LIST OF ENGLISH NUNNERIES. c. 1275-1535
[In this list Ab. = Abbey, Pr. = Priory; A. = Austin, B. = Benedictine, C. = Cistercian, Cl. = Cluniac, Dom. = Dominican, Fr. = Franciscan, Brig. = Brigittine. P. = Premonstratensian. Gilbertine houses are not included.]
| | House | | Dedication | | Order | | County | | Diocese | | Founder and date |
| 1. | Aconbury | | Holy Cross | | A.Pr. | | Her. | | Her. | | Margery, wife of Walter de Lacy, temp. John |
| 2. | Amesbury | | St Mary and St
Meilor | | B.Pr. | | Wilts. | | Salis. | | Saxon Abbey: refounded as a priory for nuns
of Fontevrault by King John, 1199 |
| 3. | Ankerwyke | | St Mary Magd. | | B.Pr. | | Bucks. | | Linc. | | Gilbert de Muntfichet, c. 1160 |
| 4. | Arden | | St Andrew | | B.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Peter de Hoton, temp. Henry II |
| 5. | Armathwaite | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Cumb. | | Carl. | | Unknown, before 1200 |
| 6. | Arthington | | St Mary | | Cl.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | Peter, son of Serlo de Arthington, middle of
twelfth century |
| 7. | Barking | | St Mary and St
Ethelburga | | B.Ab. | | Essex | | Lon. | | St Earconwald, Bishop of London, 675-93,
probably in 666 |
| 8. | Barrow Gurney
(Minchin
Barrow) | | St Mary and St
Edward | | B.Pr. | | Som. | | B. and W. | | Unknown: probably a Gurney, before 1212 |
| 9. | Basedale | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Guy de Bovincurt, c. 1190 (see V.C.H. Yorks.
III, 158) |
| 10. | Blackborough | | St Mary and St
Katherine | | B.Pr. | | Norf. | | Norw. | | Roger de Scales and Muriel his wife, c. 1150 |
| 11. | Blithbury | | St Giles | | B.Pr. | | Staffs. | | C.L. | | Hugh Malveysin, after 1129 |
| 12. | Brewood
(Black Ladies) | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Staffs. | | C.L. | | Unknown, twelfth century |
| 13. | Brewood
(White Ladies) | | St Leonard | | C.Pr. | | Salop | | C.L. | | Unknown, twelfth century |
| 14. | Bristol | | St Mary Magd. | | A.Pr. | | Glouces. | | Worc. | | Eva, widow of Robert Fitzhardinge, c. 1173 |
| 15. | Brodholme | | St Mary | | P.Pr. | | Notts. | | York | | Agnes de Camville, wife of Peter de Gousla,
temp. Stephen |
| 16. | Bromhale | | St Margaret | | B.Pr. | | Berks. | | Salis. | | Unknown, before 1200 |
| 17. | Bruisyard | | Ann. of St Mary | | Fr.Ab. | | Suff. | | Norw. | | Edward III, 1366, at instigation of Lionel,
Duke of Clarence |
| 18. | Buckland
(Minchin) | | St John Bapt. | | A.Pr.
(nuns of St
John of
Jerusalem) | | Som. | | B. and W. | | Henry II, c. 1186 (instead of House of Austin
canons founded 1166 by William de Erlegh) |
| 19. | Bungay | | St Mary and
Holy Cross | | B.Pr. | | Suff. | | Norw. | | Roger de Glanville and Gundred his wife, c.
