More information : (SP 9730 9755) Fineshade Abbey (TI) on site of St' Mary's Priory (LB) (Augustinian).
The Priory was Augustinian, founded by Richard Engayne between 1199 and 1208 and suppressed in 1536 (2,3). It was dedicated to St Mary and was first known as the Priory of Castle Hymel and later as that of Fineshade. It passed in 1536 to John, Lord Russell, and in 1542 to Sir Robert Kirkham, who turned the conventual buildings into his residence. Its site was just to the NE of the Castle; and Bridges says that the priory hall was on the east side of the Kirkham mansion and that the site of the church was marked by a heap of stones at the mansion's NW corner, north of which again were found bodies and "the very pavement and foundation." It was totally destroyed in 1749. (2-4)
See 6" map diagram, annotated 25" survey and air photo. (5) |