Moxby Priory facts for kids
Moxby Priory is the common name for an old religious house for nuns. It was officially called the Priory of S. John the Apostle. These nuns belonged to the Augustinian order. Today, the site is in the parish of Marton-cum-Moxby, in North Yorkshire, England.
Where Was Moxby Priory?
The nunnery was located near Moxby Hall Farm. It sat on the west bank of a bend in the River Foss. This spot is about 1.5 kilometers (about a mile) southeast of Stillington.
Today, a farm covers the main area where the nunnery buildings once stood. However, you can still see earthworks nearby. These are like bumps and dips in the ground. They show where other buildings and the medieval garden used to be. These earthworks are now a historic monument. You can also find the remains of a mill. This mill was once powered by the River Foss. The earthworks also show signs of old fishponds.
What Made Moxby Priory Special?
Moxby Priory is unique because it was a "double monastery" for the Augustinian order. A double monastery means it had both monks and nuns. Most double monasteries had both groups living in the same place. However, Moxby was even rarer. The nuns lived at Moxby, and the monks lived at a completely separate site called Marton-in-the-Forest. Less than 30 double monasteries have been found in England, making Moxby very special.
The History of Moxby Priory
A double monastery for Augustinian canons (monks) and nuns was started in 1158. It was founded by Bertram de Bulmer and was called the Priory of St Mary at Marton. The nuns moved to Moxby by 1167.
At first, in 1310, the nuns at Moxby were recorded as Benedictines. But by 1326, they were known as Augustinians again. In 1322, the nunnery was scattered because of raids by Scottish groups. The nunnery was always small. It never had more than 10 nuns living there.
Both Moxby and Marton were closed down in 1536. This was part of a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, King Henry VIII closed many religious houses in England.
After the nunnery closed, the site continued to be used. The mill and garden, in particular, remained active. The nunnery buildings were turned into a large house. This house was later pulled down in the 1850s. The farm that exists today covers the area where the convent buildings once stood. The mill was changed in the 1700s when the river was dammed. This created a mill pond, but it has since dried up. Only its northern bank remains today.
