List of monastic houses in Worcestershire

Astley Priory
Beckford Priory
Bordesley Abbey
Bredon Monastery
Bredon Monastery (alleged site)
Cook Hill Priory
Dodford Priory
Droitwich Austin Friars
Evesham Abbey
Great Malvern Priory
Hanbury Monastery
Little Malvern Priory
Pershore Abbey
Stanbrook Abbey
Whistones Priory
Witton Priory
WORCESTER
Locations of monastic houses in Worcestershire


The following is a list of monastic houses in Worcestershire, 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
Alderminster Saxon minster Aldermannestun
Astley Priory Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on St-Taurin;
founded before 1086 by Ralph de Todeni;
dissolved 1414; granted to secular college of Westbury-upon-Trym;
granted to Sir Ralph Sadler by Henry VIII		 The Priory Church of Saint Peter, Astley [1][2]

52°18′03″N 2°19′26″W / 52.3006981°N 2.3240268°W
Beckford Priory Saxon minster
monks or secular collegiate
founded before 803;
probably absorbed into Worcester late-9th century;
Augustinian Canons Regular
alien house: dependent on Ste-Barbe-en-Auge, Normandy
founded between 1128 and 1135, granted to Ste-Barbe-en-Auge by Henry I Rabellus, the chamberlain of Normandy;
dissolved 1414;
lands granted to Eton College 1443;
granted to Sir Richard Lee 1547;
known as 'The Manor';
mansion named 'Salesian House' (also known as 'Beckford Hall') built on site 17th century; now in use as Roman Catholic College;
crypt alone remains of the monastic founded		 St Barbara
____________________
Beckford Cell;
Beccanford Priory 		[3][4]

52°01′18″N 2°02′09″W / 52.0216328°N 2.0357403°W
Blockley Monastery Former county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Gloucestershire
Bordesley Abbey Savignac monks — from Garendon, Leicestershire
founded 22 November 1138-1147 by Waleran de Beaumont, Count of Meuland and Worcester land apparently granted by Queen Matilda 1136;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147;
dissolved 17 July 1538;
now in ownership of Borough of Redditch		 [5][6]

52°19′00″N 1°56′02″W / 52.316789°N 1.9338727°W
Bredon Monastery Benedictine? monks
founded c.717: land granted to Eanulf (grandfather of King Offa) by King Ethelbald before 717;
apparently under Worcester by 844;
destroyed in raids by the Danes late-9th century;
mansion built 17th century allegedly on site		 St Peter [7][8]

52°01′21″N 2°07′05″W / 52.0223888°N 2.1180224°W
or
52°01′56″N 2°07′00″W / 52.032162°N 2.116574°W (alleged)
Cook Hill Priory Cistercian nuns
founded c.1180 (before 1198);
founded(/rebuilt(?)) purportedly by Isabel, Countess of Warwick;
dissolved 1538/9
remains incorporated into farmhouse and chapel 15th century		 [9][10]

52°12′47″N 1°55′26″W / 52.213024°N 1.923863°W
Daylesford Monastery Former county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Gloucestershire
Dodford Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
priory cell
founded 1184-6;
incorporated into Premonstratensian house at Halesowen 1332;
dissolved 1464;
Premonstratensian Canons
daughter of Halesowen
founded 1464, annexed by Halesowen;
dissolved 1538		 Blessed Virgin Mary [11]

52°21′12″N 2°06′04″W / 52.3532523°N 2.1012211°W
Droitwich Austin Friars # Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln)
founded 1331, license granted to Thomas Alleyn to build an oratory;
dissolved 1538		 [12]

52°16′14″N 2°08′37″W / 52.2704832°N 2.1435571°W
Dudley Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Evesham Abbey Benedictine monks
founded after/c.701 by St Egwyn, Bishop of Worcester;
collegiate 941 to c.970;
Benedictine monks
restored c.970 to c.975;
collegiate c.975 until c.995;
Benedictine nuns with regular priests or brethren
attached to the abbey
from unknown date until after c.1086;
Benedictine monks
restored c.995
dissolved 17 November 1539 (January 1540);
now within a public park		 St Mary and St Egwin [13][14]

