List of monastic houses in Dorset


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

Alphabetic listing


FoundationImageCommunities & ProvenanceFormal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names
! style="width:10%;"|Online References & Location
Abbotsbury Abbey +secular canons collegiate
founded c.1026 by Orcus, steward to Canute;
Benedictine monks — from Cerne;
founded 1044 by Orcius or by his widow Tola;
dissolved 12 March 1539; granted to Sir Giles Strangwaies 1543/4;
much in private ownership, partly in parochial use
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter
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Abbotesbury Abbey;
Abbodesbirig Abbey
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Beaminsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community founded before 862Bebingmynster
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Bindon AbbeyCistercian monks — from Little Bindon
dependent on Forde;
founded 22 or 27 September 1172 by Robert de Burgo and his wife Maud;
dissolved 1539; granted to Sir Richard Poynings 1540/1;
now in private ownership

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Blackmoor Priory Hermitageorder and foundation uncertain
hermitage in existence by 1300, with brothers apparently following a rule similar to Augustinian Friars;
dissolved/abandoned, becoming a free chapel after 1424
Hermitage
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Bridport Whitefriars purported foundation for Carmelite Friars
founded 1261;
probably ceased to exist before 1365

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Bridport Prioryorder uncertain 13th century;
converted into a residence named 'St Jones'

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Cerne Abbey ^,
Cerne Abbas
monastic before 604
founded by St Augustine
hermitage;
secular ? 9th century;
Benedictine monks
founded before 987 by Engleward ;
purportedly destroyed by Canute;
dissolved 1539; granted to John Dudley and ___ Ascough 1574/5;
remains now incorporated into private house
St Peter

St Mary, St Peter and St Benedict

St Edwold
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Cernell Abbey
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Charminsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community;
parish church of St Mary possible successor of minster on site

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Chilcombe CameraKnights Hospitaller
dissolved before 1308

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Christchurch Priory +tradition of very early monastery;
secular canons collegiate
founded before/c.1060;
manor and church granted by Henry I to Richard de Redvers and Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1150, by petition of Hilary, Bishop of Chichester, and the bishop of Winchester to Richard de Redvers;
dissolved 28 November 1539; granted to Joseph Kirton 1545/6;
on site of earlier church demolished 1094;
priory church 1540, now in parochial use
The Priory Church of Christ, Christchurch

Church of the Holy Trinity, Twyneham
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Twyneham Priory;
Twinham Priory
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Cranborne Priorytradition of early monastery
Benedictine monks
founded c.980 by Haylward Snew ; becoming dependent on Tewkesbury in 11th century;
abbot and 57 monks removed to Tewkesbury 1102, Cranborne reduced to priory status, becoming a cell dependent on Tewkesbury;
dissolved 31 January 1540; granted to Thomas Francis 1559/60
The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bartholomew

The Priory Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bartholomew, Cranborne
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Cranbourne Priory;
Cranburn Cell
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Dorchester Greyfriars #Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
founded before 1267 by "the ancestors of Sir John Chidiock";
dissolved 1538 ; granted to Sir Edmund Peckham 1543/4

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Forde Abbey ^Cistercian monks
daughter of Waverley, Surrey;

transferred from Brightley 1146/8?;
dissolved 1539;
claustral remains now incorporated a mansion with public access

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Frampton PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: daughter of St-Etienne, Caen, Normandy;
founded before 1077 by William the Conqueror;
dissolved before 1414; granted to St Stephen's College, Westminster 1437; granted to Sir Christopher Hatton 1571/2, who sold it to John Brown, Esq.

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Fryer Mayne PreceptoryKnights Hospitaller
founded before 1275;
shared single preceptor with Baddesley 15th century;
formally merged with Baddesley 1471;
dissolved; granted to William Pole and Edward Downing 1563/4
Friary Mayne Preceptory;
Friar Mayne Preceptory;
Freyer Mayne Preceptory;
Mayne Preceptory;
Mayne Ospitalis
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Gillingham Friarypossible Dominican Friars
founded c.1267: Henry II granted oak for repair of the Dominicans' church;
no other reference

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Gillingham MinsterSaxon minster
19th century St Mary's Parish Church possibly on site

