List of monastic houses in Buckinghamshire

Aylesbury Friary

Aylesbury Monastery (poss. loc.)

Biddlesden Abbey

Bradwell Priory

Bulstrode Preceptory

Burnham Abbey

Chetwode Priory

Crawley Monastery (site)

Hogshaw Nunnery

Hogshaw Commandery

Lavendon Abbey

Little Marlow Priory

Luffield Abbey

Medmenham Abbey

Missenden Abbey

Newton Longville Priory

Notley Abbey

Ravenstone Priory

Risborough Priory

Snelshall Priory

Tickford Priory

Widmere Commandery

Wing Priory

Locations of monastic houses in Buckinghamshire

The following is a list of monastic houses in Buckinghamshire, 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
Aylesbury Greyfriars #		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Oxford) founded 1387 by James Butler, Earl of Ormond; dissolved 1 October 1538
Aylesbury Monastery #		possible nuns order and period unknown said to have been a nunnery or Trinitarian house — probably only a holding		(possible)
Biddlesden Abbey #		Cistercian monks — from Garendon, Leicestershire founded 10 July 1147 by Ernald de Bosco, seneschal of the Earl of Leicester; dissolved 29 September 1538; granted to Thomas Wriothesley 1540/1; remains demolished c.1727; site now occupied by private house named 'Biddlesden Park'	Saint Mary ____________________ Biddlesdon Abbey; Bittlesden Abbey
Bradwell Priory		Benedictine monks cell dependent on Luffield; founded before 1136-44 (before/c.1155) by Meinfelin, Lord of Wolverton; dissolved 1524-5 (or 1526) by Cardinal Wolsey for Christ Church, Oxford; granted to Arthur Longfield 1542/3; now in private ownership; currently an urban studies centre	Saint Mary ____________________ Bradewell Priory
Bulstrode Preceptory $		Knights Templar founded before 1276; dissolved 1308-1312; land passed to and leased on behalf of the Knights Hospitaller, though they had no commandery here; site identified through earthworks
Burnham Abbey *		Augustinian canonesses founded 1265/66 by Richard, King of the Romans; dissolved 19 September 1539; granted to William Tyldesly 1544/5; Anglican Augustinian Society of the Precious Blood transferred from Birmingham 1916; extant	Saint Mary
Chetwode Priory +		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1244 or 1245 by Ralph de Norwich; dissolved, being reduced to the status of a cell, annexed to Notley 1460-1; dissolved 1535; priory church became parochial c.1480 as the Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicholas	Saint Mary and Saint Nicholas ____________________ Chetwode Cell
Crawley Monastery		founded before 1042; (ref. as monasterium 1086)	St Firmin ____________________ North Crawley Monastery
Gare Nunnery		Benedictine nuns founded 1163 in Stoke Goldington by Robert de Salcey, Peter de Goldington and Richard de Besseville; granted to Delapré, Northamptonshire, late 12th/early 13th centuries; apparently reduced to status of a grange by 1438; subsequently recorded as destroyed	Gore Nunnery; Gorefields Nunnery Prioratus Gore, Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae, Moniales Nigrae
Hogshaw Nunnery #		St John of Jerusalem nuns cell foundation unknown transferred to Sisters of St John Priory, Buckland, Somerset c.1180; site occupied by Knights Hospitaller commandery (see immediately below)
Hogshaw Commandery #		Knights Hospitaller founded c.1180 on site of earlier nunnery (see immediately above), granted by William Peverel; dissolved 1470 becoming prior's possession; granted to Matilda Lane c.1543; church in use until 1650; ruined by 1700
Lavendon Abbey $		Premonstratensian Canons founded c.1154/5-1158 by John de Bidun, sheriff of Buckinghamshire; dissolved 1536; granted to Sir Edmund Peckham 1543; site now occupied by house named 'Lavendon Grange' (once the home of relatives of Sir Isaac Newton)	The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, Lavendon ____________________ Lavinden Abbey
Little Marlow Priory		Benedictine nuns founded c.1195 or before 1218 (or 1244 by Jeffrey, Lord Spensar); dissolved in, or before 1536; granted to John Tiltey and E. Restwold 1540	Saint Mary ____________________ Little Merlow Priory; Minchin Marlow Priory