52°05′28″N 1°56′48″W / 52.0910153°N 1.9467983°W
Fladbury Monastery land granted to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester by King Ethelred between 691 and 693);
later under Evesham until 714;
under Worcester until early-9th century;
parochial c.888?
Great Malvern Priory Benedictine monks
cell traditionally founded c.975 by Werstan;
hermit settlement?
founded before 1066;
Benedictine monks
founded c.1075 (1085);
dependent on Westminster, Middlesex;
dissolved 1539-40		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Michael, Great Malvern
____________________
Malvern Priory;
Malvern Major 		[15][16]

52°06′38″N 2°19′43″W / 52.110439°N 2.3286295°W
Halesowen Abbey Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Hanbury Monastery Saxon monastery
land granted to Abbot Colman by King Wulfhere (657-674);
merged into Worcester c.888?		 [17]

52°15′55″N 2°03′36″W / 52.2651633°N 2.060017°W
Kempsey Monastery Saxon monastery
founded before 799 (?802);
under Worcester by 799 (?802);
manor granted to the bishop of Worcester 847
Kidderminster Saxon minster
founded c.735, land granted to Cynebert by Æthelbald, King of Mercia 735;
under Worcester by 777;
dissolved after 816		 Stour-in-Usmere Minster;
Stourbridge Monastery
Little Malvern Priory Benedictine monks
dependent on Worcester;
founded c.1171 by Jocelin and Edred;
dissolved c.1537;
site now occupied by house named 'Little Malvern Court'		 The Priory Church of Saint Giles, Little Malvern

St Egidius
____________________
Malvern Minor Priory 		[18][19]

52°03′41″N 2°20′13″W / 52.0612908°N 2.3369443°W
Pershore Abbey + secular canons collegiate
founded c.689 by Oswald, nephew of Æthelred, King of Mercia;
then secular canons and nuns;
Benedictine monks
founded 972, King Edgar replaced the seculars and nuns with Benedictines c.970, confirmed 972;
dissolved 1539 (1539-40); granted to William and Francis Sheldon 1544/5; transepts and choir of conventual church retained for parochial use, continuing as the Parish Church		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Pershore

The Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Eadburga, Pershore
parochial portion also dedicated to the Holy Cross 		[20][21]

52°06′37″N 2°04′39″W / 52.1104061°N 2.0775747°W
Stanbrook Abbey Benedictine nuns
founded 1838;
transferred to Wass, North Yorkshire 2009		 The Abbey Church of Our Lady of Consolation, Callow End, Stanbrook [22][23]

52°08′49″N 2°14′33″W / 52.1469849°N 2.2425252°W
Westwood Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Whistones Priory,
Barbourne		 Cistercian nuns
founded 1537-40 (before 1255) by Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester;
dissolved 1536; granted to Richard Callowhile 1543/4; largely demolished soon after dissolution		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Barbourne
____________________
The White Ladies, Aston
House of Mary Magdalene;
White Ladies Nunnery 		[24][25]

52°12′01″N 2°13′27″W / 52.200226°N 2.2240877°W
Witton Priory +(?)
Droitwich		 Augustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1135 (late in the reign of Henry I or early in the reign of Stephen) by Peter Corbezun (later de Studley;
transferred to Studley c.1151 by Peter Corbezun;
conventual church possibly in parochial use as the Parish Church of St Peter-de-Witton		 St Mary the Virgin
____________________
Witton St Peter by Droitwich Priory 		[26]

52°15′38″N 2°08′41″W / 52.2605602°N 2.1446246°W
Worcester Blackfriars Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford)
founded 1347 by William Beauchamp, Lord of Emley;
dissolved 1538; surrendered to Richard Ingworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to the bailiffs and citizens of Worcester 1539/40		 [27][28]

52°11′37″N 2°13′28″W / 52.193487°N 2.2245075°W
Worcester Friars of the Sack Friars of the Sack
founded before 1272;
dissolved 1284		 [29][30]

