List of monastic houses in Oxfordshire


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

FoundationImageCommunities & ProvenanceFormal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names
!width = 10%|OnLine References & Location
Abingdon Abbey ^Saxon monks
probably minster and abbey;
;
transferred here 695;
destroyed c.872 in raids by the Danes;
Benedictine monks
founded c.954 ;
dissolved 9 February 1538;
remains incorporated into town buildings;
in local authority and trust ownership with public access to church
The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Abingdon
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Barton CellAugustinian Canons Regular
?cell dependent on Oseney; possibly an estate without resident canons

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Bicester PrioryAugustinian Canons Regular
founded 1182-5, endowed by Gilbert Basset, Baron of Hedington;
dissolved 1536; granted to Charles, Duke of Suffolk 1538/9
St Edburga
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Burchester Priory
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Bruern Abbey #Cistercian monks — from Waverley, Surrey;
founded 1147;
dissolved 1536; granted to Sir Antony Coke 1610/1;
site now occupied by 18th century private house named 'Bruern Abbey'
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary of the Heath of Tretone, Bruern
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Brueria Abbey;
Bruerne Abbey
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Burford Priory ^Hospital of St John the Evangelist founded 13th century
dissolved 1538;
restored 1637;
Anglican Benedictine
founded 1901; sold off 2008; now in use as a country house, incorporating remains of the medieval hospital
Priory of Our Lady, Burford
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The Priory
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Caversham CellAugustinian Canons Regular
status unknown, dependent on Notley, Buckinghamshire;
founded 1162;
dissolved c.1538

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Charlton on Otmoor PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: grange dependent on St Evroul;
founded 1086 by Hugh Grentemoisnil;
dissolved 1414; granted to Sir Thomas White and others
Charleton Priory
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Charney Manor ~Benedictine Monks
residential manor, chapel and farm; granted to Abingdon before 1066;
range c.1280; leased as a manor house from 1494; remodelled/rebuilt 16th, 17th and 19th century;
converted and in use as a hotel 20th century

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Cholsey AbbeyBenedictine monks
founded 986 by King Ethelred II
probably destroyed in raids by the Danes 1006;
dissolved; granted to Sir Francis Englefield;
probable slight remains incorporated into medieval parish church
Cholsey Grange
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Clanfield PreceptoryKnights Hospitaller
founded before 1279;
united to Quenington before 1433

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Clanfield CellSisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
cell
foundation unknown
dissolved c.1180: transferred to Buckland, Somerset

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Clattercote PrioryGilbertine canons
hospital founded 1148-66, possibly by Robert de Chesney;
hospital ceased before 1262;
priory, refounded 1251-62;
dissolved 1538; granted to Thomas Lee c.1559;
site now occupied by a private house
St Leonard
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Cogges PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: dependent on Fécamp;
founded 1103 by Manasses Arsic;
dissolved 1414; granted to Eton College
St Mary
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Cold Norton PrioryAugustinian Canons Regular
hospital of St George and church of St John the Evangelist
founded 1148-58 by Avelina de Norton;
dissolved 1507: no canons remaining;
granted to St Stephen's, Westminster
The Priory Church of Saint John the Evangelist, Cold Norton
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Coxwell Grange #Cistercian Monks
probably grange with chapel;
founded 1205 ;
dependent on Beaulieu, Hampshire;
Court House Farm built on site 16th century;

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Dorchester Abbey +secular cathedral
founded 634, new see of the West Saxons created;
see transferred to Winchester 663
see of Mercia 670s;
see restored after 869 ;
see transferred to Lincoln 1072;
secular canons collegiate
founded 1072: built on site of episcopal diocesan cathedral;
dissolved c.1140 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln;
Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
founded c.1140 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln;
dissolved 1536; granted to Edmond Ashfield 1544/5;
restored by James Cranston c.1845,
William Butterfield 1846-53,
and George Gilbert Scott 1859-74;
church continues in parochial use as the Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Birinus
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East Hendred CellCarthusian monks
grange: manor and chapel dependent on Sheen, Surrey,, but apparently grange status, possibly without resident monks

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Eynsham AbbeyBenedictine monks
founded 1005 by Æthelmar, Earl of Cornwall, on the site of 9th century church;
destroyed and monks dispersed at the Norman Conquest, after 1066;
restored before 1086 by Remigius, Bishop of Lincoln
transferred to Stow, Lincolnshire 1091;
returned c.1094-5;
dissolved December 1539; granted to Sir Edward North and William Darcey 1543/4
St Mary

