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List of monastic houses in Cheshire facts for kids

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

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 (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included where they had the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptor/commandery.

Abbreviations and key
Status of remains
Symbol Status
None Ruins
* Current monastic function
+ Current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^ Current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
$ Remains limited to earthworks etc.
# No identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
~ Exact site of monastic foundation unknown
Identification ambiguous or confused

Locations with names in italics indicate possible duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic name but lacking actual monastic connection.

Trusteeship
EH English Heritage
LT Landmark Trust
NT National Trust



Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names
Online References & Location
Barrow Camera (?) Knights Hospitaller
church granted by Robert de Bachepuz;
considered to be a confusion with Barrow Camera in Derbyshire
Great Barrow Camera
Birkenhead Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Bromborough Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Chester Abbey + Chester-cathedral.jpg tradition of very early foundation disputed
?nuns
founded before 875;
destroyed? in raids by the Danes 875;
secular canons
founded after 907, traditionally by Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred;
Benedictine monks
refounded as an abbey 1092/3 by Hugh I, Earl of Chester;
dissolved 1540; granted 1534/5;
episcopal diocesan cathedral
founded 1541; extant
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Chester (-875)

The Abbey Church of Saint Werburgh, Chester

The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chester (1541)


53°11′31″N 2°53′25″W / 53.191832°N 2.890193°W / 53.191832; -2.890193 (Chester Cathedral Priory)
Chester Abbey secular canons?
founded 689;
destroyed? in raids by the Danes after 875;
secular canons with associated anchorite cell;
(?re)founded c.906-7?;
part of the college of St John the Baptist;
dissolved 1547;
briefly episcopal diocesan cathedral, then co-cathedral with Coventry ?1072/5 until 1102;
in parochial use from 1102
The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester (1072/5-1102)


53°11′20″N 2°53′08″W / 53.189023°N 2.885461°W / 53.189023; -2.885461 (Chester Abbey)
Chester Blackfriars Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford)
founded before 1236 by Alexander Stavensby, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield;
dissolved 1538; granted to John Coke of London February 1544; site came into the possession of the Dutton family 1561


53°11′17″N 2°53′43″W / 53.1880394°N 2.8953427°W / 53.1880394; -2.8953427 (Chester Blackfriars)
Chester Franciscan Friary, earlier site Capuchin Franciscan Friars — from Pantasaph, Wales
founded 21 December 1858
transferred to new site 1862 (see immediately below)
Chester Franciscan Friary * Capuchin Franciscan Friars — from Pantasaph, Wales
founded 21 December 1858 at earlier site (see immediately above)
transferred to new site 1862;
church opened 29 April 1875;
extant
St Francis

53°11′16″N 2°53′35″W / 53.187771°N 2.8930199°W / 53.187771; -2.8930199 (Chester Franciscan Friary)
Chester Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester)
founded 1237/8 (1238–40) by Albert of Pisa;
dissolved 1537 (15 August 1538); granted to John Coke


53°11′25″N 2°53′48″W / 53.19037°N 2.896625°W / 53.19037; -2.896625 (Chester Greyfriars)
Chester Friars of the Sack Friars of the Sack
founded before 1274;
dissolved 1284; community probably died out before 1300


53°11′16″N 2°53′58″W / 53.1876826°N 2.8994572°W / 53.1876826; -2.8994572 (Chester Friary of the Sack (site))
Chester — St Michael's Monastery St Michael's, Chester-2.jpg uncertain order
founded before 1162;
Parish Church of St Michael, built 15th century; rebuilt by James Harrison 1849–50, currently in use as a Heritage Centre
St Michael

53°11′19″N 2°53′27″W / 53.1886582°N 2.8907347°W / 53.1886582; -2.8907347 (Chester — St Michael's Monastery)
Chester Whitefriars Carmelite Friars
founded 1279 (or before 1277) by Thomas Stadham; precinct granted 1289 to build their house;
dissolved 15 August 1538; granted to John Coke (Cokkes)


53°11′18″N 2°53′39″W / 53.1883126°N 2.8940392°W / 53.1883126; -2.8940392 (Chester Whitefriars)
Chester Priory, earlier site Benedictine? nuns
founded before 1066;
dissolved before c.1140;
refounded on new site (see immediately below)
St Mary
Chester Priory # Benedictine nuns
(community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) before 1066);
transferred here refounded c.1140 by Ranulph de Gernon (Randal), Earl of Chester;
dissolved 1537 (c.1540(?)); granted to Urian Brereton and son;
site excavated prior to construction of County Police Headquarters on site 1964
The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Chester

53°11′46″N 2°53′38″W / 53.1960921°N 2.894015°W / 53.1960921; -2.894015 (Chester Priory (site))
Combermere Abbey Combermere Abbey.jpg Savignac monks — from Savigny
founded 3 November 1133 by Hugh de Malbane, Lord of Nantwich;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147;
dissolved 1538; granted to William Cotton, Esq.
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Michael, Combermere

52°59′38″N 2°36′46″W / 52.993906°N 2.612742°W / 52.993906; -2.612742 (Combermere Abbey)
Curzon Park Abbey *, Chester Benedictine nuns
(community founded at Talacre, Wales, 1868);
transferred from Talacre 1988; extant
The Abbey Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Curzon Park, Chester

