List of monastic houses in Devon facts for kids
Here is a list of the monastic houses in Devon, England. These were special places where groups of people, like monks or nuns, lived together under religious rules. They dedicated their lives to prayer, work, and study. Many of these houses were closed down by King Henry VIII in the 1500s during an event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included where they had the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptor/commandery.
- Abbreviations and key
| Symbol | Status |
|---|---|
| None | Ruins |
| * | Current monastic function |
| + | Current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) |
| ^ | Current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure |
| $ | Remains limited to earthworks etc. |
| # | No identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains |
| ~ | Exact site of monastic foundation unknown |
| ≈ | Identification ambiguous or confused |
Locations with names in italics indicate possible duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic name but lacking actual monastic connection.
| EH | English Heritage |
| LT | Landmark Trust |
| NT | National Trust |
| Name | Image | Who Lived There & History | Formal Name or Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allerton Cell | Benedictine hermits lived here. It was a small religious house connected to Tavistock Abbey. | ||
| Axminster Monastery | This place was home to monks or canons (priests living by rules) before 757. It was later linked to York Abbey in 1060. It closed in 1535. | ||
| Axmouth Priory | Benedictine monks lived here. This was an alien house, meaning it was controlled by a monastery in another country (Montebourg). It was founded before 1387 and closed in 1414. | ||
| Barnstaple Priory | Cluniac monks lived here. It was also an alien house, connected to St-Martin-des-Champs in Paris. It became independent in 1403 and closed in 1535. | The Priory Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Barnstaple
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin |
|
| Barnstaple Austin Friary (?) | Augustinian Friars tried to set up a house here in 1348 and 1353, but it seems it was never actually built. | ||
| Bodmiscombe Preceptory | This was a house for the Knights Hospitaller, a military religious order. It was founded after 1200 and likely closed before the 15th century. | Bothemescomb Preceptory | |
| Braunton Monastery | People believe a monastery was founded here in the 5th century by Saint Branock. | ||
| Brightley Priory | Cistercian monks from Waverley started this priory in 1136. They left in 1141 and moved to Forde. Today, Brightley Farm stands on the site. | ||
| Buckfast Monastery | Benedictine monks founded this monastery in 1018. The current Buckfast Abbey was later built on this same site. | ||
| Buckfast Abbey | Savignac monks started this abbey in 1136, on the site of an older Benedictine monastery. The Savignac and Cistercian orders merged in 1147. It closed in 1539. Benedictine monks rebuilt it from 1884 to 1938, and it is still active today! | The Abbey Church of Our Lady, Buckfast
Buckfastre Abbey |
|
| Buckland Abbey | Cistercian monks from Quarr founded this abbey in 1278. It closed in 1539. The building was later turned into a mansion and was owned by Sir Francis Drake. It is now a museum. | The Abbey Church of Saint Benedict, Buckland | |
| Canonsleigh Abbey | This site first had a priory for Augustinian Canons around 1161. It closed before 1285. Then, Augustinian Canonesses (nuns) founded an abbey here before 1285. It closed in 1539. Some of the old buildings are now part of farm buildings. | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, Leigh (1161–1285)
The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Etheldreda, Leigh (1285–1539) Leigh Abbey; Canon's Leigh |
|
| Chudleigh Abbey | Brigittine nuns moved here from Spettisbury in 1887. They later moved to Marley House in 1925. | The Abbey Church of Saint Bridget of Syon, Chudleigh | |
| Churchill Monastery | The type of religious order and when it was founded are not clear for this monastery. | ||
| Cornworthy Priory | Augustinian Canonesses (nuns) founded this priory between 1205 and 1238. It closed in 1539. | Court Prior | |
| Cove | This was a small part of the Bodmiscombe Preceptory, run by the Knights Hospitaller. | ||
| Cowick Priory | Benedictine monks from Bec-Hellouin in France founded this priory in 1144. It was an alien house but later became independent. It closed in 1538. | The Priory Church of Saint Andrew, Cowick
Cowick Priory |
|
| Crediton Monastery | This was a monastery for monks founded in 739. It became a cathedral in 909, but the main church moved to Exeter in 1050. It closed in 1548. | St Gregory (possibly) | |
| Dartmouth Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars started a house here in 1331, but it closed before 1348. The church of St Petrox was later built on this site. | ||
| Dartmouth Monastery | It's unclear what religious order lived here. A chapel in the castle was linked to a "great abbey." | ||
| Denbury Priory | Benedictine monks from Tavistock founded this priory in 1086. It closed in 1539. | Denbury Cell; Denbury Grange | |
| Dunkeswell Abbey | Cistercian monks from Forde founded this abbey in 1201. It closed in 1539. Today, a parish chapel stands on the site. | ||
| Exeter Cathedral Priory | This site has a long history. It was a monastery before 690. It became a cathedral in 1050, and it is still a cathedral today. | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Peter
The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter |
|
| Exeter Monastery | A Saxon monastery was founded here in 868 by King Etheldred. | ||
| Exeter Monastery | Benedictine monks founded another monastery here in 932. They had to flee during Danish raids but returned. | ||
| Exeter Nunnery (?) | It was thought that Augustinian Canonesses (nuns) founded a house here around 968. However, later information suggests it might not have existed. | ||
| Exeter Priory (?) | A license was given in 1331/2 for Carthusian monks to build a monastery here, but it seems it was never built. | ||
| Exeter Blackfriars | Dominican Friars founded this house before 1232. It closed in 1538. A house called 'Bedford House' was later built on the site. | Exeter Blackfriars | |
