 1 January 1148;
dissolved 1536; EH		 Salley Abbey;
Sallay Abbey 		[27]

53°54′48″N 2°20′31″W / 53.913341°N 2.341857°W
Staining Grange Cistercian monks
grange of Stanlow, Cheshire, then of Whalley;
founded before 1240		 [28]

53°49′04″N 2°59′10″W / 53.8176733°N 2.986055°W
Tulketh Priory Sauvignac monks
founded 4 July 1124 by Stephen, Count of Boulogne;
transferred to Furness (Cumbria) 1127		 [29]

53°45′56″N 2°46′19″W / 53.7654563°N 2.7719879°W (approx)
Upholland Priory + chantry and collegiate chapel
founded 1307-10;
Benedictine monks/friars?
founded 1319 (1318) by Walter Langton, Bishop of Lichfield;
dissolved 1536; granted to John Holcroft 1545/6;
remains incorporated into the Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr		 Holand Friary [30][31]

53°32′24″N 2°43′14″W / 53.5399376°N 2.7204573°W
Warburton Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Greater Manchester
Warrington Austin Friars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Whalley Abbey Cistercian monks — from Stanlow, Cheshire
daughter of Combermere, Cheshire;
(community founded at Stanlow 11 November 1172);
transferred here 1296, founded 4 April 1296;
dissolved 10 March 1537; granted to Richard Assheton and John Braddyll 1553/4;
now in ownership of the Diocese of Blackburn		 The Blessed Virgin Mary
____________________
Locus Benedictus de Whalley Abbey 		[32][33]

53°49′14″N 2°24′38″W / 53.8204237°N 2.4104771°W
Wyresdale Abbey Cistercian monks — from Furness (Cumbria) and Savigny
founded 1193 (c.1196), site possibly granted by Theobald Walter who appropriated a church to the new foundation between 1193 and 1196;
transferred to Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, then to Abingdon, Co. Limerick;
traditionally the site is below the meeting of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, on the north bank of the Abbeystead reservoir		 [34]

53°58′53″N 2°40′25″W / 53.9814178°N 2.6735401°W (approx traditional location)

Glossary


Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Blakesmere — listed in "Chapters of Augustinian Canons" — probably reference to Burscough
  2. ↑ Horn by Priory — J. Tait, Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2, (1908), p.160
  3. ↑ Lancaster Greyfriars — though reference in "Notitia Monastica" is to the Dominican friary
  4. ↑ Lytham Priory — foundation according to Victoria County History
  5. ↑ Lytham Priory — foundation according to Dr. Diana Greenway: communications and references from Christopher N. L. Brooke
  6. ↑ Penwortham Priory — founded during the tenure of Abbot Robert at Evesham (1104-1122): Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2, p.127 (Chronicle de Evesham) and Florence of Worcester, ii, p.53, and others (communications and references from Christopher N. L. Brooke)

References

  1. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MOUNT ST MARYS ABBEY
  2. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: Kirkstall — Victoria County History: A History of the County of York: Volume 3 (pp.142-146)
  3. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BEAUMONT GRANGE
  4. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BURSCOUGH PRIORY
  5. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Burscough — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.148-152)
  6. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: COCKERHAM PRIORY
  7. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Cockerham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.152-153)
  8. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: COCKERSAND ABBEY
  9. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Cockersand — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.154-159)
  10. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ST PETERS CHURCH
  11. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: HORNBY PRIORY
  12. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Premonstratensian canons: The priory of Hornby — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.160-161)
  13. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Dominican friars, Lancaster — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.161-162)
  14. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LANCASTER BLACKFRIARS
  15. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LANCASTER GREYFRIARS
  16. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LANCASTER PRIORY
  17. ↑ British History Online — Alien house: The priory of Lancaster — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  18. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LYTHAM PRIORY
  19. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Lytham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.107-111)
  20. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: PENWORTHAM PRIORY
  21. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Penwortham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.104-106)
  22. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: PRESTON GREYFRIARS
  23. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Franciscan friars, Preston — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (p.162)
  24. ↑ A Timeline of Preston
  25. ↑ LAS 2009-2010 Programme
  26. ↑ History of Preston up to 1780
  27. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: SAWLEY ABBEY
  28. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: STAINING HALL AND SITE OF STAINING GRANGE
  29. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: FURNESS ABBEY
  30. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Upholland — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.111-112)
  31. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: UPHOLLAND PRIORY
  32. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WHALLEY ABBEY
  33. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Whalley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (pp.131-139)
  34. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Wyresdale — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 (p.131)