52°11′03″N 2°13′15″W / 52.1840476°N 2.2207966°W
Worcester Greyfriars, earlier site Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)
founded c.1226
transferred to new site (see immediately below) 1236/9		 <noinclude>
Worcester Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)
(community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) c.1226)
transferred here 1236/9 by Charles of Warwick;
dissolved 4 August 1538, surrendered to Richard Ingworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to the bailiffs and citizens of Worcester 1539/40; refectory/great hall in use as a gaol 1782		 [31][32]

52°11′25″N 2°13′06″W / 52.1901574°N 2.2183371°W
Worcester Penitent Sisters Friary Penitent Sisters
founded before 1240-1, oaks granted by Henry III;
dissolution unknown		 [33]
Worcester Trinitarians? Trinitarians
no evidence for Trinitarians in Worcester[note 1]

<noinclude>

[34]
Worcester Cathedral Priory + Benedictine? monks and Benedictine? nuns
founded before 743, received a grant from Æthelbald, King of Mercia;
secular canons collegiate
9th century;
Benedictine monks
founded 969;
monastic and episcopal diocesan cathedral built 983 by St Oswald; see transferred from St Peter's (see immediately below);
dissolved 18 January 1540, monks expelled, replaced by secular canons;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 1540; extant		 The Cathedral and Priory Church of Saint Mary, Worcester

The Cathedral and Priory Church of Saint Mary, Saint Peter, Saint Oswald and Saint Wulfstan (1218)

The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester 		[35][36][37]

52°11′19″N 2°13′15″W / 52.188510°N 2.220870°W
Worcester Cathedral St Peter's Priory Benedictine? monks and secular canons
monastic and episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 680;
secular canons
9th century to 969;
see transferred to St Mary's (see immediately above) 969;
Benedictine monks
refounded 974-7		 [35][38]

52°11′17″N 2°13′17″W / 52.1880099°N 2.2213921°W

The following location lacks monastic connection:

The Priory, Pebworth (Broad Marston Priory) — 17th century chapel, converted into cottage houses on a site associated with Evesham Abbey[39][40]


Glossary


Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Worcester Trinitarians - cited by W. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, vi p.1565; Victoria County Histories, A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2, p. 173 indicates there is no evidence of Trinitarians in the city, Dugdale's reference in appears to be to the chantry of the Holy Trinity

References

  1. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ASTLEY PRIORY
  2. ↑ British History Online — Alien house: Priory of Astley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.180-182)
  3. ↑ "Pastscape — Detailed Result: SALESIAN HOUSE". Pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  4. ↑ Alien houses — The priory of Beckford | A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 2 (pp. 102)
  5. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BORDESLEY ABBEY
  6. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: Abbey of Bordesley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.151-154)
  7. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 117896
  8. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 117889
  9. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: COOKHILL PRIORY
  10. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian nuns: Priory of Cookhill — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.156-158)
  11. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: DODFORD PRIORY
  12. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: DROITWICH AUSTIN FRIARY
  13. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: EVESHAM ABBEY
  14. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Evesham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.112-127)
  15. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: GREAT MALVERN PRIORY
  16. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of Great Malvern — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.136-143)
  17. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 118413
  18. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LITTLE MALVERN PRIORY
  19. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of Little Malvern — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.143-147)
  20. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: PERSHORE ABBEY
  21. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Pershore — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.127-136)
  22. ↑ English Benedictine Congregation - Stanbrook Abbey
  23. ↑ Stanbrook Abbey
  24. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WHISTONES PRIORY
  25. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian nuns: Priory of Whistones — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.154-156)
  26. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WITTON PRIORY
  27. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WORCESTER BLACKFRIARS
  28. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  29. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WORCESTER FRIARY OF FRIARS OF THE SACK
  30. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  31. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WORCESTER GREYFRIARS
  32. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  33. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  34. ↑ British History Online — Friaries: Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.167-173)
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Worcester Cathedral welcomes you to their Website
  36. ↑ Redirecting
  37. ↑ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of St Mary, Worcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 2 (pp.94-112)
  38. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: WORCESTER CATHEDRAL
  39. ↑ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BROAD MARSTON PRIORY
  40. ↑ The Priory — Pebworth — Worcestershire — England | British Listed Buildings