List of monastic houses in North Yorkshire

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

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 (Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included where they had the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptor/commandery.

Abbreviations and key

Status of remains

Symbol	Status
None	Ruins
*	Current monastic function
+	Current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^	Current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
$	Remains limited to earthworks etc.
#	No identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
~	Exact site of monastic foundation unknown
≈	Identification ambiguous or confused

Locations with names in italics indicate possible duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic name but lacking actual monastic connection.

Trusteeship

EH	English Heritage
LT	Landmark Trust
NT	National Trust

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	OnLine References & Location
Allerton Mauleverer Priory		Benedictine monks cell, dependent on Holy Trinity York; founded after 1100 by Richard Malleverer; alien house, dependent on Marmoutier c.1110; dissolved c.1414; granted to King's College, Cambridge; foundation possibly associated with the 12thC rebuilding of St Martin's parish church	St Martin	54°00′27″N 1°22′33″W
Arden Priory		Benedictine nuns probably founded before 1147 by Peter de Hoton (Hutton), confirmed by his lord, Roger de Mowbray; with regular priests or brethren from unknown date to after 1306; dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Culpeper 1540/1	St Andrew	54°18′37″N 1°12′11″W
Basedale Priory		Cistercian nuns (community founded at Hutton c.1162); transferred from Nunthorpe c.1189: granted land here by Guy de Bovincourt; with regular priests or brethren from before 1197 to after 1239; dissolved 1539; granted to Ralph Bulmer and John Thynde 1544/5	St Mary Baysdale Priory; Base Dale Hoton Priory	54°27′07″N 1°02′40″W
Begar Priory, nr. Richmond		Cistercian monks alien cell or grange(?), dependent on Bégard; founded between 1216 and 1272 (during the reign of Henry III); dissolved c.1414; granted to Eton College
Bolton Priory +		Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on Huntingdon; (community founded at Embsay 1120); transferred from Embsay 1154-5 (1151, or 1150-9) with the consent of Alice de Rumilly, patroness; founded 1154; independent 1194/5; dissolved 29 January 1540; granted to Henry, Earl of Cumberland 1541/2; part of church now in parochial use as the Parish Church of St Mary	The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Cuthbert, Bolton Bolton Abbey	53°59′02″N 1°53′18″W
Byland Abbey		Cistercian monks (community founded at Hood 1138); transferred from Stocking 30 October 1177; dissolved 1539; granted to William Pykering 1540/1; (EH)	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Byland	54°12′12″N 1°09′31″W
Coverham Abbey ^		Premonstratensian Canons daughter of Durford(?), West Sussex; (community founded at Swainby before 1188 (c.1187)); transferred from Swainby 1197-1202, built by Ralph Fitz Robert, Lord of Middleham; dissolved 1536; part of abbey guest-house incorporated into a house	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary of Charity, Coverham Corham Abbey	54°16′20″N 1°50′19″W
Cowton Grange		Cistercian monks grange dependent on Fountains; founded before 1145
Crayke Monastery		site granted to St Cuthbert by King Egfrith of Northumbria 685; became a monastery no later reference
Drax Priory $		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1130-9 by William Paynel; dissolved 24 August 1535; granted to Sir Marmaduke Constable 1538/9	St Nicholas	53°44′52″N 0°59′24″W
Easby Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons - from Newhouse, Lincolnshire founded 1152 (1151) by Roald, Constable of Richmond Castle; dissolved 1536/7; (NT)	The Abbey Church of Saint Agatha, Easby	54°23′53″N 1°43′00″W