1160 |
| 20. | Burnham | | St Mary | | A.Ab. | | Bucks. | | Linc. | | Richard, King of the Romans, 1266 |
| 21. | Cambridge | | St Radegund | | B.Pr. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | c. 1133-8, temp. Nigel, Bishop of Ely |
| 22. | Campsey | | St Mary | | A.Pr. | | Suff. | | Norw. | | Theobald de Valognes, c. 1195 |
| 23. | Cannington | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Som. | | B. and W. | | Robert de Courcy, c. 1138 |
| 24. | Canonsleigh | | St Mary, St John
Evangelist and
St Audrey | | A.Ab. | | Devon | | Ex. | | Maud de Clare, Countess of Gloucester and
Hertford, temp. Edward I (previously a
house of canons) |
| 25. | Canterbury | | St Sepulchre | | B.Pr. | | Kent | | Cant. | | St Anselm, 1100 |
| 26. | Carrow | | St Mary and St
John | | B.Pr. | | Norf. | | Norw. | | King Stephen, 1146 |
| 27. | Catesby | | St Mary, St
Edmund and
St Thomas
the Martyr | | C.Pr. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | Robert de Esseby, c. 1175 |
| 28. | Chatteris | | St Mary | | B.Ab. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | Eadnoth, Abbot of Ramsey, c. 1010 |
| 29. | Cheshunt | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Herts. | | Lon. | | Unknown, twelfth century |
| 30. | Chester | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Chester | | C.L. | | Ranulf, Earl of Chester, c. 1140 |
| 31. | Clementhorpe | | St Clement | | B.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York. | | Thurstan, Archbishop of York, c. 1130 |
| 32. | Clerkenwell | | Assumption
of St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | Jordan Brisett, c. 1100 |
| 33. | Cokehill | | —— | | C.Pr. | | Worc. | | Worc. | | Isabel, Countess of Warwick, end of twelfth
century |
| 34. | Cornworthy | | St Mary | | A.Pr. | | Devon | | Ex. | | Uncertain, fourteenth century |
| 35. | Crabhouse | | St Mary Magd.
St John Evang.
St Thomas
and St Peter | | A.Pr. | | Norf. | | Norw. | | Roger, prior, and canons of Rainham, c. 1181 |
| 36. | Dartford | | St Mary and St
Margaret | | A.Pr.
(according
to rule and
in charge
of Dom.
friars) | | Kent | | Roch. | | Edward III, 1355 |
| 37. | Davington | | St Mary Magd. | | B.Pr. | | Kent | | Cant. | | Fulk de Newenham, 1153 |
| 38. | Delapré
(de Pratis) | | St Mary | | Cl.Ab. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | Simon of Saint-Liz, Earl of Northampton,
temp. Stephen (first at Fotheringay) |
| 39. | Delapré
(de Prato) | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Herts. | | Linc. | | Under abbey of St Albans |
| 40. | Denny | | St James and
St Leonard | | Fr.Ab. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | Mary de Valence, Countess of Pembroke,
1342 |
| 41. | Derby
(Kingsmead or
de Pratis) | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Derby | | C.L. | | Aubin, Abbot of Darley, c. 1160 |
| 42. | Easebourne | | Nativity of
B.V.M. | | B.Pr. | | Suss. | | Chich. | | ... de Bohun, before 1248 |
| 43. | Ellerton
(in Swaledale) | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Uncertain, before 1227 |
| 44. | Elstow | | St Mary and
St Helen | | B.Ab. | | Beds. | | Linc. | | Judith, Countess of Huntingdon, late
eleventh century |
| 45. | Esholt | | St Mary, St
Leonard and
St James | | C.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | Uncertain, twelfth century |
| 46. | Fairwell | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Staffs. | | C.L. | | Roger, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield,
c. 1140 |
| 47. | Flamstead | | St Giles | | B.Pr. | | Herts. | | Linc. | | Roger de Tony, temp. Stephen |
| 48. | Flixton | | St Mary and
St Katherine | | A.Pr. | | Suff. | | Norw. | | Margery, widow of Geoffrey de Hanes and
daughter of Bartholomew de Crek, 1258 |
| 49. | Fosse | | St Nicholas | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | The men of Torksey, before the reign of John |
| 50. | Godstow | | St Mary and
St John Baptist | | B.Ab. | | Oxon | | Linc. | | Edith, widow of Sir William Launcelene, c.
