Markby Priory

Markby Priory was a priory in the village of Markby, Lincolnshire, England.

It is believed the Augustinian Priory was founded during the reign of Henry II, although there is no mention of it before 1204.^[1][2] The founder, Ralf Fitz Gilbert, was already dead, and his lands in the possession of his grandson, Hugh. Another early benefactor was Alan of Mumby, who granted the Canons the church at Mumby and one at Wycliff, in Yorkshire.^[1] In 1438 the Bishop Alnwick made a visitation and recorded that this priory was in worse condition than any other in the County. The bishop prefaced his injunctions by saying that he had heard of many excesses here, both in religion and in the observation of rule, and in administration; and when he came he had found his worst expectations fulfilled, 'not even the shadow of religion,' he said, but debts, drinking, and suspicion of even worse sins.^[1] The prior allowed that his house was 100 marks in debt, and that silence was badly kept throughout the monastery, even in the church and cloister; that neither senior nor junior canons practised contemplation, and that one Thomas Dugby was suspected of sinful intercourse with a woman at Markby.^[1] The sub-prior also allowed that religion was not kept, and seconded the complaints of the prior; on the other hand, all the canons joined in complaining of the incompetence of the prior, and negligence of the sub-prior. It was generally allowed that the canons went out without leave, and ate and drank in the town; one indeed went to his mother's house every day, and was almost the same as an apostate. Two went constantly to taverns.^[1] Thomas Dugby confessed the sin of incontinence charged against him, and was put to penance. The Prior felt it best to resign.^[1] Things had improved somewhat by 1819 when Bishop Atwater visited, and found some irregularities but no great faults.^[1]

The last Prior was John Penketh. In 1534 there were eight Canons and the Prior, and the priory was dissolved at the first Act of Suppression in 1536.^[1]

The thatched church at Markby is believed to have been built of stone from the old priory, and the bell is believed to be the priorys refectory bell.^[3][4]

The site of the priory is now occupied by a 16th-century Grade II listed farmhouse.^[2][5]

References

Monasteries in Lincolnshire Augustinian Boston Austin Friars Bourne Abbey Elsham Priory Grimsby Abbey Grimsby Nunnery Grimsby Austin Friars Hough Priory Hirst Priory Kyme Priory Lincoln Austin Friars Markby Priory Newstead Priory Nocton Priory Stamford Austin Friars Thornholme Priory Thornton Abbey Thwaite Priory Torksey Priory Wilsford Priory Benedictine Alkborough Priory Bardney Abbey Barrow Monastery Bonby Priory Boston Priory Burwell Priory Covenham Priory Croyland Abbey Deeping St James Priory Freiston Priory Haugham Priory Henes Cell Humberston Abbey Ikanho monastery Lincoln - St. Mary Magdalen Priory Minting Priory North Hykeham Priory Partney Cell Repingas Monastery Sandtoft Priory Skendleby Priory Spalding Priory Stainfield Priory Stamford All Saints' College Stamford Cell in Burghley Park Stamford - St Leonard's Priory Stixwould Priory Stow Abbey Throckenholt Priory Wilsford Priory Winghale Priory Brothers of Penitence Lincoln Friars of the Sack Stamford Friars of the Sack Carmelite Boston Whitefriars Lincoln Whitefriars Stamford Whitefriars Carthusian Axholme Priory Haugham Priory Cistercian Bytham Abbey Cammeringham Priory Fosse Priory Gokewell Priory Great Limber Priory, Limber Magna Greenfield Priory Haverholme Priory Kirkstead Abbey Knaith Priory Legbourne Priory Long Bennington Priory Louth Park Abbey Nuncotham Priory Revesby Abbey Stixwould Priory Swineshead Abbey Vaudey Abbey Crutched Friars Whaplode Friary Dominican Boston Blackfriars Lincoln Blackfriars Stamford Blackfriars Franciscan Boston Greyfriars Grantham Greyfriars Grimsby Greyfriars Lincoln Greyfriars Stamford Greyfriars Gilbertine Alvingham Priory Bridge End Priory Bullington Priory Catley Priory Haverholme Priory Lincoln - St. Catherine's Priory Newstead-on-Ancholme Priory North Ormsby Priory Sempringham Priory Sixhills Priory Tunstall Priory Knights Hospitaller Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Great Limber Preceptory, Limber Magna Maltby Preceptory Skirbeck Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory Knights Templar Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Horkstow Camera Lincoln Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory Premonstratensian Barlings Abbey Broadholme Priory Cammeringham Priory Hagnaby Abbey Newbo Abbey Newsham Abbey Orford Priory Stixwould Priory Tupholme Abbey West Ravendale Priory Savigniac Revesby Abbey Swineshead Abbey Tironensian Humberston Abbey Independent Partney Monastery Stamford Monastery St Æthelreda's nunnery, Stow Green Threekingham Nunnery

Coordinates: 53°17′05″N 0°13′48″E / 53.28478°N 0.2299°E / 53.28478; 0.2299