East Cowton Preceptory		Knights Templar founded c.1142, benefactor Roger Mowbray; dissolved 1308-12; Knights Hospitaller maintained a chaplain here, with no preceptory c.1338		54°25′17″N 1°31′25″W
Ellerton in Swaledale Priory		Cistercian nuns founded 1170 (during the reign of Henry II), built by Warnerus Dapifer, Earl of Richmond; dissolved 1538-9; granted to John Aske 1541/2; became part of the manor of Ellerton; now in private ownership without public access	St Mary Ellerton Priory; Elreton Priory	54°22′19″N 1°52′45″W
Embsay Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded late-1120/early-1121 by William Meschin and his wife Cecilia de Rumilly; transferred to Bolton 1154-5 (1151, or 1150-9); quarried for use in Embsay Kirk, built c.1780, and a number of outhouses		53°59′07″N 1°59′06″W
Fors Abbey		Savignac monks daughter of Byland; founded 1145, land granted by Acharius Fitz Bardolph (Akarius fitz Bardolf) Cistercian monks orders merged 17 September 1147; joined by monks from Stocking 10 March 1150; later boarded at Stocking; transferred to Jervaulx 1156 by Conan, Duc de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond; became an estate of Jervaulx, known as 'Dale Grange'; 13thC window incorporated into outbuilding of Chantry Farm	de Caritate	54°18′46″N 2°06′05″W
Foulbridge Preceptory		Knights Templar founded before 1226; dissolved 1308-12; Knights Hospitaller apparently intended to maintain preceptory here; secular bailiff 1338		54°12′12″N 0°36′01″W
Fountains Abbey		Cistercian monks founded 27 December 1132; dissolved 26 November 1539; granted to Sir Richard Gresham 1540/1; (NT)		54°06′36″N 1°34′52″W
Gisborough Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1119 by Robert de Brus; dissolved 1540; granted to Sir Robert Chaloner 1561/2; (EH)	St Mary Giseburne Priory	54°32′11″N 1°02′53″W
Grosmont Priory		Grandmontine monks alien house, dependent on Grandmont; founded c.1204, site granted by Johanna, daughter of William Fossard; became denizen c.1394-5; dissolved 1536; granted to Edward Wright 1543/4	St Mary	54°26′26″N 0°43′28″W
Handale Priory		possibly initially Benedictine nuns (if so, no record of when order changed) Cistercian nuns founded 1133 (1139) by William fitz Richard de Percy of Dunsley; dissolved 1539; granted to Ambrose Beckwith 1543/4	St Mary Grendale Priory	54°31′52″N 0°52′51″W
Healaugh Park Priory		hermitage founded between 1160 and 1184, land granted to Gilbert, monk of Marmoutier by Bertram Haget, confirmed by his son Geoffrey, witnessed by Clement, Archbishop of York; Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1218 by Alice, granddaughter of Bertram Haget and wife of Jordan de S Maria; dissolved 1535; granted to James Gage 1539/40; remains incorporated into buildings of Manor House Farm	St John the Evangelist Healaugh Priory; Helagh Park Priory	53°54′40″N 1°15′45″W
Hood Abbey		hermitage before 1138; Savignac monks - from Furness via Calder daughter of Furness; founded 1138, land granted by Roger de Mowbray; transferred to [Old] Byland 1143; Augustinian Canons Regular - from Bridlington temporary establishment whilst new abbey at Newburgh was under construction, 1143-45; became grange of Newburgh; dissolved 1539; farmhouse built on site		54°14′03″N 1°13′39″W
Hutton Priory		Cistercian nuns founded c.1162 by Ralph de Nevill transferred to Nunthorpe c.1167; apparently medieval, possibly monastic remains incorporated into house called 'Home Farmhouse'		54°30′32″N 1°05′25″W
Jervaulx Abbey		Cistercian monks from Fors daughter of Byland; (community founded as Savignac at Fors 1145); founded here 1156 by Conan, Duc de Bretagne, Duke of Richmond; dissolved 1537; granted to Matthew, Earl of Lenox 1544/5; now in private ownership with public access	Joreval Abbey	54°16′01″N 1°44′15″W
Keldholme Priory		Cistercian nuns convent established 1142-3; priory founded 1154-66 (during the reign of Henry I) by Robert de Stuteville; dissolved August 1535; granted to Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland 1538/9; house built on site before 1695; modern house now on site	St Mary Duna Priory; Keldon Priory	54°16′00″N 0°54′56″W
