List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
The following is a list of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire, England.
Listing
| Foundation | Image | Communities and provenance | Formal name or dedication and alternative names |
| Anglesey Priory ^, Lode, Cambridgeshire | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1135 by Henry I; initially established as a hospital; apparently becoming a priory c.1212 when endowed by Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester; dissolved before 7 August 1536; granted to John Hynde c.1538; remains incorporated into private house named 'Anglesey Abbey' 1591; | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas, Anglesey | |
| Barham Friary | Crutched Friars founded before 1272 apparently from Welnetham, Suffolk; later dependent on London; dissolved 1538; granted to Philip Paris c.1539, and later to John Millecent, Esq. chapel remained in use until house named 'Barham Hall' built on site 1830 | St Margaret ____________________ Barkham Priory; Bercham Priory | |
| Barnwell Priory, Cambridge | Augustinian Canons Regular transferred from St Giles, Castle Hill, Lode; refounded c.1112 by Pain Peverel; plundered by townsmen 1381 dissolved 11 November 1538; granted to Anthony Brown c.1546; granted to Edward, Lord Clinton c.1552; ruins thoroughly destroyed 1810 | St Giles and St Andrew | |
| Cambridge Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars founded before 1289; transferred to new site ' 1290 | ||
| Cambridge Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars transferred from earlier site ' 1290 by Geoffrey de Picheford | ||
| Cambridge Augustinian Priory, Castle Hill, Lode | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1092 by Picot, Lord of Bourn, Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and Hugolina, his wife; transferred to new site at Barnwell Priory c.1112 | St Giles | |
| Cambridge, Bethlehemite Friary | Bethlehemite Friars documented 1257 — probably never established | ||
| Cambridge Blackfriars | Dominican Friars founded before 1238 ; dissolved 1538; granted to Edward Erlington and Humphrey Metcalf c.1543; Emmanuel College built on site 1584 | ||
| Blackfriars, Cambridge * | Dominican Friars founded 1938; extant | The Priory of Saint Michael the Archangel, Cambridge | |
| Cambridge, Buckingham College Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on Crowland, Lincolnshire; transferred from Ely Hostel 1428; dissolved c.1540; refounded 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene | Monk's College | |
| Cambridge, Ely Hostel Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on Ely & others; founded 1321 for brothers studying at Ely; transferred to new site at Spaldyngs Inn ' | ||
| Cambridge, Border Hostel Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on Ely & others; transferred from Ely Hostel ' 1350 to Spaldyngs Inn ; transferred to new site at Cambridge, Buckingham College 1428 | ||
| Cambridge Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual founded c.1226, "by the bounty of Edward I", on the site of an old synagogue loaned to the Franciscans and adjoining land; rebuilt before 1330; dissolved 1538 ; sold to the executors of Lady Frances Sidney 1544/5; granted to Trinity College, Cambridge 1546; Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge founded on site 1595 | ||
| Cambridge Pied Friars | Pied Friars founded 1256 when some friars appear to have remained in the move of the Carmelites from Chesterton to Newnham; transferred to new site ' 1273 | ||
| Cambridge Pied Friars | Pied Friars 1256); transferred here between 1273 and 1279 on land bought 1273 by the proctor of the Order of Blessed Mary in England; dissolved after 1319 | ||
| Cambridge White Friars | Carmelite Friars ; transferred here 1249 via Newnham; dissolved 1538; granted to John Eyer c.1544 | ||
| Cambridge — Friars of the Sack | Friars of the Sack founded 1258 at the house of John le Rus, mayor of Cambridge, from funding by Edward I; intended by the Pope to be passed to the Gilbertines 1290, but plan abandoned because the friars were still in residence; granted to Peterhouse 1307; site now occupied by Fitzwilliam Museum | ||
| Cambridge — St Mary's Friars | Friars of St Mary founded c.1279 dissolved after 1319 | ||
| Cambridge — St Edmund's Priory | Gilbertine Canons founded before 1291, St Edmund's chapel granted by 'the bounty or gift of' B_ son of Walter; originally intended by the Pope to be located at the friary of the Sack, but it was still occupied; dissolved 1539; granted to Edward Ebrington and Humphrey Metcalf c.1543 | The Priory Church of Saint Edmund, Cambridge | |
| Cambridge — St Radegund's Priory | Benedictine nuns cell founded c.1133-8 by John de Cranden, Prior of Ely with endowment confirmed by Stephen; destroyed 1313, 1376 and 1389; dissolved 1496 for the founded of Jesus College, Cambridge, which currently occupies the site | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Radegund | |
| Chatteris Abbey | Benedictine nuns founded 1006-16 by Ednoth, Bishop of Dorchester with his sister Aelfwen ; destroyed 1306-10; dissolved 3 September 1538; granted to Edward, Lord Clinton c.1551 | The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chatteris ____________________ Chateris Abbey | |