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Egnesham Abbey
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Faringdon AbbeyCistercian monks — from Cîteaux
founded before 2 November 1203: manor granted to Citeaux by King John;
transferred to Beaulieu, Hampshire 1204;
monastic cell or grange early 13th century;
probably merged with Coxford Grange;
privately leased 1351; granted to Sir Francis Englefield
Saint Mary
Farendon Priory;
Faringdon Minster
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Godstow AbbeyBenedictine nuns with small community of Benedictine monks under a master attached to the nunnery
founded by Easter 1133 by Ediva, widow of Sir William Launcelene, assisted by Henry I, built on land granted by John de St John;
dissolved 17 November 1539; granted by Henry VIII to his physician, Dr George Owen before 1547
St Mary and St John the Baptist
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Godeston Abbey
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Goring PrioryAugustinian Canonesses
founded 12th century by Thomas de Druval who granted a church and land;
dissolved 1539; granted to Charles, Duke of Suffolk c.1531;
later granted to Sir Thomas Pope;
part of conventual church in parochial use
The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Goring
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Gosford PreceptoryKnights Hospitaller
foundation unknown, land granted by Robert d'Oilly;
dissolved c.1180;
hospitallers' oratory/chapel built c.1234;
united to Quenington before 1433;
granted to Antony Stringer and John Williams 1542/3

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Gosford CellSisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
cell;
foundation unknown
dissolved c.1180: transferred to Buckland

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Helenstowe Nunnery,
Abingdon
nuns
founded c.675;
site now occupied by St Helen's Church
The Church of the Holy Cross and Saint Helen, Helenstowe
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Littlemore PrioryBenedictine nuns
founded before 1154 by Robert de Sandford;
dissolved 1525, suppressed for Wolsey's college; granted to William Owen and John Bridges c.1539
St Mary, St Nicholas and St Edmund
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Merton PreceptoryKnights Templar
founded c.1156, granted by Simon, Earl of Northampton;
dissolved c.1240, became a limb of Sandford

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Milton CellBenedictine monks
purported cell dependent on Abingdon — evidence lacking

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Minchery PrioryBenedictine nuns
site now occupied by Minchery Farm, also called 'The Priory and...?....'

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Minster Lovell PriorySaxon minster
Benedictine monks
alien house: cell dependent on Ivry;
founded c.1200-6, St Kenelm's Church granted to Ivry 1200;
dissolved 1414 ;
granted to Eton College 1441

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Oddington GrangeCistercian monks
dependent on Thame;
founded c.1141;
possibly on the site of Otley Abbey

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Oseney AbbeyAugustinian Canons Regular
priory
founded 1129 by Robert d'Oilly and his wife Edith;
raised to abbey status c.1154;
mitred abbey 1481;
dissolved 17 November 1539;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 1542: new see created;
see transferred to Christ Church, Oxford 1546;
fell into decay and demolished
St Mary
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Oseney Priory;
Aseney Priory;
Osney Abbey
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Otley AbbeyCistercian monks
dependent on Waverley, Surrey;
founded 22 July 1137: land granted by Robert Gait;
abandoned, transferred to Thame c.1141;
Oddington Grange probably established on site
Ottley Abbey;
Ottelei Abbey;
Oddington Grange?
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Oxford Austin Friars #Austin Friars
founded 1266-7; Henry III regarded as founder 1268;
impoverished and ruinous at dissolved July 1538;
Oxford Wadham College founded 1612 by Nicholas Wadham

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Oxford Blackfriars — St Aldate'sDominican Friars
founded 1221;
transferred to new site
' 1245
oratory: St Mary
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Oxford Blackfriars — St Ebbe'sDominican Friars
;
transferred here 1245;
dissolved 1538

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Oxford Cathedral Priory +Augustinian Canonesses
founded c.727 by Didanus, petty king;
destroyed in raids by the Danes c.874?;
destroyed in raids by the Danes 1002; rebuilt;
secular canons
founded 1004;
Augustinian Canons Regular — from Holy Trinity, Aldgate, Middlesex
refounded 1122;
dissolved April 1524, suppressed for Cardinal Wolsey's college;
episcopal diocesan cathedral and college chapel
founded 1546: see transferred from Oxney; extant
The Priory Church of St Frideswide, Oxford
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Oxford — Canterbury CollegeBenedictine monks
dependent on Canterbury;
founded 1331 by Simon de Islip, Archbishop of Canterbury; lapsed;
refounded 1363-70 by Archbishop Islip;
secular 1365;
constituted as a monastic college c.1368-70;
dissolved c.1539;
made part of Christ Church, Oxford 1546/7;
rebuilt 1773

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Oxford Crutched FriarsCrutched Friars
founded 1342: licence granted to Crutched Friars of London 29 July 1342 to acquire land in Oxford;
dwelling-place apparently moved a number of times;
Bishop forbade completion of church began 1349;
dissolved before 1362;
property disposed of 1362

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Oxford — Durham CollegeBenedictine monks
priory cell dependent on Durham, County Durham;
founded 1286-91, land purchased by Durham 1286, completed 1291;
dissolved 1540;
Trinity College founded on site 1554-5 by Sir Thomas Pope and his wife Elizabeth

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Oxford Friars of the SackFriars of the Sack
founded 1261-2;
ruinous parish church of St Budoc acquired by the friars, becoming the conventual church;
dissolved, granted to Franciscan Friars c.1309

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Oxford — Gloucester CollegeBenedictine monks
priory cell dependent on Gloucester, Gloucestershire;
founded 1283, house granted by John Giffard;
college founded 1291;
dissolved 1538;
Worcester College founded 1714 under the will of Sir Thomas Cookes
Glocester College;
Glocester Hall
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Oxford Greyfriars, earlier siteFranciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
friars from Canterbury moved to Oxford via London, residing with the Dominicans for eight days in autumn 1224, then hired a house at St Ebbe's before transferred to new site ' 1244-5

