Spalding Priory

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Ecclesiastical site

There are no visible remains

NameSpalding Priory
Alternative NamesSpaldyng
Historic CountryLincolnshire
Modern AuthorityLincolnshire
1974 AuthorityLincolnshire
Civil ParishSpalding

Benedictine cell founded in 1052 as a dependency of the Benedictine Abbey of Crowland. After 1071 one monk only remained, and the house was refounded in 1074 as a cell of St. Nicholas's Abbey, Angers. The monks secured their independence from Angers in 1397, and in 1540 the house was surrendered. The conventual church was apparently on the West side of the present Bridge Street a little to the North of High Bridge. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Granted licence to crenellate in 1333. This licence was part of a series of investigations into the abbey's alien status during the active periods of the 100 years war. They also had intermittent disputes with the town and a long standing dispute with Crowland Abbey, although this was resolved in 1332. The prior and monks may have felt under attack from several sides but no fortification they could build would protect them from royal power and this licence must have had much more to do with diplomatic agreements between the house, its patron Hugh de Lacy and the Crown. Surviving remains of the priory are scant and nothing can be securely dated to a building associated with this licence. The history given in the VCH does not mention either the licence of any building work from around this date.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTF247225
Latitude52.7858390808105
Longitude-0.151360005140305
Eastings524770
Northings322520
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

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Books

  • Osborne, Mike, 2010, Defending Lincolnshire: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War (The History Press) p. 57, 62
  • Knowles, David and Hadcock, R. Neville, 1971, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales (Longman) p77, 483
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1906, VCH Lincolnshire Vol. 2 p. 118-24 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 410 online copy

Journals

  • Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation: An Essay in the Sociology and Metaphysics of Medieval Fortification' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 69-100 see online copy
  • 1974, East Midland Archaeological Bulletin Vol. 10 p. 38

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1893, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1330-34) Vol. 2 p. 411 online copy