List of monastic houses in Shropshire

Alberbury Priory

Bridgnorth Greyfriars

Bromfield Priory

Buildwas Abbey

Chirbury Priory

Church Preen Priory

Donnington Wood Abbey

Halston Preceptory

Haughmond Abbey

Lilleshall Abbey

Lizard Abbey

Ludlow Austin Friars

Ludlow Whitefriars

Morville Priory

Ratlinghope Priory

SHREWSBURY

Snead Priory

Stanton Long Preceptory

Stitt, purported cell

Much Wenlock Priory

White Ladies Priory

Wombridge Priory

Woodhouse Austin Friars

Locations of monastic houses in Shropshire

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

In this article 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 (Templars and Hospitallers). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptory/commandery.

The name of the county is given where there is reference to an establishment in another county. Where the county has changed since the foundation's dissolution the modern county is given in parentheses, and in instances where the referenced foundation ceased to exist before the unification of England, the kingdom is given, followed by the modern county in parentheses.

The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from the details provided by Historic England PastScape ^[1] and Ordnance Survey publications.

A Monastic Glossary follows the listing, which provides links to articles on the particular monastic orders as well as other terms which appear in the listing.

Abbreviations and key

The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus: * indicates current monastic function + indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) ^ indicates current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure $ indicates remains limited to earthworks etc. # indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains ~ indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown ≈ identification ambiguous or confused Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic appellation but lacking monastic connection.

Trusteeship denoted as follows: EH English Heritage LT Landmark Trust NT National Trust

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	OnLine References & Location
Alberbury Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian dependent on Lilleshall; founded c.1221-6; Grandmontine monks alien house: dependent on Grandmont; refounded c.1230: confirmed by Fulk fitz Warin of Whittington, 1232; dissolved c.1441; bought by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury; granted to All Souls College, Oxford by Henry VI, in use as a chantry chapel; dissolved 1547; conventual church converted into a farmhouse called 'White Abbey Farm' 1578; alterations 1857-8	St Mary ____________________ White Abbey
Beth centuryote		Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on Haughmond; farm and chapel
Bridgnorth Greyfriars		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester) founded 1244; dissolved 1538
Bromfield Priory +		secular canons collegiate founded before 1061; Benedictine monks cell dependent on Gloucester, Gloucestershire; founded 1155; dissolved 1540; granted to Charles Fox; church now in parochial use	St Mary, Virgin
Buildwas Abbey		Savignac monks — from Savigny dependent on Savigny; founded 8 August 1135; Cistercian monks orders merged 1147; dissolved 1535 (1536) part of monastic buildings incorporated into a private house; (EH)	The Abbey Church of St Mary and St Chad, Buildwas ____________________ Bildewas Abbey
Chirbury Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — from Snead founded c.1190 by Robert de Buthlers, Lord of Montgomery; canons arrived c.1195; dissolved 1536; granted Edward Hampton 1545/6	The Priory Church of Saint Michael, Chirbury
Church Preen Priory		Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on Wenlock; founded after 1150; cell 1384; dissolved before 1539	St John the Baptist ____________________ Preen Priory
Donnington Wood Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — from Dorchester, Oxfordshire; (community founded at Lizard c.1143); transferred from Lizard c.1144; dissolved c.1148; transferred to new site at Lilleshall
Emstrey		possible Saxon minster	Eiminstre
Halston Preceptory		possible Knights Templar (evidence lacking) Knights Hospitaller refounded before 1221 (between 1165 and 1187) by Roger de Powys, Lord of Whittington; dissolved before 1540; granted to William Horne 1562/3
Hatton Grange		Cistercian monks grange, dependent on Buildwas; founded 1227; dissolved before 1540
Haughmond Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular priory? founded c.1110 (1130-8) by William fitz Alan of Clun; Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian(?) priory; before 1130-5; purportedly raised to abbey status c.1155?; listed under Augustinian general chapter c.1160-80; dissolved 9 September 1539; granted to Edward Littleton (died 1558) 1540/1; (EH)	The Abbey Church of St John the Evangelist, Haughmond ____________________ Haghmon Priory
Lilleshall Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian — from Dorchester, Oxfordshire, via Lizard (community founded at Lizard c.1143); transferred from Donnington Wood c.1148; dissolved 1538; granted to James Leveson 1539/40; (EH)	The Blessed Virgin Mary ____________________ Lilleshull Priory
Lizard Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular — from Dorchester, Oxfordshire founded c.1143; transferred to new site at Donnington Wood c.1144; retained for use as grange
Ludlow Austin Friars		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln) founded 1254; built c.1282; dissolved 1538; granted to George Cotton and William Man
Ludlow Whitefriars		Carmelite Friars founded 1350 (1349) by Lawrence of Ludlow; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Hacket and Thomas Trentham 1559/60
Lydley Keys Preceptory		Knights Templar founded c.1155-60; dissolved 1308-12	Lydley Preceptory
Minsterley		possible Saxon minster
Morville Priory		collegiate church before 1066; Benedictine monks priory cell dependent on Shrewsbury; founded 1138 by the Earl of Shrewsbury, collegiate church granted to Shrewsbury as a cell by Robert, Bishop of Hereford; dissolved 1540; granted to Henry Lord Lisle 1545/6	St Gregory ____________________ Morfield Priory
Ratlinghope Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell founded before 1200; Augustinian Canons Regular — Victorine priory cell dependent on Wigmore, Herefordshire; before 1209; dissolved 1538; granted to Robert Long 1545/6	St Giles ____________________ Ratlingcope Priory
Shrewsbury Abbey +		Benedictine monks founded 1083-6 (c.1080) by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel; dissolved 1540; granted to Edward Watson and Henry Herdson 1541/2; part of church now in parochial use	The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Shrewsbury (nave dedicated to The Holy Cross)
Shrewsbury Austin Friars, earlier site		Augustinian Friars founded c.1255 by the Stafford family: Henry III granted land to 'poor brethren of Cowlane' (possible Austin Friars) June 1254; transferred to new site (see immediately below) 1290-8
Shrewsbury Austin Friars		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln) (community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) c.1255; transferred here 1290-8; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple 1543/4
Shrewsbury Blackfriars		Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) founded before 1232 by Lady Genevile; dissolved 1539; granted to Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple 1543/4
Shrewsbury Greyfriars		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester) founded 1245-6 by Hawise, Countess of Powys; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple 1543/4
Snead Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1190; transferred to Chirbury c.1195
Stanton Long Camera		Knights Templar camera or grange; founded c.1221 (before 1228); dissolved 1308-12
Stitt Cell		Augustinian Canons Regular (?)cell dependent on Haughmond — evidence lacking
Wenlock Nunnery		Saxon nuns founded c.680 by Merwald, King of West Mercia (or his daughter St Milburga); ruined; Cluniac house built on site (see immediately below)
Wenlock Priory		possible secular canons — minster founded c.1050: built by Earl Leofric; Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on La Charité: monks invited by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, built on site of ruined Saxon nunnery (see immediately above); became denizen: independent from 1395; dissolved 26 January 1540; granted to Augustino de Augustinis 1544/5; (EH)	The Priory Church of Saint Michael and Saint Milburga, Wenlock ____________________ Much Wenlock Priory
Whitchurch		possibly Saxon minster at Album Monasterium
White Ladies Priory		Augustinian Canonesses founded c.1199(?); dissolved 1538(?): granted to William Whorwood 1539/40; house built on site (EH)	St Leonard ____________________ Brewood White Ladies Priory; Brewood Priory
Wombridge Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular transferred from Dodlinch, Somerset before? 1226; founded 1130-5 by William de Hadley; dissolved 1536; granted to James Leveson 1539/40; conventual church continued in parochial use until mid-17th century when ruinous; Lady Chapel in use until destroyed in a storm 1756; new parish church built, rebuilt 19th century, in use as current parish church	The Holy Trinity, St Mary Virgin, and St Thomas Martyr ____________________ Wombride Priory
Woodhouse Austin Friars		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln) founded c.1250: granted by the Turberviles (Tubervilles); dissolved August 1538; granted to Thomas Reeves and George Cotton