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Oxford GreyfriarsFranciscan Friars Minor, Conventual

transferred here from earlier site
' 1244-5: house and land granted to the townsmen for the friars' use by Richard the Miller;
dissolved1538

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Oxford — London Collegepurportedly Benedictine monks and secular college
founded after 1421

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Oxford — St Albans HallBenedictine monks
founded c.1140;
part of Oxford — Gloucester College;
now part of Merton College

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Oxford, St Bernard's CollegeCistercian monks
abbey, founded 1437 by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, who granted land;
dissolved c.1542;
refounded as St John's College during the reign of Mary
St Mary and St Bernard
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Oxford, St Mary's CollegeAugustinian Canons Regular
priory, founded 1435 by Thomas Holden and his wife Elizabeth;
dissolved 1540

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Oxford Trinitarian Priory, earlier siteTrinitarians
founded before 1286:
granted by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall 1293;
transferred to new site c.1313
The Holy Trinity
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Oxford Trinitarian PrioryTrinitarians
before 1286;
transferred here c.1313 ;
known as 'Trinity Hall' from late-15th century, apparently
dependent on Moatenden;
dissolved 1538
The Holy Trinity
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Oxford Whitefriars, earlier siteCamelite Friars
founded 1256: site granted by Nicholas de Meules ;
transferred to new site ' 1317-18; incorporated into the Benedictines' college, Oxford — Gloucester College, until the Dissolution 1538

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Oxford WhitefriarsCamelite Friars
;
transferred here 1317-18 by Edward II to his manor, 'the Palace of Beaumont', together with the friars at Sheen, Surrey ;
dissolved 1538; demolished 16th century
The King's Hall;
the Palace of Beaumont
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Pheleley PrioryBenedictine monks
founded after 1100 ;
apparently connected with Tewkesbury, but assigned by Tewkesbury as a cell to Eynsham;
annexed to /
transferred to Eynsham after c.1145
Phelely Priory
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Rewley Abbeyintended as a secular establishment by King Richard
Cistercian monks
dependent on Thame;
founded 11 December 1143 by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall;
dissolved c.1536; granted to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford 1546/7

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Sandford PreceptoryKnights Templar
founded c.1240: lands granted to Temple Cowley by Thomas the younger, of Sandford;
transferred from Temple Cowley;
dissolved 1308-12;
Knights Hospitaller
transferred after 1312;
dissolved 1371: incorporated into the camerae of the prior of England;
becoming a farmhouse;
granted to Edward Powell 1541/2
remnants now in use as part of a
Four Pillars Hotel
Sandford-on-Thames Preceptory;
Saunford Hospital
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Sibford CameraKnights Templar
founded before1185;
dissolved 1312

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Steventon PrioryBenedictine monks
alien house: dependent on of St-Mary-du-Pré, Rouen and Bec-Hellouin, Normandy
founded 12th century manor granted to St Mary de Pre, Rouen, a dependent on of Bec-Hellouin;
farmed out 1378;
dissolved 1389; granted to Westminster Abbey by Richard II;
officially a priory but actually a grange
no monastic church
prior's house now in private ownership with public access by appointment
Stenington Priory
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Studley PrioryBenedictine nuns
founded 12th century by Bernard of Walery ;
dissolved 1536, 19 November 1539 ; granted to John Croke 1539/40;
converted into an Elizabethan manor house;
now in use as the Studley Priory Hotel
St Mary
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Stodeley Priory
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Temple Cowley PreceptoryKnights Templar
founded 1136 by Queen Matilda;
transferred to Temple Cowley c.1240 and thereafter reduced to status of camera

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Thame AbbeyCistercian monks
transferred from Otley;
dependent on Waverley, Surrey;
;
transferred here c.1140: site granted by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln;
dissolved 1539; granted to Edward, Duke of Somerset c.1547;
remains incorporated into 18th century country house
Tame Abbey
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Wallingford Priory #Benedictine monks
cell of St Albans, Hertfordshire
founded 1097 or 1088 by Robert D'Oyley or Gilfrid, Abbot of St Alban;
dissolved 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey to fund Ipswich College;
granted to John Norres c.1546;
The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Wallingford
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Wallingford Cell;
Waring Cell
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Wroxton AbbeyAugustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1217 by Magister Michael Belet
dissolved c.1537 ; granted to Sir Thomas Pope who gave part to Trinity College, Oxford;
scant remains incorporated into mansion called 'Wroxton Abbey'
built on site 1618
The Priory Church of St Mary, Wroxton
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Wroxton Priory
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Westcot CameraKnights Templar
founded 13th century : holdings granted by Robert Achard;
dissolved 1308-12;
Knights Hospitaller
transferred 1308-12
Westcott Camera
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Wytham Abbey #nuns — from Helenstow;
purportedly transferred here after 700;
dispersed to other houses during hostilities
c.''780;

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