| Summary : Double house of Augustinian canons and Benedictine nuns founded by 1154. It became an Augustinian monastery in 1167, when the nuns were moved to Moxby, and was dissolved in 1536. In 1280-3 it was impoverished and misruled, and 2 canons were sent to other houses. It was ravaged by the Scots in 1322. Earthworks of water management connected to fish farming remain including fishponds, reservoir, and a watermill remain. |
More information : (SE 58376948) Site of (NAT) Marton Priory (NR)
(Austin Friars) Moat (NR) (Twice)
(SE 58526978) Lead Coffin with Skeleton found AD 1852 (NAT)
(SE 58456952) Human Remains found AD 1892 (NAT) (1)
The priory of St Mary Virgin was founded about 1154 as a double
monastery of Augustinian canons and Benedictine nuns by
Betram de Bulmer. The nuns moved to Moxby (SE 56 NE 3) before
1167 but seem to have adopted the Augustinian rule after 1310.
At the dissolution in 1536 there were 15 canons besides the
prior and 37 servants. (2-3)
Extensive earthworks mark the site of Marton Priory. The modern
farm incorporates sculptured fragments including two crowned
shields with the initials IHC. In the front wall, a large stone
has a large well carved angel corbel bearing an inscribed
scroll. Two priory mills still exist, one called Abbey Mill, and
a corn mill lower down the stream. (4)
A lead coffin, 4 ft long, was found at a depth of 3 ft, when
draining in the Spring of 1852. The skeleton, apparently of a
female, had the skull missing. Two skeletons and a square block
of wood were embedded in a solid mass of rock met with during
excavations for drains and foundations in the autumn of 1892.
The skeletons were replaced except for a skull and two
thighbones, believed to be in the Masonic Hall, West Hartlepool. (5)
The priory earthworks include fish ponds at SE 58366946. (6)
Earthworks comprise the fragmentary remains of a precinct
feature in the form of a substantial bank in the south, and a
moat on the north and west sides. On the latter side the moat
also probably served as a feed for a series of fish ponds. In
addition a well-defined scarp delineates the raised 'D' shaped
area occupied by the priory itself. There is also a partially
ditched building platform at SE 58546944 and a system of banks
enclosing rig and furrow at SE 58456964. Published survey (25")
revised. (7)
SE 585696. Marton Priory. Scheduled. (8)
Marton Priory and its landscape has been surveyed at 1:1000 scale by RCHME. Full report. (9-10)
The earthwork features associated with Marton Priory were transcribed for the Vale of York project, based on the 1:1000 RCHME survey. No additional features were recorded from air photographs, except medieval ridge and furrow in adjacent fields, recorded in SE 56 NE 30.
(11)
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