Kirkham Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1122 by Walter Espec, Lord of Helmsley; planned after 1154 to convert to Cistercian as a daughter of Rievaulx with remaining Augustinians established in a new house in Linton, never transpired; dissolved 8 December 1539; granted to Henry Knyvet 1540/1; (EH)	Holy Trinity	54°04′59″N 0°52′37″W
Lastingham Abbey		monks - from Tilbury founded after 654 by St Cedd; destroyed in raids by the Danes c.870?; Benedictine monks founded 1078, old monastery granted to Whitby by the King; transferred to St Olave's, York before 1086; conventual church in parochial use from 1228, possibly incorporating remains of Saxon monastic church	St Mary Laestingaeu Monastery	54°18′16″N 0°52′57″W
Malton Priory +		Gilbertine Canons founded (c.)1150 (1147-54) by Eustace Fitz-John; dissolved December 1539; granted to Robert Holegate, Bishop of Llandaff 1540/1; part of church now in parochial use as the Parish Church of St Mary; claustral remains incorporated into house named 'Abbey House', built late-17thC	The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Old Malton Old Malton Priory	54°08′33″N 0°46′44″W
Marrick Priory		Benedictine nuns founded 1154-8 by Roger de Aske (de Asac), confirmed by Conan, Duc de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond; suggested as being Cistercian at some point; with regular priests or brethren from 12thC to 1252; nave used as conventual church, choir as parochial church; dissolved 17 November 40; granted to John Uvedale 1545/6; conventual remains incorporated into Marrick Priory farmhouse; now in private ownership without public access	St Mary Maryke Priory	54°22′32″N 1°53′54″W
Marton Priory $		Augustinian Canons Regular and Benedictine nuns double house founded between 1141 and 1154 (during the reign of Stephen) (or during the reign of Henty II) by Bertram de Bulmer; nuns transferred to Moxby before 1167; Augustinian Canons Regular from 1167; dissolved 1536; granted to Archbishop of York 1542/3	St Mary Virgin	54°07′04″N 1°06′30″W
Middlesbrough Priory		Benedictine monks priory cell, depedent on Whitby; founded c.1120-30, church of St Hilda granted to Whitby by Robert de Brus; dissolved before 1537; granted to Thomas Reve 1563/4; parish church of St Hilda possibly built on site	Middlesburgh Priory	54°34′59″N 1°14′02″W
Mount Grace Priory		Carthusian monks founded 1398 by Thomas de Holland, Earl of Kent and Duke of Surrey, license granted by the King; dissolved 1537; granted to Robert Strangeways 1540/1; (NT)	The Priory Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Mount Grace in Ingleby Mount Grace Charterhouse	54°22′48″N 1°18′36″W
Mount St John Preceptory		Knights Hospitaller founded c.1148, by (?)William Percy II; dissolved 1540; granted to the Archbishop of York 1542/3; current building of Mount St John built on site 1720		54°15′26″N 1°16′30″W
Moxby Priory $		Benedictine nuns - from Marton founded before 1167 (1158?), land granted by Henry II; Augustinian Canonesses before 1322; dissolved 1536	St John the Evangelist Moxby in Marton Priory	54°05′42″N 1°05′20″W
Newburgh Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular - from Bridlington via Hood founded 1142-3 (1150) by Roger de Mowbray, granted the church to canons from Bridlington temporarily established at Hood 1145; dissolved 1538; granted to Margaret Simpson and her son Anthony Bellasis	St Mary	54°10′53″N 1°10′13″W
Nun Appleton Priory #		Cistercian nuns founded c.1150 by Eustace de Merch and his wife Alice de St Quintin: lands granted to the prior and nuns; regular priests or brethren to 14thC; dissolved 1539; granted to Robert Darknall 1541/2	St Mary and St John the Evangelist	53°51′08″N 1°09′21″W
Nun Monkton		Benedictine nuns founded c.1145 (c.1147) by William de Arches and his wife Ivetta, confirmed by Henry Murdac, Archbishop of York; dissolved 1536; granted to John, Lord Latimer 1537/8; part of conventual church now in parochial use; site occupied by house built c.1660 for George Payler	The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Nun Monkton	54°00′53″N 1°13′15″W