Glossary

Orders: Augustinian Augustinian Canons Regular / Austin Canons / Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) - Arrouasian / (Arroasian) - Victorine - Holy Sepulchre Austin Friars (Augustinian Friars) Augustinian Recollects Benedictine / Order of St Benedict (O.S.B.) Bonshommes Bridgettine / Briggittine Carmelites Carmelites (White Friars) Carthusians Cistercian Cluniac Crutched Friars / (Crouched Friars / Crossed Friars / Fratres Cruciferi / Brethren of the Holy Cross) Culdee Dominican (Black Friars) / Ordinis Praedicatorum (Order of Preachers) (O.P.) / Friars Preachers Franciscan (Grey Friars) Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (The Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.) / Ordo Fratrum Minorum) Capuchin (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) Franciscan Observants Franciscan, Third Order Regular Franciscan Recollects Minoresses (Poor Clares) Friars of the Order of Blessed Mary (Friars of St Mary / Fratres Beatae Mariae) Friars of Penitence of Jesus Christ (Friars of the Sack) Gilbertine Grandmontine Military Orders Knights Hospitaller / Hospitallers / Order of Hospitallers / Knights of Saint John / Order of Saint John Order of the Holy Sepulchre Knights Templar / Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon / Order of the Temple / Templars Order of Saint Lazarus

St. Lazarus Hospitallers Premonstratensian Savignac Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Sisters of St John of Jerusalem Tironensian Trappist Trinitarian (Maturines) Valliscaulian General terms: Abbots / Abbesses / Abbey Alien House Anchorites Camera (pl. Cameræ) Canons Canons Regular cell Commandery Double monastery Friars / Friary Friars Eremites / anchorites Hermits Mendicants Monks Nuns / Nunnery Preceptor / Preceptory Priors / Prioresses / Priory Secular canons

Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

Northumberland Durham Lancashire Cheshire Derbs. Notts. Lincolnshire Leics. Staffs. Shropshire Warks. Northants. Norfolk Suffolk Essex Herts. Beds. Bucks. Oxon. Glos. Somerset Wiltshire Berkshire Kent Surrey Hampshire Dorset Devon Cornwall Heref. Worcs. Bristol East Riding of Yorkshire Rutland Cambs. Greater London Tyne & Wear Cumbria North Yorkshire South Yorks. West Yorkshire Greater Manc. Merseyside East Sussex West Sussex Isle of Wight West Midlands

2

See also

• List of monastic houses in England
• List of monastic houses in Wales

Sources

• 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
• 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