| Chesterton Whitefriars | Carmelite Friars founded 1247 by Edward I and other nobles; transferred to new site at Newnham 1249 | ||
| Cherry Hinton | Bridgettine monks and nuns charter for founded 1406 — house never established | ||
| Chippenham Preceptory | Knights Hospitaller — under Clerkenwell, Middlesex founded 1184 by William de Mandeville, Earl of Essex; apparently annexed to Carbrook before 1489; dissolved 1535; granted to Sir Edward North 1540/1 | ||
| Denny Abbey | Benedictine monks cell dependent on Ely; founded 1159 by Robert, Chamberlain of Conan IV, Duke of Brittany; Knights Templar preceptory founded 1169; became hospital-preceptory c.1170; dissolved 1308; committed to Master Roger of Wingfield 3 June 1309; Franciscan nuns refounded 1423 by Mary de St Pol, Countess of Pembroke on the site of a cell of Ely; dissolved before 28 October 1539; granted to Edward Erlington 1540, though nuns apparently continued to be in occupation to 1547; estate exchanged for other land owned by the King; in Crown ownership; passed to City of London 1628 to offset the debts of the King; converted to farmhouse 18th century; many changes of hands 17th-19th century; estate bought by Pembroke College and vested it into the care of the Ministry of Works 1947; part of the Farmland Museum since 1997; | The Abbey Church of Saint James and Saint Leonard, Denny ; The Nunnery of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Clare ; ____________________ Denney Abbey; Denney Preceptory | |
| Duxford Preceptory | Knights Templar founded 1273; committed to Master Roger of Wingfield 3 June 1309; passed to Knights Hospitaller by John le Clerk of Wilbraham 21 December 1313, though no preceptory or camera was maintained there; sacked 15 June 1381 during the Peasants' Revolt; 16th century Temple Farm on site | Duxford Temple | |
| Eltisley Priory | Benedictine nuns founded 9th century; apparently destroyed in raids by the Danes c.870; Benedictine nuns founded before 1066; dissolved before 1087 | ||
| Ely Cathedral Priory + | ?nuns founded c.673; destroyed by the Danes 870; secular canons refounded 9th century; Benedictine monks founded 970; dissolved 1539; episcopal diocesan cathedral founded 1109; extant | The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Etheldreda The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity and Saint Etheldreda | |
| Fordham Priory # | Gilbertine Canons founded before 1227, built by Henry, Dean of Fordham with endowments by Hugh Malebisse; dissolved 1 September 1538; granted to Philip Parry 1540/1; site now occupied by private house named 'Fordham Abbey' | The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Mary Magdalene, Fordham | |
| Great Wilbraham Preceptory | Knights Templar founded 1170; dissolved 1308-12; Knights Hospitaller founded 1312; dissolved c.1350 house named 'Wilbraham Temple' built on or near preceptory site 17th century | Wilbraham Temple | |
| Hinchingbrook Priory | Benedictine nuns founded before 1087 purportedly by William the Conqueror to replace Eltisely; dissolved 1536; granted to Richard Williams 1537/8; remains incorporated into 16th century Hinchingbrooke House built on site | The Priory Church of Saint James, Hinchinbrook The Priory of Saint James without Huntingdon | |
| Horningsea Monastery | early Saxon monastery destroyed in raids by the Danes 870 | Biggin Abbey | |
| Holme Friary | unknown order documented 1260 | ||
| Huntingdon Austin Friars # | Augustinian Friars founded August 1258; destroyed 1286; rebuilt dissolved 1539; Cromwell House built on site: birthplace of Oliver Cromwell | St Mary | |
| Huntingdon Priory, earlier site | Benedictine monks dependent on Thorney; founded before 973 by King Edgar; dissolved before 1086; transferred to new site out of the town '; church granted to that new priory | ||
| Huntingdon Priory | Benedictine monks transferred from earlier site '; Augustinian Canons Regular 1086-91; possible secular college 1087-1106; Augustinian Canons Regular refounded c.1108; dissolved 11 July 1538 | St Mary | |
| Ickleton Priory # | Benedictine nuns founded 1190 by Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Oxford ; dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Goodrich, Bishop of Ely 1538/9 now on site of Abbey Farm | The Priory Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Ickleton ____________________ Ikelington Priory | |
| Isleham Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: daughter of St-Jacut-de-Mer; founded 1086 ; monks moved 1254 to sister cell at Linton; dissolved 1414; granted to Pembroke College, Cambridge which converted the church into a barn and demolished the monastery; | The Priory Church of Saint Margaret of Antioch, Isleham ____________________ Isleham Cell | |
| Linton Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: daughter of St-Jacut-de-Mer: granted before 1163 "by gift of an ancestor of Alan, son of Ferlant"; monks transferred from Isleham, 1254; granted to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge; conventual until 1414; restored late-19th century | St Mary the Virgin | |
