List of monastic houses in Oxfordshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A monastic house is a special place where groups of people, like monks or nuns, lived together. They dedicated their lives to religious practices, prayer, and often, helping their communities. These places, which included abbeys, priories, and friaries, were very important in medieval England. They were centers of learning, charity, and farming.

This article explores the different monastic houses that once existed in Oxfordshire, England. You'll learn about the various types of religious orders that lived there and what happened to their homes over time.

What Were Monastic Houses?
Monastic Houses in Oxfordshire
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What Were Monastic Houses?

Monastic houses were buildings where religious communities lived. These communities followed strict rules and devoted their lives to prayer and work. There were different types of houses for different groups:

Abbeys were large communities led by an abbot (for monks) or abbess (for nuns).
Priories were smaller communities, often led by a prior or prioress. Some priories were also "cells," meaning they were smaller branches of a larger abbey.
Friaries were homes for friars, who were different from monks because they often lived among the public and focused on preaching and helping the poor.
Preceptories and Cameras were places for military-religious orders like the Knights Templar or Knights Hospitaller. They were like headquarters or smaller branches for these groups.
Granges were farms or estates owned by monastic houses, used to produce food and income.

Most of these houses were closed down in the 1530s during the "Dissolution of the Monasteries" by King Henry VIII.

Monastic Houses in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire was home to many different monastic houses. Here are some of the most important ones:

Abbeys and Priories for Monks and Nuns

Abingdon Abbey

Abingdon Abbey was a very old abbey, possibly started around 675 AD. It was home to Benedictine monks. The abbey was destroyed by the Danes around 872 but was rebuilt in 954. It was eventually closed in 1538. Today, parts of it are still visible in the town.

Bruern Abbey

Bruern Abbey was founded in 1147 by Cistercian monks. This order was known for its simple life and farming. The abbey was dissolved in 1536, and an 18th-century house now stands on its site.

Burford Priory

Burford Priory started as a hospital in the 13th century. It was dissolved in 1538. Later, in 1901, an Anglican Benedictine community lived there. Today, it's a country house.

Cholsey Abbey

Cholsey Abbey was founded in 986 by King Ethelred II for Benedictine monks. It was likely destroyed by the Danes in 1006. Some parts of the medieval parish church might include remains of the old abbey.

Cogges Priory

Cogges Priory was an "alien house," meaning it was dependent on a monastery in another country (Fécamp in France). It was founded in 1103 for Benedictine monks and closed in 1414.

Dorchester Abbey

Dorchester Abbey has a long history. It was first a cathedral in 634. Later, around 1140, it became home to Augustinian Canons Regular. It was dissolved in 1536, but the church was restored and is still used as a parish church today.

Eynsham Abbey

Eynsham Abbey was founded in 1005 for Benedictine monks. It faced destruction after the Norman Conquest but was restored. It was finally dissolved in 1539.

Godstow Abbey

Godstow Abbey was a home for Benedictine nuns, founded around 1133. It also had a small group of Benedictine monks. The abbey was dissolved in 1539.

Goring Priory

Goring Priory was founded in the 12th century for Augustinian Canonesses (nuns). It was dissolved around 1539, and part of its church is still used as a parish church.

Littlemore Priory

Littlemore Priory was a smaller house for Benedictine nuns, founded before 1154. It was closed in 1525.

Minster Lovell Priory

Minster Lovell Priory was another "alien house" for Benedictine monks, dependent on Ivry in France. It was founded around 1200 and dissolved in 1414.

Oseney Abbey

Oseney Abbey started as a priory in 1129 for Augustinian Canons Regular and became an abbey around 1154. It was a very important monastery but was dissolved in 1539. Its site was later used for a cathedral, which then moved to Christ Church, Oxford.

Rewley Abbey

Rewley Abbey was founded in 1143 for Cistercian monks, dependent on Thame Abbey. It was dissolved around 1536.

Studley Priory

Studley Priory was a home for Benedictine nuns, founded in the 12th century. It was dissolved in 1536 and later became an Elizabethan manor house, now a hotel.

Thame Abbey

Thame Abbey was a Cistercian monks abbey, moved from Otley around 1140. It was dissolved in 1539, and its remains are part of an 18th-century country house.

Wallingford Priory

Wallingford Priory was a cell (smaller branch) of St Albans Abbey, founded around 1097 for Benedictine monks. It was dissolved in 1525.

Wroxton Abbey

Wroxton Abbey was founded around 1217 for Augustinian Canons Regular. It was dissolved around 1537, and a mansion called 'Wroxton Abbey' was built on its site.

Military and Other Orders

Clanfield Preceptory

Clanfield Preceptory was a house for the Knights Hospitaller, a military-religious order, founded before 1279.

Sandford Preceptory

Sandford Preceptory was first for the Knights Templar (founded around 1240) and later for the Knights Hospitaller. Today, some remnants are part of a hotel.