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Hilfield Friary *Franciscan Friars
founded 1921 in farm buildings; extant
The Friary of Saint Francis, Hilfield
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Holme PrioryCluniac monks
alien house: dependent on Montacute
founded 1142 by Robert de Lincoln;
became denizen: independent from 1407;
dissolved 1539; granted to John Hannon 1547;
parish church until 1746;
mansion named 'Holme Priory House' built on site of remains
The Blessed Virgin Mary
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East Holme Priory;
Holne Priory;
Holme Cell
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Horton PrioryBenedictine monks
abbey
founded 961 by Ordgar, Earl of Devonshire or his son Ordulph ;
probably destroyed in raids by the Danes 997;
refounded c.1050;
reduced to priory cell status 1122 under Henry I, dependent on Sherborne;
dissolved 1539; granted to Edward, Duke of Somerset 1547; then to William, Earl of Pembroke;
18th-century church built on site of ruins of previous parochial church on the site of the priory
St Wolfrida
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Horton Abbey;
Horton Cell
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Iwerne Minsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community;
parish church of St Mary possible successor of minster on site

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Kingston CameraKnights Hospitaller
member of Fryer Mayne, with Stinsford church

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Little Bindon AbbeyCistercian monks — from Forde
founded 1149 by William de Glastonia;
transferred to Bindon 1172;
much of the masonry used in the construction of Lulworth Castle

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Loders PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: daughter of St-Mary-de-Montebourg, Normandy
founded c.1107 by Richard Re Redveriis;
Carthusian monks under the monastery of St Anne at Coventry 1399-1414; Priory Church now in parochial use;
Brigetine nuns 1414
St Mary Magdalen
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Lodres Priory
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Lulworth AbbeyTrappist monks — from Val Sainte, Switzerland
founded 1795 by Mr Thomas Weld;
raised to abbey status 1813;
forced to leave England and returned to Melleray 1817
The Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, Lulworth
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Lyme Friary Carmelite Friars — to be licensed to William Darre, chaplain — apparently never establishedLyme Regis Friary
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Lytchett Minsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community
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Melcombe Priory,
Melcombe Regis
Dominican Friars
founded 1418 by Rogers Esq. of Brianston;
dissolved 1538; granted to Sir John Rogers 1543/4
Milton Friary;
Melcombe Regis Friary
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Milton Abbey ^,
Milton Abbas
secular college
founded 938 by King Athelstan;
Benedictine monks
founded 964;
destroyed by fire 1309; rebuilt 1322;
dissolved 1539; granted to Sir John Tregonwall 1539/40; restored 1789 and 1865;
domestic remains incorporated into a mansion 1771;
Abbey Church is owned by the Diocese of Salisbury but used by Milton Abbey School in term time as its chapel. The Abbey Church is open to the public and accessed through the school grounds.
The Priory Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mary, Milton

The Abbey Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Samson and Saint Branwalader, Milton
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Middleton Abbey
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Muckleford Grangepossible Tironensian monks
alien house: cell dependent on Tiron;
estate granted to Tiron Abbey, Normandy, de facto controlled by Andwell, Hampshire

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Piddletrenthide PrioryBenedictine monks
cell dependent on Hyde Abbey, Hampshire
founded unknown;
dissolved 1354 ; chapel demolished after 1382
Piddletrenthide Cell
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Poole — St George's FriaryFriars of St George — apparently a guild property
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Povington PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: grange: dependent on Bec-Hellouin;
foundation date unknown, manor granted to Bec-Hellouin by Robert Fitz Gerold;
dissolved 1230; reckoned to be a parcel of Ogbourne by 1291
Povington Grange
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Shaftesbury AbbeyBenedictine nuns
founded c.888 by Alfred, possibly on site of 7th century Saxon minster
';
Benedictine nuns
refounded during the reign of Edgar;
dissolved 2 March 1539; granted to William, Earl of Southampton 1547/8;
remains now within a walled garden
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Shaftesbury

The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Saint Edward, King and Martyr, Shaftesbury
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Shaftesbury MinsterSaxon nuns
possibly founded before c.670;
destroyed? in raids by the Danes before 888;
Benedictine nunnery possibly built on site '