1133 |
| 51. | Gokewell | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | William Dawtrey, before 1148 or 1185 |
| 52. | Goring | | St Mary | | A.Pr. | | Oxon | | Linc. | | Thomas de Druval, temp. Henry I |
| 53. | Gracedieu | | Holy Trinity and
St Mary | | A.Pr. | | Leices. | | Linc. | | Rohese de Verdon, c. 1239 |
| 54. | Greenfield | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Eudes of Grainsby and Ralph his son, before
1153 |
| 55. | Grimsby | | St Leonard | | A.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Before 1184 |
| 56. | Haliwell
(Shoreditch) | | St John Baptist | | B.Pr. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | Roger son of Gelren, before 1127 |
| 57. | Hampole | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | William de Clarefai and Avice de Tany his wife,
c. 1170 |
| 58. | Handale
(or Grendale) | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | William Percy of Dunsley, 1133 |
| 59. | Harrold | | St Peter | | A.Pr. | | Beds. | | Linc. | | Sampson le Fort, before 1148 (as Arroasian
house). Nunnery, 1181 |
| 60. | Hedingham,
Castle | | Holy Cross, St
Mary and
St James | | B.Pr. | | Ess. | | Lon. | | Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Lucy his
wife, before 1191 |
| 61. | Henwood | | St Margaret | | B.Pr. | | Warw. | | Worc. | | Ketelbern de Langdon, between 1149 and
1161 |
| 62. | Heynings | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Reyner d’Evermue, temp. Stephen |
| 63. | Hinchinbrooke | | St James | | B.Pr. | | Hunts. | | Linc. | | Removed from Eltisley, Cambs., temp. William I |
| 64. | Holystone | | —— | | B.Pr. | | Northumb. | | Dur. | | ... Umfraville of Harbottle, before 1235 |
| 65. | Ickleton | | St Mary Magd. | | B.Pr. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | Uncertain, c. 1190 |
| 66. | Ilchester
(White Hall) | | Holy Trinity | | A.Pr. | | Som. | | B. and W. | | William Dennis, c. 1220 (as a hospital). A
nunnery before 1281 |
| 67. | Irford | | St Mary | | P.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Probably Ralph d’Albini, temp. Henry II |
| 68. | Ivinghoe | | St Margaret | | B.Pr. | | Bucks. | | Linc. | | [William Giffard?], Bishop of Winchester,
twelfth century |
| 69. | Keldholme | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York.,N.R. | | York | | Robert de Stuteville, temp. Henry I |
| 70. | Kilburn | | St Mary and
St John Baptist | | B.Pr. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | Herbert, Abbot of Westminster, 1139 |
| 71. | Kington
St Michael | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Wilts. | | Salis. | | Before 1155 |
| 72. | Kirklees | | St Mary and St
James | | C.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | Reiner le Fleming, temp. Henry II |
| 73. | Lacock | | St Mary and St
Bernard | | A.Ab. | | Wilts. | | Salis. | | Ela, Countess of Salisbury, 1232 |
| 74. | Lambley | | St Patrick | | B.Pr. | | Northumb. | | Durh. | | Adam de Tynedale, temp. John |
| 75. | Langley | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Leic. | | Linc. | | William Pantulf and Burga his wife, temp.