Luffield Priory		Benedictine monks founded after 1118 (c.1123 or 1124, or 1133) by Robert II le Bossu, Earl of Leicester; suppression authorised by the Pope 1494; dissolution stayed until 1504, after the death of the serving prior	The Blessed Virgin Mary
Medmenham Abbey		Cistercian monks — from Woburn, Bedfordshire founded 1201/4, or in 1202 by Hugh de Bolbec; house built 1213; dissolved before 8 July 1536 (delayed from 1524); granted to Robert Mone and others 1547; converted into a manor house	The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Medmenham ____________________ Mendham Abbey
Missenden Abbey ^		Augustinian/Arroasian Canons alien house: daughter of St Mary de Bosco, or de Nemore, Ruisseauville, France; founded 1133 by William de Missenden; the house acknowledged royal supremacy 1536; dissolved 1538; granted to the Duke of Northumberland; now a residential college rarely open to general public	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Great Missenden ____________________ Great Missenden Abbey
Newton Longville Priory		Cluniac monks alien house: daughter of Longville Ste Foi Abbey founded c.1150 or before 1102 by Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham; dissolved 1414; granted to New College, Oxford 1441; Manor House purportedly built on site 1550; St Faith's Church incorporates 12th-century church remains, possibly originally part of the priory church and may have been the conventual church of the priory	St Faith ____________________ Newington-Longaville Priory; Newton-Longville Cell
Notley Abbey ^		Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1162 by Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham, and Lady Ermgard; dissolved 9 December 1538; granted to Sir William Paget 1547; site now occupied by a private house without public access	The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin and Saint John the Baptist, Notley ____________________ abbey de parco Crendon; Crendon Parc Abbey abbey de parco super Thamam; Nuctele Abbey; Noctele Abbey; Nuttley Abbey; Nutley Abbey
Ravenstone Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1255 by Peter de Chaseport (Chaceport), Keeper of the Royal Wardrobe; dissolved 1525 (or 1544); granted to Sir Francis Byran 1548; site now occupied by 19th century 'Abbey Farm'	The Priory Church of St Mary ____________________ Ravinston Priory
Risborough Priory (?)		Benedictine monks — doubtful establishment; reputedly pre-Conquest cell of Canterbury Cathedral	Monks Risborough Priory
Snelshall Priory $		Premonstratensian Canons cell dependent on Lavendon; founded before 1166, granted to Lavendon by Sybil de Aungervill (Dangerville); abandoned after 1203-4 Benedictine monks founded 1203/4-1219 by Ralph Mortel (grandson of Sybil de Aungervill); dissolved 1535; granted to Francis Piggot 1538; site currently comprises earthworks	St Leonard ____________________ Snellshall Priory
Tickford Priory		Benedictine-Cluniac monks alien house: cell of Marmoutier founded 1140 or c.1100 by Fulk Paynell; dissolved 1524; sold to Henry Atkins, MD by James I	Blessed Virgin Mary ____________________ Newport Pagnel Priory; Tyxford Priory
Widmere Commandery		Knights Hospitaller founded before 1248; dissolved before 1338	Widmere Camera; Widmere Preceptory
Wing Priory #		Saxon monastery 7th century Benedictine monks alien house: cell dependent on St Nicholas, Angers founded before 1086; granted by Empress Matilda to Angers; land and later, chapel, granted to Angers by Bodin de Ver; in ownership of the Crown 1342-1361 and 1393-1423; dissolved 1416; granted to St Mary de Pré, Hertfordshire by St Albans, Hertfordshire; granted to Sir Robert Dormer by King Henry VIII	Wenge Priory

The following location in Buckinghamshire lacks known monastic connection:

• Wycombe Abbey: Independent girls' school

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

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See also

• List of monastic houses in England

References

• 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