| Exeter Greyfriars (earlier site) | Franciscan Friars founded this house before 1240. They moved to a new site around 1292-1303. It closed in 1538. | ||
| Exeter Greyfriars (later site) | Franciscan Friars moved to this new site around 1292-1303. | ||
| Exeter — Polsloe Priory | Benedictine nuns founded this priory around 1160. It closed in 1536 or 1538. Most of it was torn down, and the rest became a country house. | The Priory Church of Saint Katherine, Polsloe
Polleshoo Priory |
|
| Exeter — St James Priory | Cluniac monks founded this priory before 1143. It was connected to an abbey in Paris. It later closed, and a house called 'The Old Abbey' was built on the site. | St James | |
| Exeter — St Nicholas Priory | Benedictine monks founded this priory in 1087 by William the Conqueror. It closed in 1536. Today, it is a museum open to the public. | The Priory Church of Saint Nicolas, Exeter
Benedictine Priory of St Nicholas |
|
| Exminster Monastery | This was a religious community before the Norman Conquest in the 8th century. | ||
| Frithelstock Priory | Augustinian Canons founded this priory around 1220. It closed in 1536. | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Gregory, Frithlestock
Frethelstoke Priory; Fristoke Priory |
|
| Hartland Abbey | This was first a college for priests before 1066. Then, Augustinian Canons founded an abbey here between 1161 and 1169. It closed in 1539. Parts of the old buildings are now part of a house called 'Hartland Abbey'. | Hertland Abbey | |
| Indio Monastery | The type of religious order and when it was founded are not clear for this monastery. | ||
| Ipplepen Priory | Augustinian Canons founded this priory around 1143. It was an alien house connected to a priory in France. It closed around 1414. | ||
| Ivybridge Priory | Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary moved here in 1910. Later, Augustinian Recollects founded a priory here in 1932. It closed in 2016, and the building is now used as a church. | St Austin's Priory | |
| Kerswell Priory | Cluniac monks founded this priory between 1119 and 1129. It was an alien house linked to Montacute Priory. It became independent in 1407 and closed in 1538 or 1539. A 16th-century house now stands on the site. | Careswell Cell | |
| Leigh Cell | This was a small religious house, possibly a farm, for Savignac monks around 1137. When the Savignac and Cistercian orders merged in 1147, it became a Cistercian house. | Leigh Grange | |
| Marsh Barton Priory | Augustinian Canons founded this priory in 1142, connected to Plympton. It closed in 1539. | St Mary
St Mary de Marsh |
|
| Modbury Priory | Benedictine monks founded this priory around 1140. It was an alien house connected to St-Pierre-sur-Dives in France. It closed around 1441. | St George | |
| Newenham Abbey | Cistercian monks from Beaulieu founded this abbey in 1246 or 1247. It closed in 1539. | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Newenham
Neuham Abbey |
|
| Otterton Priory | Benedictine monks founded this priory before 1087. It was an alien house connected to Mont-St-Michel in Normandy. It closed in 1414. Part of the old building was turned into a mansion. | Otterington Priory | |
| Ottery St Mary Monastery | It was once thought there was a monastery here before the Norman Conquest, but this has been disproven. | ||
| Pilton Priory | Benedictine monks supposedly founded this priory before the 12th century, possibly by King Athelstan, but there isn't strong evidence. It closed in 1539. | The Priory Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Pilton | |
| Plymouth — St Dunstan's Abbey | Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity founded this abbey. They moved to Berkshire in 1906. | The Abbey Church of Saint Dunstan, Plymouth;
St Dunstan of Glastonbury |
|
| Plymouth Blackfriars(?) | It's believed that Dominican Friars founded a house here in 1431. The site is now home to the Black Friars Distillery. There might be some confusion with the Greyfriars. | ||
| Plymouth Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars founded this house in 1383. It closed in 1538. | Plymouth Friary | |
| Plymouth Whitefriars | Carmelite Friars founded this house before 1296-97. It closed in 1538. | ||
| Plympton Priory | This was first a college for priests founded in 904. Then, Augustinian Canons built a church on the site in 1121. It closed in 1539. | The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Plympton | |
| St Michael's Monastery | This was supposedly a small house for Benedictine monks connected to Malmesbury Abbey. | St Michael | |
| Sidmouth Priory (Augustinian) (?) | It was thought that Augustinian Canons founded a house here, but it's likely a mix-up with the Benedictine priory. | ||
| Sidmouth Priory | Benedictine monks founded this priory in the 11th century. It was an alien house linked to Mont St Michel. It closed around 1414. Later, it became a farm for Bridgettine monks. Parts of it are now in the Marlborough Hotel. | ||
| Tavistock Abbey | Benedictine monks founded this important abbey between 961 and 980. It closed in 1539. A mansion was built on the site, which is now 'The Bedford Hotel'. | The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Rumon, Tavistock
Tavestock Abbey |
|
| Teignmouth Abbey | Benedictine nuns moved here from London in 1862. The building is now divided into private homes. | The Abbey Church of Saint Scholastica, Teignmouth | |
| Torre Abbey | Premonstratensian Canons from Welbeck founded this abbey in 1196. It closed in 1539. A country house was built on the site, which is now owned by Torbay Corporation. | Torr Abbey | |
| Totnes Priory | Benedictine monks founded this priory around 1088. It was an alien house connected to St-Serge in France. It became independent before 1416 and closed in 1536. The priory church was rebuilt and is now used as a parish church. | ||
| Totnes Trinitarian Priory | Trinitarian monks founded this priory in 1271. It closed in 1509. | Little Totnes Priory; Werland Priory; Warland Priory | |
| Townstall Monastery, Dartmouth | This was supposedly a small alien house (controlled from abroad). | ||
| Yodby Monastery | The type of religious order and when it was founded are not clear for this monastery. |
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See also
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List of monastic houses in Devon Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.