Sibford Camera

Sibford Camera was a smaller house for the Knights Templar, founded before 1185 and dissolved in 1312.

Temple Cowley Preceptory

Temple Cowley Preceptory was founded in 1136 by Queen Matilda for the Knights Templar.

Westcot Camera

Westcot Camera was another house for the Knights Templar (13th century) and later for the Knights Hospitaller.

Monastic Houses in Oxford City

Oxford, being a major city and home to a famous university, had many monastic houses, often connected to colleges.

Oxford Austin Friars

Oxford Austin Friars was a friary for Austin Friars, founded between 1266-1268. It was dissolved in 1538, and Wadham College was later founded on its site.

Oxford Blackfriars

The Dominican Friars had two sites in Oxford. They first settled in St Aldate's in 1221, then moved to St Ebbe's in 1245. This friary was dissolved in 1538.

Oxford Cathedral Priory

Oxford Cathedral Priory was originally a community of Augustinian Canonesses from around 727. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1546, it became Christ Church, which is still a cathedral and college today.

Oxford — Canterbury College

Canterbury College was a college for Benedictine monks from Canterbury, founded in 1331. It became part of Christ Church in 1546.

Oxford Crutched Friars

The Crutched Friars had a presence in Oxford from 1342, but their church was never fully built, and the community dissolved before 1362.

Oxford — Durham College

Durham College was a cell for Benedictine monks from Durham Cathedral, founded between 1286-1291. It was dissolved in 1540, and Trinity College was founded on its site in 1554.

Oxford Friars of the Sack

The Friars of the Sack were in Oxford from 1261. They acquired a ruined church but their community was dissolved around 1309.

Oxford — Gloucester College

Gloucester College was a cell for Benedictine monks from Gloucester, founded in 1283. It was dissolved in 1538, and Worcester College was founded there in 1714.

Oxford Greyfriars

The Franciscan Friars Minor (Greyfriars) first arrived in Oxford in 1224 and moved to their main site in 1244-1245. Their friary was dissolved in 1538.

Oxford — St Albans Hall

St Albans Hall was a place for Benedictine monks around 1140 and is now part of Merton College.

Oxford Trinitarian Priory

The Trinitarians had a priory in Oxford from before 1286. They moved sites around 1313 and their priory was dissolved in 1538.

Oxford Whitefriars

The Carmelite Friars (Whitefriars) were in Oxford from 1256. They moved to a new site in 1317-1318, which was part of the King's manor. Their friary was dissolved in 1538.

Other Monastic Sites

Barton Cell: A possible cell for Augustinian Canons Regular, linked to Oseney Abbey.
Caversham Cell: A cell for Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on Notley Abbey, founded in 1162 and dissolved around 1538.
Charlton on Otmoor Priory: An "alien house" for Benedictine monks from St Evroul in France, founded in 1086 and dissolved in 1414.
Charney Manor: A residential manor and farm belonging to Abingdon Abbey before 1066. Today, it's a hotel.
Clanfield Cell: A cell for Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, transferred to Buckland around 1180.
Clattercote Priory: Started as a hospital for Gilbertine canons around 1148, then refounded as a priory. It was dissolved around 1538.
Cold Norton Priory: A hospital and church for Augustinian Canons Regular, founded in 1148. It was dissolved in 1507.
Coxwell Grange: A grange (farm) with a chapel for Cistercian Monks, dependent on Beaulieu Abbey. It was founded in 1205.
East Hendred Cell: A grange for Carthusian monks dependent on Sheen Priory.
Faringdon Abbey: A Cistercian monks house founded in 1203, later transferred to Beaulieu Abbey. It became a monastic cell or grange.
Gosford Preceptory: A house for Knights Hospitaller, later united with Quenington.
Gosford Cell: A cell for Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, transferred to Buckland around 1180.
Helenstowe Nunnery, Abingdon: A nunnery founded around 675. The site is now occupied by St Helen's Church.
Merton Preceptory: A house for Knights Templar founded around 1156, later becoming part of Sandford.
Milton Cell: A supposed cell for Benedictine monks linked to Abingdon, but evidence is lacking.
Minchery Priory: A priory for Benedictine nuns. The site is now Minchery Farm.
Oddington Grange: A grange for Cistercian monks dependent on Thame Abbey, founded around 1141.
Otley Abbey: An early site for Cistercian monks from Waverley, founded in 1137, but abandoned and transferred to Thame around 1141.
Pheleley Priory: A possible priory for Benedictine monks founded after 1100, later linked to Eynsham.
Steventon Priory: An "alien house" for Benedictine monks from Rouen, France, founded in the 12th century. It was dissolved in 1389.
Wytham Abbey: A nunnery, purportedly transferred here after 700, with nuns dispersed around 780.