Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Wilberfoss Priory
Hob Uid: 59582
Location : East Riding of Yorkshire Wilberfoss
Grid Ref : SE7329650983
Summary : Benedictine nunnery, founded before 1153 and dissolved in 1539. A dissolution survey suggests that the parish church may have been the nave of the priory church.
More information : [SE. 73315103] Benedictine Nunnery [GT.] (Site of) [Siting probably in error. See Authy (4)] (1) [As above] - sited two chains NE of St John The Baptists' Church. (2) According to Leland the PRIORY of ST MARY, WILBERFOSS was founded by ALAN of CATTON (4). A confirmation of 1464 by GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE (patron and founder), states that ALAN gave his HALL (AULA) and all other lands. ALAN'S charter is, however, preceded by one of JORDAN, son of GILBERT, who granted the NUNS the church of WILBERFOSS, with it's chapel of NEWTON and 7 bovates of land. In neither case is any definite date given, but the confirmation of JORDAN'S gift is addressed by his over-lord, William de Percy, to HENRY Archbishop of YORK (who died 1153) (5). The ratification was granted by ARCHBISHOP ROGER who succeeded, 1154. (6) CHRISTIANA heads the list of PRIORESSES (occurs 1231-1235 (7)). In 1526 the clear Annual value was only #12 (8). At the Dissolution there were eleven Nuns (including the PRIORESS, ELIZABETH LORD) (9) In 1553 the site of the PRIORY was granted to GEORGE GALE (brother-in-Law, of ELIZABETH LORD), who was a LORD MAYOR OF YORK in 1534 and 1549 (10). In POCKLINGTON Church there is the gravestone of the PRIORESS MARGARET EASINGWALD (13) - 1479-1512 (12). (3-13) I know of no evidence for siting this in Field 185 (25") (1). There is a dissolution survey which suggests that the Parish Church was the Nave of the Nunnery church, and that the Claustral buildings were to the North: The whole lay-out probably falling within Fields 186 and 187 [Area centred: SE.73275100]. (14) The siting evidence in (2) is not strong, and the direction "2 chains NE St John's Ch." might, quite reasonably, be plotted to fall in Field 186: moreover, there is no suggestion in the ONB that the site was pointed out on the ground. The location as indicated in (14) is probably more accurate. (15) Additional references. (16-19) Priory of St Mary for Benedictine Nuns founded before 1153 held a prioress and ten nuns at the suppression - 1539. (20) The site of the nunnery was evaluated by the Monument Protection Programme. The nunnery is thought to be located around the church and on the site of the former Wiberfoss Hall. The hall has been demolished and its site and whole area around the church has now been covered by a modern housing estate. It is considered that no remains will survive outside the churchyard. As the church and graveyard are in active use and the nature and extent of any remains of the nunnery is unknow, scheduling was not recommended. (21)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1911
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : 1909
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Register of Corpus Christi Guild, York 174 w
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : Register of Wills, YORK iii Fol.542
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Source Number : 12
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Source details : York Archiepis Register, Bainbridge Fol A2 b
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Source Number : 13
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Source details : No page quoted
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Source Number : 14
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Source details : R Gilyard-Beer, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Letter, 14.3.53
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Source Number : 15
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Source details : R1 JN 26-MAR-53
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Source Number : 16
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Page(s) : 197-215
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Vol(s) : 9, 1885-6

Source Number : 17
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Source details : Gilyard-Beer R 1958 Abbeys, An Introduction to Religious Houses in England and Wales (fig 28)
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Source Number : 18
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Source details : Tanner 1787 Notitia Monastica (125)
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Source Number : 19
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Source details : Clay M R 1914 Early Yorkshire Charters Vol 1 (344)
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Source Number : 2a
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Source details : Mr J Hick of Wilberfoss
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Source Number : 20
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Page(s) : 255,267
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Source Number : 21
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Source details : MPPA, D. Pritchard, 04-DEC-2002
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 125-6
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum iv 354
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 356 No 5
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 355 No 2
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Baildon Mon Notes i 226
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : S P Dom 1526
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : Suppression (PRO) ii 64
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1153
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Priory
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Humberside)
External Cross Reference Number : 3213
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 75 SW 5
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1953-03-26
End Date : 1953-03-26

Historic England Research Records

Wilberfoss Priory