52°59′38″N 2°36′46″W / 52.993927°N 2.612756°W / 52.993927; -2.612756 (Curzon Park Abbey)
Darnhall Abbey Cistercian monks — from Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
founded 14 January 1271 to February 1274 by Edward I;
transferred to new site at Vale Royal 1281
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Darnhall

53°09′57″N 2°32′54″W / 53.1658614°N 2.5483292°W / 53.1658614; -2.5483292 (Darnhall Abbey)
Hilbre Island Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Merseyside
Mobberley Priory # Augustinian Canons Regular
founded c.1203-4 (c.1206) by Patrick of Mobberley;
annexed as a cell dependent on Rocester, Staffordshire 1228–40;
manor house built on site 1625 (replacing earlier, ruinous house)
The Priory Church of Saint Mary and Saint Wilfrid, Mobberley
____________________
Modberley Priory


53°19′06″N 2°19′00″W / 53.318291°N 2.316683°W / 53.318291; -2.316683 (Mobberley Priory)
Norton Priory Norton Priory.jpg Augustinian Canons Regular
(community founded at Runcorn c.1115);
transferred from Runcorn 1134 by William FitzWilliam third Baron of Halton;
raised to abbey status 1391 (1422) (early in the reign of Henry VI or sooner);
dissolved 1536; granted to Richard Brooke;
part converted into private mansion 1545;
demolished 1928;
now in ownership of Norton Priory Museum Trust open to public as a museum
The Priory Church of Saint Mary at Norton
____________________
Norton Abbey

Greene, pp. 2–3, 65–72.
Starkey, pp. 9, 35–40.

53°20′33″N 2°40′46″W / 53.342537°N 2.679403°W / 53.342537; -2.679403 (Norton Priory)
Poulton Abbey Savignac monks — from Combermere
site granted to Combermere 1146;
Cistercian monks
orders merged 17 September 1147;
founded 1153 by Robert, butler to Ranulf II, Earl of Chester;
building possibly completed 12 May 1158;
transferred to new site at Dieulacres, Staffordshire 1214 due to incursions by the Welsh;
subsequently re-used as a monastic grange with chapel;
dissolved; granted to William Cotton, Esq. (Sir George Cotton) c.1544;
ruinous before 1672;
demolished before 1718
St Mary and St Benedict
____________________
Pulton Priory;
Pulton Abbey


53°07′09″N 2°53′33″W / 53.1190692°N 2.8925478°W / 53.1190692; -2.8925478 (Poulton Abbey)
Runcorn Priory supposed monastic house
founded c.912 by Æthelflaed of Mercia;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1115 by William FitzNigel second Baron of Halton;
transferred to new site at Norton 1134;
possibly on site now occupied by All Saints parish church
St Mary and St Bertelin Greene, p. 1.
Starkey, p. 9.

53°20′37″N 2°44′12″W / 53.3435°N 2.73656°W / 53.3435; -2.73656 (Runcorn Priory)
Saighton Grange Saighton Grange.jpg Benedictine monks
mainly agricultural grange converted to residential grange of the abbots of Chester 15th century;
monastic site, apart from gatehouse, demolished 1861;
house built on site;
converted into a school named 'Abbey Gate College' 1977


53°09′02″N 2°50′03″W / 53.1504219°N 2.8342795°W / 53.1504219; -2.8342795 (Saighton Grange)
Stanlow Abbey Cistercian monks — from Combermere;
founded 11 November 1172 by John FitzRichard, Constable and sixth Baron of Halton;
transferred to new site at Whalley, Lancashire 1296; retained in use as a cell/grange dependent on Whalley from c.1350(?) until 1442;
dissolved 1442?; granted to Sir Robert Cotton, Kt. c.1553;
no substantial remains, site inaccessible
The Blessed Virgin Mary
____________________
Locus Benedictus de Stanlawe;
Stanlaw Abbey;
Stanlawe Abbey


53°17′24″N 2°51′36″W / 53.2900108°N 2.8599724°W / 53.2900108; -2.8599724 (Stanlow Abbey)
Stanney Grange Cistercian monks
grange with resident monk, dependent on Stanlow and Whalley, Lancashire;
founded 1172
Cow Worth Grange

53°16′20″N 2°53′04″W / 53.2721813°N 2.8844315°W / 53.2721813; -2.8844315 (Stanney Grange (Cow Worth Grange))
Vale Royal Abbey Cistercian monks
(community founded at Darnhall 14 January 1274 to 1277);
transferred from Darnhall 1281;
never completed; a project of Edward I;
dissolved 1545; granted to Thomas Holcroft c.1543
Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Nicholas and Saint Nicasius
____________________
Valeroyal Abbey


53°13′29″N 2°32′33″W / 53.22476°N 2.542498°W / 53.22476; -2.542498 (Vale Royal Abbey)
Warrington Austin Friars Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln)
founded before 1272? (built 1379?) on the site of an earlier hospital;
dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas Holcroft 1540/1;
church continued in use until 17th century


53°23′13″N 2°35′37″W / 53.386923°N 2.5935325°W / 53.386923; -2.5935325 (Warrington Austin Friars)
Warburton Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Greater Manchester


See also

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