Abbeys and Priories of Oxfordshire, England

pictured right: Clattercote Abbey

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The object of this project is to provide information about Abbeys and Priories in the county of Oxfordshire, with links to sub-projects for specific buildings as appropriate. GENi profiles of people associated with those establishments can be linked to this project and/or to individual projects where they have been set up.

• Abingdon Abbey
  
• Barton CellAugustinian Canons Regular ?cell dependent on Oseney; possibly an estate without resident canons
  
• Bicester Priory
  
• Bruern Abbey
  
• Caversham Cell
  
• Charlton on Otmoor Priory Benedictine monks alien house: grange dependent on St Evroul; founded 1086 (1081) by Hugh Grentemoisnil; dissolved 1414; granted to Sir Thomas White and others Charleton Priory
  
• 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
  
• Cholsey Abbey Benedictine 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
  
• Clanfield Preceptory Knights Hospitaller founded before 1279; united to Quenington before 1433
  
• Clanfield Cell Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem cell foundation unknown dissolved c.1180: transferred to Buckland, Somerset
  
• Clattercote Priory
  
• Cogges Priory Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Fécamp; founded 1103 by Manasses Arsic; dissolved 1414; granted to Eton College St Mary
  
• Cold Norton Priory Augustinian 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
  
• Coxwell Grange Cistercian Monks probably grange with chapel; founded 1205 (1204); dependent on Beaulieu, Hampshire; Court House Farm built on site 16th century; (NT)
  
• Dorchester Abbey DorchesterAbbey.JPG secular cathedral founded 634, new see of the West Saxons created; see transferred to Winchester 663 see of Mercia 670s; see restored after 869 (875); 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
  
• East Hendred Cell Carthusian monks grange: manor and chapel dependent on Sheen, Surrey, (Greater London), but apparently grange status, possibly without resident monks
  
• Eynsham AbbeyBenedictine monks founded 1005 by Æthelmar (Ailmer), 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 (also St Andrew and St Eadburgh given) Egnesham Abbey
  
• Faringdon Abbey Cistercian 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
  
• Godstow Abbey Godstow Nunnery ruin 20050326.jpg Benedictine nuns with small community of Benedictine monks under a master attached to the nunnery founded by Easter 1133 by Ediva (Editha), 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, h[ttp://www.geni.com/people/Dr-Owen/6000000030514584571 Dr George Owen] before 1547 St Mary and St John the Baptist Godeston Abbey
  
• Goring Priory Augustinian Canonesses founded 12th century (during the reign of Henry I) 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
  
• Gosford Preceptory Knights 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 Gosford Cell Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem cell; foundation unknown dissolved c.1180: transferred to Buckland
  
• 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
  
• Littlemore Priory Benedictine 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
  
• Merton Preceptory Knights Templar founded c.1156, granted by Simon, Earl of Northampton; dissolved c.1240(?), became a limb of Sandford Milton Cell Benedictine monks purported cell dependent on Abingdon — evidence lacking
  
• Minchery Priory Benedictine nuns site now occupied by Minchery Farm, also called 'The Priory and...?....'
  
• Minster Lovell Priory Saxon minster Benedictine monks alien house: cell dependent on Ivry; founded c.1200-6, St Kenelm's Church granted to Ivry 1200; dissolved 1414 (1415); granted to Eton College 1441
  
• Oddington Grange Cistercian monks dependent on Thame; founded c.1141; possibly on the site of Otley Abbey
  
• Oseney Abbey Osney cathedral.jpg Augustinian Canons Regular priory founded 1129 by Robert d'Oilly (son of the Lord of Oxford) 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 Oseney Priory; Aseney Priory; Osney Abbey
  
• Otley Abbey Cistercian 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 (though possibly deserted village rather than monastic) Ottley Abbey Ottelei Abbey; Oddington Grange?
  
• Oxford Austin Friars Austin Friars (under the Limit of Oxford) founded 1266-7; Henry III regarded as founder 1268; impoverished and ruinous at dissolved July 1538; Oxford Wadham College founded 1612 by Nicholas Wadham
  
• Oxford Blackfriars— St Aldate's Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) founded 1221; transferred to new site (see immediately below) 1245 oratory: St Mary
  
• Oxford Blackfriars — St Ebbe's Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) (community founded at St Aldates (see immediately above) 1221); transferred here 1245; dissolved 1538
  
• 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 (Greater London) 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
  
• Oxford Crutched Friars Crutched 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
  
• Oxford Friars of the Sack Friars 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
  
• Oxford Greyfriars, earlier site Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Oxford) 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 (see immediately below) 1244-5
  
• Oxford Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Oxford) (community founded at St Ebbe's 1224) transferred here from earlier site (see immediately above) 1244-5: house and land granted to the townsmen for the friars' use by Richard the Miller; dissolved1538
  
• Oxford Trinitarian Priory, earlier site Trinitarians founded before 1286: granted by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall 1293; transferred to new site (see immediately below) c.1313 The Holy Trinity
  
• Oxford Trinitarian PrioryTrinitarians (community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) before 1286; transferred here c.1313 (site acquired before 1307); known as 'Trinity Hall' from late-15th century, apparently dependent on Moatenden; dissolved 1538 The Holy Trinity
  
• Pheleley Priory Benedictine monks founded after 1100 (during the reign of HenryI); apparently connected with Tewkesbury, but assigned by Tewkesbury as a cell to Eynsham; annexed to /transferred to Eynsham after c.1145 Phelely Priory
  
• Rewley Abbey intended 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
  
• Sandford Preceptory Knights 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
  
• Sibford Camera Knights Templar founded before(?)1185; dissolved 1312
  
• Steventon Priory Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on of St-Mary-du-Pré, Rouen and Bec-Hellouin, Normandy founded 12th century (during the reign of Henry I) manor granted to St Mary de Pre (St Mary de Prato, called Bonne-Nouvelle), 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 (NT) Stenington Priory
  
• Studley Priory Benedictine nuns founded 12th century by Bernard of Walery (de St Walerico); dissolved 1536 (apparently suppressed), 19 November 1539 (surrendered); granted to John Croke 1539/40; converted into an Elizabethan manor house; now in use as the Studley Priory Hotel St Mary Stodeley Priory
  
• Temple Cowley Preceptory Knights Templar founded 1136 by Queen Matilda; transferred to Temple Cowley c.1240 and thereafter reduced to status of camera
  
• Thame Abbey Cistercian monks transferred from Otley; dependent on Waverley, Surrey; (founded at Otley 22 July 1137); 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
  
• Wallingford Priory Benedictine monks cell of St Albans, Hertfordshire founded 1097 or 1088 (1077-93, 1087-9) by Robert D'Oyley or Gilfrid, Abbot of St Alban; dissolved 1525(-8) by Cardinal Wolsey to fund Ipswich College; granted to John Norres c.1546; The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Wallingford Wallingford Cell; Waring Cell
  
• Wroxton Abbey
  

• Westcot Camera Knights Templar founded 13th century (during the reign of Henry III): holdings granted by Robert Achard; dissolved 1308-12; Knights Hospitaller transferred 1308-12 Westcott Camera
  
• Wytham Abbey nuns — from Helenstow; purportedly transferred here after 700; dispersed to other houses during hostilities c.780;