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Shapwick Grangepurported priory order and foundation uncertain;
acquired by the Carthusians at Sheen, Surrey after 1414;
Shapwick Priory
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Sherborne Abbey ^founded before 672: granted by Cenwealh, King of Wessex;
Saxon minster and bishop's see
secular episcopal diocesan cathedral priory
founded 705;
Benedictine monks
cathedral priory refounded c.993;
see transferred to Old Sarum between 1075 and 1078;
raised to abbey status 1172;
dissolved 18 March 1539; granted to Sir John Horsey 1546/7;
church now in parochial use
monastic buildings now incorporated into a public school
The Blessed Virgin Mary
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Shireburn Abbey
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Spettisbury PrioryBenedictine nuns
alien house: cell dependent on St-Pierre-de-Préaux;
founded before 1100 by Robert de Bellomonte, Earl of Mallent and Earl of Leicester;
annexed to Toft Monks 1324;
privately leased 1390;
granted to Witham Priory by Henry V;
dissolved 1535; granted to Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy 1543/4
dedication unknown
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Spetisbury Priory;
Spectesbury Priory
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St Monica's Priory, SpetisburyAugustinian Canonesses Regular of the Windesheim Congregation 1800;
Bridgettine Nuns 1861;
Canons Regular of the Lateran 1887;
Ursuline Nuns 1907-1926;
sold at auction to Thomas Oakley 9 June 1927
The Priory of Saint Monica, Spetisbury
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Stour Provost GrangeBenedictine monks
alien house: grange dependent on St-Leger, Preaux;
founded c.1070;
dissolved c.1471

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Sturminster Marshallpre-conquest monastic or secular community
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Sturminster Newtonpre-conquest monastic or secular community
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Tarrant AbbeyAnchoresses of "no order"
founded c.1186;
Cistercian nuns
founded c.1100 by Richard Power, Bishop of Chichester, built by Ralph de Kahaynes;
raised to abbey status before 1228;
dissolved 13 March 1539; granted to Sir Thomas Wyat 1541/2;
site now occupied by Abbey Farm; Tarrant Abbey House possibly incorporates remains of the abbey
St Mary and All Saints
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Tarrant Crawford Abbey;
Tarrant Kains Abbey;
Tarrent Abbey;
Tarrant Cell;
possibly 'Camesterne'
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Wareham NunneryBenedictine? nuns
alien house: daughter of Lira, Normandy
reputedly founded c.672 ;
said to have been destroyed in raids by the Danes 876;
traditionally refounded 915 by Elfleda ;
dissolved 997-8: again destroyed by the Danes;
destroyed again 1015;
monastic property in possession of St Wandrille Abbey 1086;
Benedictine priory built on site '
The Blessed Virgin Mary
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monasterium of holy virgins
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Wareham PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: cell dependent on Lyre Abbey, Normandy
founded 12th century by Robert, Earl of Leicester on site of earlier nunnery
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ownership passed to Mount Grace, Yorkshire 1398;
dissolved 1414;
Carthusian monks
granted to the Carthusians at Sheen, Surrey after 1414;
dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Reve and George Cotton;
house named 'The Priory of Lady St Mary House' built on site 16th century, possibly incorporates remains of the priory
Lady St Mary Priory
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Warham Priory
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West Lulworth PrioryCistercian monks — from Forde
founded 1149 ;
transferred to Bindon 1172;
site close to 13th century Little Bindon chapel

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Wilcheswood Monasteryorder uncertain
founded 1373 by Roger le Walleys, lord of the manor of Langton Wallis;
earliest dated charter 1295 ;
apparently dissolved 1536
St Leonard
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Wilcheswood Priory;
Wilkswood Priory
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Wimborne MinsterBenedictine? nuns and monks
founded before 705 by Cuthburh;
destroyed ? 998;
converted into a college of secular canons before 1066;
dissolved 1547; granted to Edward, Duke of Somerset 1547; then to Giles Keylway and William Leonard; then to Edward, Lord Clinton
St Cuthburga
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Winburn Priory;
Twinborn Priory
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Winterborn Monkton GrangeCluniac monks
alien house: grange dependent on Cluny
founded before 1214;
dissolved c.1450
Winterborn Grange;
Winterborn Monckton
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YetminsterSaxon minster
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