Henry II |
| 76. | Legbourne | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Robert, son of Gilbert of Tathwell, after 1150
(removed from earlier site) |
| 77. | Lillechurch
(Higham) | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Kent | | Roch. | | King Stephen, before 1151 |
| 78. | Littlemore | | St Mary, St
Nicholas and
St Edmund | | B.Pr. | | Oxon | | Linc. | | Robert de Sandford, temp. Stephen |
| 79. | London
(Bishopsgate) | | St Helen and
Holy Cross | | B.Pr. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | William, son of William, the goldsmith, before
1216 |
| 80. | London | | St Mary and
St Francis | | Fr.Ab. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, 1293 |
| 81. | Lymbrook | | St Mary | | A.Pr. | | Her. | | Her. | | Uncertain |
| 82. | Lyminster | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Suss. | | Chich. | | Roger de Montgomery, c. 1082 (as cell of
Almenèches) |
| 83. | Malling | | St Mary and St
Andrew | | B.Ab. | | Kent | | Roch. | | Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester, 1090 |
| 84. | Marham | | St Mary, St
Barbara and
St Edmund | | C.Ab. | | Norf. | | Norw. | | Isabel, widow of Hugh de Albini, Earl of
Arundel, 1249 |
| 85. | Markyate | | Holy Trinity | | B.Pr. | | Beds. | | Linc. | | 1145, under influence of Geoffrey, Abbot of
St Albans |
| 86. | Marlow,
Little | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Bucks. | | Linc. | | Uncertain, twelfth century |
| 87. | Marrick | | St Andrew and
St Mary | | B.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Roger de Aske, temp. Henry II |
| 88. | Moxby | | St John
Evangelist | | A.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Henry II, before 1167 (removed from double
house at Marton) |
| 89. | Neasham | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Durh. | | Durh. | | Probably the Lord of Greystoke, before 1157 |
| 90. | Newcastle-
upon-Tyne | | St Bartholomew | | B.Pr. | | Northumb. | | Durh. | | Uncertain, twelfth century |
| 91. | Nunappleton | | St Mary and St
John Evangelist | | C.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | Eustace de Merch and Alice St Quintin his
wife, c. 1150 |
| 92. | Nunburnholme | | —— | | B.Pr. | | York., E.R. | | York | | Ancestors of Roger de Merlay, Lord of
Morpeth, twelfth century |
| 93. | Nuncoton | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Alan de Mounceaux, before 1129 |
| 94. | Nuneaton | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Warw. | | Worc. | | Robert, Earl of Leicester, c. 1155, for nuns
of Fontevrault |
| 95. | Nunkeeling | | St Mary and St
Helen | | B.Pr. | | York., E.R. | | York | | Agnes de Arches, widow of Herbert St
Quintin, 1152 |
| 96. | Nunmonkton | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | York., W.R. | | York | | William de Arches and Ivetta his wife, temp.
Stephen |
| 97. | Pinley | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Warw. | | Worc. | | Robert de Pillarton, temp. Henry I |
| 98. | Polesworth | | St Edith | | B.Ab. | | Warw. | | C.L. | | Saxon foundation. Refounded by Robert
Marmion, temp. Stephen |
| 99. | Polsloe | | St Katherine | | B.Pr. | | Devon | | Ex. | | Traditional founder, William Bruere, before
1169 |
| 100. | Redlingfield | | St Andrew and
St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Suff. | | Norw. | | Manasses, Count of Guisnes, and Emma de
Arras his wife, 1120 |
| 101. | Romsey | | St Mary and St
Elfrida | | B.Ab. | | Hants. | | Win. | | Edward the Elder, c. 907: refounded by King
Edgar, 967 |
| 102. | Rosedale | | St Mary and St
Lawrence | | C.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Robert, son of Nicholas de Stuteville, temp.
Richard I |
| 103. | Rothwell | | St John Baptist | | A.Pr. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | ... de Clare, thirteenth century |
| 104. | Rowney | | St John Baptist | | B.Pr. | | Herts. | | Linc. | | Conan, Duke of Britanny and Earl of Richmond,
temp. Henry II, suppressed 1459 |
| 105. | Rusper | | St Mary Magd. | | B.Pr. | | Suss. | | Chich. | | Twelfth century, probably by one of the Braose
family |
| 106. | St Stephen’s
(Foukeholme) | | St Stephen | | B.Pr. | | York, N.R. | | York | | Uncertain. Disappeared after 1349 |
| 107. | Seton
