List of monastic houses in East Sussex

Battle Abbey

Bayham Abbey

Beddingham Monastery

Hailsham Cell

Hastings Priory

Langney Priory

Lewes Priory

Michelham Priory

Otham Abbey

Ramstede Priory

Robertsbridge Abbey

Rotherfield Priory (doubtful)

RYE

Salehurst Abbey

Warbleton Priory (Rushlake Priory / New Hastings Priory)

WINCHELSEA

Withyham Priory

Locations of monastic houses in East Sussex

The following is a list of monastic houses in East Sussex, 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
Battle Abbey		Benedictine monks founded 1067 by William the Conqueror; dissolved 27 May 1538; granted to Sir Antony Brown 1538/9; (EH)	The Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Saint Mary and Saint Martin ____________________ St Martin's Abbey; Battel Abbey
Bayham Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons — from Brockley, Kent (Greater London) between 1199 and 1208, and from Otham between 1208 and 1211 daughter of Prémontré founded c.1207 (1200) by Robert of Thornham (Robert de Turreham); (established on the union of Otham and Brockley Abbeys) dissolved 1525; (EH)	the Blessed Virgin Mary ____________________ Bayham Old Abbey; Beigham Abbey
Beddingham Monastery		Saxon monastery in the reign of Offa (757-96); possibly destroyed in raids by the Danes 9th century
Hailsham Cell		Premonstratensian Canons cell, dependent on Bayham; founded after 1260; dissolved 1280-7 (canons expelled, restored and again expelled); restored 1296 in return for annual payment to Michelham
Hastings Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular — (?)Arroasian founded 1189-99 by Walter Bricet, or more probably by Walter de Scotney; structure physically moved inland to Warbleton due to encroachment of the sea; dissolved 1413; dissolved 1539; granted to John Baker 1537/8; masonry from the establishment was excavated during the construction of the Ritz Cinema; ESK Warehouse constructed on site	The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Hastings
Hooe Grange		Benedictine monks alien house: grange, dependent on Bec-Hellouin founded 1106; dissolved before 1230
Langney Priory		Cluniac monks grange, dependent on Lewes founded before 1121; now a house
Lewes Greyfriars		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of London) founded before 1241; dissolved 1538
Lewes Priory		Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on Cluny; founded 1077 (1078-81) by Earl William de Warenna (Warenne) and his wife Gundreda who granted the church of St Pancras; became denizen: independent from 1351; dissolved 16 November 1537; granted to Richard Baker and Richard Sackville 1559/60
Michelham Priory ^		Augustinian Canons Regular — (?)Arroasian founded 1229 by Gilbert de Aquila; dissolved 1536; granted to William Earl of Arundel 1541/2; remains incorporated into a mansion; now in ownership of Sussex Archaeological Society	The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Michelham
Otham Abbey, Polegate		Premonstratensian Canons — from Durford(?), Sussex founded c.1180 (1175, 1180-3(?)), or between 1180 and c.1187 (probably before 1183 if colonized from Durford) by Ralph de Dene; united with Bayham 1208-11; transferred to Bayham and retained as grange and chapel from 1250; dissolved 1526; now Otteham Court and St Lawrence's Chapel	The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Laurence
Ramstede Priory		Benedictine nuns founded 1174-84 by Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury dissolved before 1204 by Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury and nuns removed	St Mary Magdalene ____________________ Ramestede Priory
Robertsbridge Abbey		Cistercian monks daughter of Boxley, Kent (community founded at Salehurst 29 March 1176); transferred here c.1250; dissolved 16 April 1538; granted to Sir William Sidney 1541/2; site now occupied by a private house without public access	Robert's Bridge Abbey; Pontrobert Abbey; Roberts-bridge Abbey
Rotherfield Priory (?)		doubtful establishment Benedictine monks founded 790(?); alien house: dependent on St-Denys; dubious charter evidencing grant by Bertoald, Duke of the South Saxons; dissolution unknown
Rye Austin Friars, earlier site		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Oxford) founded 1364; destroyed by French marauders 1377; transferred into Rye (see immediately below) 1378-9
Rye Austin Friars +		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Oxford) (community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) 1364); transferred 1378-9 following destruction of earlier foundation; dissolved 1538; the chapel extant, now called 'The Monastery'
Rye Friars of the Sack ^		Friars of the Sack founded c.1263; dissolved when order abolished before 1307; subsequently in secular use
Rye — Friary of St Anthony *		Conventual Franciscan Friars St Walburga's Church opened 1900; parish in care of Franciscans 1910; St Anthony of Padua church opened 1930	The Friary Church of Saint Anthony of Padua
Salehurst Abbey		Cistercian monks — from Boxley, Kent (Greater London) daughter of Boxley; founded 29 March 1176 by Alfred de St Martino; transferred to Robertsbridge c.1250	Robertsbridge Abbey (earlier site)
South Malling Monastery		Benedictine? monks founded before 686?; secular collegiate founded before c.770?; dissolved 1547
Warbleton Priory ^		Augustinian Canons Regular — (?)Arroasian (community founded at Hastings 1189-99); refounded 1413 by Sir John Pelham: transferred from Hastings; dissolved 1536; remains incorporated into Priory Farm, in private ownership without public access	The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Hastings ____________________ Rushlake Priory; New Priory of Hastings
Wilmington Priory +		Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Grestein; cell founded before 1086 by Robert, Earl of Morteton; priory founded before/c.1243 by Herluin; dissolved 1414; granted to Dean and Chapter of Chichester; granted to Sir Richard Sackville 1565; site now occupied by parochial church
Winchelsea Black Friars, earlier site		Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of London) founded 1318 on the south cliff; new site granted by the king 1358 due to threat from sea; transferred to new site (see immediately below) 1358	Winchelsey Friary
Winchelsea Blackfriars		Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of London) (community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) 1318); transferred here 1358; dissolved 1538; granted to William Gifford and Michael Wildbore 1544/5	The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Winchelsea ____________________ Winchelsey Friary	(alleged)
Winchelsea Greyfriars, New Town		Franciscan Friars (under the Custody of London) (community founded at Old Town (see immediately below) before 1242 (before 1253)); transferred here 1283-7; dissolved 1538
Winchelsea Greyfriars, Old Town		Franciscan Friars (under the Custody of London) founded before 1242 (before 1253); transferred to new site (see immediately above) 1283-7
Withyham Priory		Benedictine monks alien house: grange(?) dependent on Mortain and Marmoutier; land apparently granted by Robert, Count of Mortain before 1086; founded 1249; dissolved 1413; granted to the New College, Hastings (Warbleton); dissolved 1536; granted to King's College, Cambridge

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

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