| Marmont Priory | Gilbertine Canons founded before 1204 by Ralph de Hauvill; referred to as a cell of Watton 1535; dissolved 1538; granted to Percival Bowes and John Mosyer 1567/8; | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Marmont ____________________ Mirmaud Priory; Marmonde Priory; Welle Priory; Welles Priory; Upwell Priory | |
| Newnham Whitefriars | Carmelite Friars ; transferred 1249 from Chesterton; site granted by Michael Malherb; occupied until c.1292; transferred to new site in Milne Street, Cambridge | ||
| Oxney Priory | Benedictine monks priory cell dependent on Peterborough; founded before 1272; dissolved 1538 | St Mary | |
| Peterborough Abbey + | Saxon monastery founded c.655, built by Saxulf, a monk, and Peada, King of Mercia and his brother Wulfhere; monks 655-6; Benedictine? monks refounded? c.673 destroyed in raids by the Danes 870, derelict to c.966; Benedictine monks refounded c.966; rebuilt 966-72 by Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester with King Edgar and St Dunstan dissolved 29 November 1539; episcopal diocesan cathedral founded 1540; extant | The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, Peterborough ____________________ Medeshamstede Abbey Peterburgh Abbey | |
| Ramsey Abbey | Benedictine monks founded 969, site offered by Aethelwine to St Oswald, Bishop of Worcester; dissolved 22 November 1539; church modified and incorporated into mansion named 'Ramsey House' built c.1600; in use as a comprehensive school from mid-1980s; | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Benedict, Ramsey | |
| St Ives Priory | Benedictine monks priory cell dependent on Ramsey founded c1017 by Earl Adelmus; church dedicated by Bishop Siward dissolved 1539; house built on site | St Ive | |
| St Neots Priory | Benedictine monks cell dependent on Ely; founded 974 by Earl Alric and his wife Ethelfleda; cell of Bec-Hellouin 1113; new church dedicated 1113; independent 1412; dissolved 1539; site currently occupied by Market Place car park | The Priory Church of Saint Neot, St. Neots ____________________ Eynesbury Priory | |
| Sawtry Abbey | Cistercian monks — from Warden, Bedfordshire; founded 1147 by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton; dissolved 1536-37 | The Blessed Virgin Mary ____________________ Sawtrey Abbey | |
| Shingay Preceptory | Knights Hospitaller founded 1144-62 Walter, first prior of the Hospitallers in England on land purportedly granted by Sibylla de Raynes and the Earl of Gloucester; Sisters of St. John nuns' cell removed to Sisters of St John Priory, Buckland, Somerset c.1180; dissolved; granted to Richard Longe 1540/1 | Shengay Preceptory | |
| Soham Monastery | Saxon monks founded c.630 or 631 by St. Felix, first bishop of the East Saxons ; destroyed in raids by the Danes 870 or 871; parish church of St Andrew purportedly occupies the site | Seham Monastery | |
| Spinney Abbey | Augustinian Canons Regular founded between 1216 and 1228 by Hugh de Malebisse and Beatrix his wife; dependent on Ely 1449; Benedictine monks 1449; dissolved 1538; granted to Sir Edward North 1544/5; site now occupied by a house and farm | Priory of St Mary and the Holy Cross, Spinney ____________________ Spinney Priory | |
| Stamford — St Michael's Priory | Benedictine nuns dependent on Peterborough founded c.1155 by William of Waterville, Abbot of Peterborough; with regular priests or brethren until after 1323; appears to have claimed itself to be Cistercian before 1268; dissolved 1536 | St Mary and St Michael ____________________ Stamford Baron Priory; Stamford St Michael's Priory | |
| Stamford St Sepulchre Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular — Holy Sepulchre founded c.1170 until before 1189; Augustinian Canons Regular under patronage of Peterborough from before 1189; hospital founded, continuing until after 1227 | ||
| Stonely Priory $ | possibly initially a hospital Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1180 by William de Mandeville | ||
| Thorney Abbey + | anchorites or hermits before 972; Benedictine monks founded 972 by the first abbot of Peterborough; dissolved 1539; granted to John, Earl of Bedford 1549/50; church now in parochial use | The Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Botulph, Thorney | |
| Trokenholt Priory | hermitage Benedictine monks cell dependent on Thorney; founded 1154-69 : hermitage and chapel granted to Thorney by Nigel, Bishop of Ely; dissolved 14th century | ||
| Waterbeach Abbey | Franciscan nuns founded 1294 by Denise Munchensey; gradually removed to Denny 1351 due to flooding; dissolved 1351 | The Nunnery of the Piety of Our Lady and Saint Clare The Nunnery of Our Lady of Pity and Saint Clare | |
| Whittlesey Mere Friary | hermit friars apparently not Austin friars; uncertain order and foundation, no further reference | ||
| Wittering Priory | order and foundation unknown — priory recorded extant 1308; reference to documentary evidence of its existence 1273 possibly refers to Southorpe Hospital | ' |
The following locations in Cambridgeshire lack known monastic connections:
- Barnwell Priory Abbey:, built adjacent to former Priory Church, called 'The Abbey Church'
- Buckden Abbey: Elizabethan mansion