Nunthorpe Priory		Cistercian nuns (community founded at Hutton c.1162); transferred here c.1167; transferred to Basedale c.1189		54°30′33″N 1°09′51″W
Old Byland Abbey		Savignac monks (community founded at Hood 1138); transferred from Hood 1143; transferred to Stocking 1147
Penhill Preceptory		Knights Templar founded c.1155 (c.1142) by Roger Mowbray; dissolved 1308-12; and passed to the Knights Hospitallers in a ruinous state 1328; site now within Temple Farm	The Chapel of Our Lady and St Catherine Temple Dowskar; Temple Dove Skar	54°17′40″N 1°56′48″W
Ribston Preceptory		Knights Templar chapel now part of Ribston Hall, now in private ownership
Greyfriars, Richmond		Franciscan Friars remains now within a public park
St. Martin's Priory, Richmond		Benedictine monks now in private ownership	The Priory Church of Saint Martin, Richmond
Rievaulx Abbey		Cistercian monks founded 1132; dissolved 1538 (EH)
Ripon Cathedral Priory +		-660 monks 661 secular canons 10thC? episcopal diocesan cathedral 1876-present	The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Wilfrid, Ripon
Rosedale Priory ^		Cistercian nuns remains incorporated into houses
Selby Abbey +		Benedictine monks founded c.1070-1039 in parochial use 1618-present	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Germain, Selby
Snainton Preceptory		Knights Templar
Stocking Abbey		Cistercian monks transferred from Hood Abbey 1147-1177 transferred to Byland 1177
Swainby Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons - from Newhouse, Lincolnshire founded before 1187 by Helewisia, daughter of Ranulph de Glanville, Justiciar of England; transferred to Coverham between 1196 (1197) and 1202 (1212-14); possibly retained as a grange thereafter	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary of Charity, Swainby	54°15′51″N 1°29′14″W
Temple Cowton Preceptory
Thicket Priory
Westerdale Preceptory
Wetherby Preceptories
Whitby Abbey		Benedictine monks founded 1078 built on the site of St. Hilda's monastery (EH)
Whitley Preceptory
Wykeham Abbey		Cistercian nuns
Yedingham Priory		Benedictine nuns
Augustinian Friary, York		Augustinian Canons Regular
Ampleforth Abbey *, York		Benedictine monks founded 1608-present	The Abbey Church of Saint Lawrence the Martyr, Ampleforth
Copmanthrope Preceptory, York			The Preceptory of Copmanthrope with the Castle Mills, York
Carmelite Friary, York		Carmelite Friars
Dominican Friary, York		Dominican Friars
Holy Trinity Priory, York		secular canons -1069 Benedictine monks founded 1089; dissolved 1538	The Priory Church of The Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York
Franciscan Friary, York		Franciscan Friars
St Anne's Monastic House, York *		Celtic Orthodox church
York Cathedral		secular canons episcopal diocesan cathedral 627-present	The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York
St Mary's Abbey, York		Benedictine monks founded 1080	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, York

Bibliography

• Binns, Alison (1989) Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 1: Dedications of Monastic Houses in England and Wales 1066–1216, Boydell
• Cobbett, William (1868) List of Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals, And Other Religious Foundations in England and Wales and in Ireland, Confiscated, Seized On, or Alienated by the Protestant "Reformation" Sovereigns and Parliaments
• Knowles, David & Hadcock, R. Neville (1971). Medieval Religious Houses England & Wales. Longman. ISBN 0582112303.
• Morris, Richard (1979) Cathedrals and Abbeys of England and Wales, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
• Thorold, Henry (1986) Collins Guide to Cathedrals, Abbeys and Priories of England and Wales, Collins
• Thorold, Henry (1993) Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland, Collins
• Wright, Geoffrey N., (2004) Discovering Abbeys and Priories, Shire Publications Ltd.
• English Cathedrals and Abbeys, Illustrated, Odhams Press Ltd.
• Map of Monastic Britain, South Sheet, Ordnance Survey, 2nd edition, 1954