(Lekeley) | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Cumb. | | York | | Henry son of Arthur son of Godard, Lord of
Millom, twelfth century |
| 108. | Sewardsley | | St Mary Magd. | | C.Pr. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | Richard de Lestre, temp. Henry II |
| 109. | Shaftesbury | | St Mary and St
Edward | | B.Ab. | | Dorset | | Salis. | | King Alfred, c. 888 |
| 110. | Sheppey
(Minster) | | St Mary and St
Sexburga | | B.Pr. | | Kent | | Cant. | | St Sexburga, 675 |
| 111. | Sinningthwaite | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York, W.R. | | York | | Bertram Haget, c. 1160 |
| 112. | Sopwell | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Herts. | | Linc. | | Under abbey of St Albans |
| 113. | Stainfield | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | William or Henry de Percy, temp. or before
Henry II |
| 114. | Stamford | | St Mary and St
Michael | | B.Pr. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | William Waterville, Abbot of Peterborough,
c. 1155 |
| 115. | Stixwould | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | Linc. | | Linc. | | Lucy, Countess of Perche, temp. Stephen |
| 116. | Stratford-by-
Bow | | St Leonard | | B.Pr. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | William, Bishop of London, temp. Henry I |
| 117. | Studley | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Oxon | | Linc. | | Probably Bernard of St Valery, before 1176 |
| 118. | Swaffham
Bulbeck | | —— | | B.Pr. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | Uncertain, before temp. John |
| 119. | Swine | | St Mary | | C.Pr. | | York., E.R. | | York | | Robert de Verli, temp. Stephen |
| 120. | Syon | | St Saviour, St
Mary and St
Bridget | | Brig.Ab. | | Midd. | | Lon. | | King Henry V, 1414 |
| 121. | Tarrant
Keynes | | St Mary and
All Saints | | C.Ab. | | Dorset | | Salis. | | Ralph de Keynes, before 1235 |
| 122. | Thetford | | St George and
St Gregory | | B.Pr. | | Norf. | | Norw. | | Hugh, Abbot of Bury St Edmunds, c. 1160
(removed from Ling) |
| 123. | Thicket | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | York., E.R. | | York | | Roger FitzRoger, temp. Richard I |
| 124. | Usk | | —— | | B.Pr. | | Monm. | | Llan. | | Sir Richard de Clare, before 1236 |
| 125. | Wallingwells | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Notts. | | York | | Ralph de Chevrecourt, temp. Stephen |
| 126. | Waterbeach | | St Mary of
Pity and
St Clare | | Fr.Pr. | | Cambs. | | Ely | | Denise de Mountchesney, 1294. Removed
to Denny, 1348 |
| 127. | Westwood | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Worc. | | Worc. | | Osbert son of Hugh and Eustacia de Saye,
his mother, temp. Henry II (for nuns of
Fontevrault) |
| 128. | Wherwell | | Holy Cross
and St Peter | | B.Ab. | | Hants. | | Win. | | Queen Elfrida, c. 986 |
| 129. | Whiston | | St Mary Magd. | | C.Pr. | | Worc. | | Worc. | | Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester,
before 1255 |
| 130. | Wilberfoss | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | York.,E.R. | | York | | Uncertain, temp. Stephen |
| 131. | Wilton | | St Mary, St
Barthlomew
and St Edith | | B.Ab. | | Wilts. | | Salis. | | St Alburga, c. 800: refounded by King
Alfred, c. 871 |
| 132. | Winchester | | St Mary and St
Edburga | | B.Ab. | | Hants. | | Win. | | King Alfred and Queen Ealhswith, c. 900.
Refounded by St Ethelwold, 963 |
| 133. | Wintney | | St Mary, St
Mary Magd.
and St John
Baptist | | C.Pr. | | Hants. | | Win. | | Richard Holte and Christine his wife,
daughter of Thomas Cobreth, twelfth
century |
| 134. | Wix | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Ess. | | Lon. | | Walter Mascherell, Alexander and Edith,
children of Walter the Deacon, temp.
Henry I |
| 135. | Wothorpe | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | Northants. | | Linc. | | Uncertain: united to St Michael’s,
Stamford, 1354 |
| 136. | Wroxall | | St Leonard | | B.Pr. | | Warw. | | Worc. | | Hugh, Lord of Hatton and Wroxall, temp.
Henry I |
| 137. | Wykeham | | St Mary and St
Michael | | C.Pr. | | York., N.R. | | York | | Pain FitzOsbert, c. 1153 |
| 138. | Yedingham | | St Mary | | B.Pr. | | York., E.R. | | York | | Helewise de Clere, before 1163 |
A. MANUSCRIPT SOURCES
I. Episcopal Registers