The following is a list of the monastic houses in Bedfordshire, England.
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). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptor/commandery.
The name of the county is given where there is reference to an establishment in another county. Where the county has changed since the foundation's dissolution the modern county is given in parentheses, and in instances where the referenced foundation ceased to exist before the unification of England, the kingdom is given, followed by the modern county in parentheses.
FoundationImageCommunities and provenanceFormal name or dedication and alternative names ! style="width:10%;"|References and locationBeadlow Priory $Benedictine monks — from Milbrookdependent on St Albans, Hertfordshirefounded 1140/6 by Henry d'Albini;abandoned 1435, reverted to the Crown, the buildings falling into decay thereafterSaint Mary Magdalen____________________Beaulieu Priory |Bedfordshire County Council: Beadlow &Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs to 1516: BedfordshireBedford Greyfriars #Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the custody of Oxford);founded 1238 by Mabilea de Plateshull;dissolved c.1539; granted to John GostwykeSaint Francis |British History Online — Friaries: The Franciscans of Bedford — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (p.395)Bedford Timeline — Digitised Resources — Bedfordshire's Virtual Library Bedford Abbey #Benedictine monksfounded before 971;ceased to exist decades before 1066 (possibly destroyed in raids by the Danes 1010);|Bedford Priory +secular canons collegiatefounded before 1066;Augustinian Canons Regularfounded c.1165-6 by Simon Beauchamp;transferred to new site at Newnham c.1080;current parish church of St Paul built on site from 14th century|Bushmead Priory ^Augustinian Canons Regularfounded 1195 by Hugh Beauchamp;dissolved 1536; granted to Sir William Gascoign;refectory incorporated into mansion built on site; (EH)The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Bushmead____________________Bissemede Priory |Bushmead Priory : Bedfordshire : East of England : Find a property by map : Properties : Days Out & Events,British History Online —Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Bushmead — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.385-387)Bushmead Priory, BedfordshireCaldwell Priory #Augustinian Canons Regular — Holy Sepulchrefounded c.1154 (1153) (early in the reign of Henry II, or during that of Stephen) by Simon BasketCaldwell Priory — founder Simon Basket: Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum p.382 (Barescote?), Alderman of Bedford, or a member of the Barescote familyCaldwell Priory — foundation in the reign of Henry II or Stephen, founder unknown: Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 p.382, or between 1199 and 1216 (during the reign of John): land granted by Robert of Houghton, confirmed by Henry III, or between 1199 and 1216 (during the reign of John): land granted by Robert of Houghton, confirmed by Henry IIICaldwell Priory — grant of land by Robert, son of William de Houton and confirmation by Henry III: Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum Vol2, p.158 and Cobbett, List of Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, etc. p.41;Augustinian Canons Regular before c.1280;dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Leigh c.1562The Priory Church of Saint John the Baptist at Caldwell____________________Cauldwell Priory |British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Caldwell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.382-385)Chicksands Priory ^Gilbertine Canons and Canonesses — double housefounded (1147) by Pain de Beauchamp and his wife, Rose (Roese/Roais)Chicksands Priory — foundation c.1150: Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 and Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum or c.1154Chicksands Priory — foundation c.1154: Knowles, Religious Houses of Medieval England (1940), however Henry Murdac, Archbishop of York (who died 1153) witnessed the first charter;dissolved 1538; granted to London grocer Richard Snow;cloisters incorporated into private house;Crown Property 1936; in grounds of Military base to 1995;restored by MOD 1997–8Saint Mary____________________Chicksand Priory |British History Online — Parishes: Little Staughton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3 (pp.165-168)Chicksands Priory — Digitised Resources — Bedfordshire's Virtual Library Dunstable Blackfriars #Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Cambridge)founded 1259 at the invitation of King Henry III and his consort;dissolved before 8 May 1539|Dunstable Priory, BedfordshireBritish History Online — Friaries: The Dominicans of Dunstable — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.395-396)Dunstable: Priory Church — Digitised Resources — Bedfordshire's Virtual Library Dunstable Priory +Augustinian Canons Regularfounded 1131 (or before 1125?) by Henry I;dissolved 1540; granted to Sir Leonard Chamberlaynenave of church now in parochial useThe Priory Church of Saint Peter, Dunstable____________________Dunstaple Priory |British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Dunstable — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.371-377)Elstow Abbey +Benedictine nunsfounded 1078 by Judith, niece of William the Conqueror;dissolved 1539; granted to Sir Humphrey Radcliff c.1553;nave now in use as parish churchThe Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Helena, Elstow |British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: The abbey of Elstow — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.353-358)Elstow Abbey Home PageGrovebury Priory #, Leighton BuzzardFontévrault Benedictine monks and nuns, double housealien house: cell dependent on Fontévraultmanor granted after 1164 by Henry II;founded after 1189;conventual house possibly never properly established, becoming a chapel with resident chaplains and manor with rental tenants;occasional royal residence;dissolved 1414;farmhouse built on siteLa Grave Priory;Leighton Buzzard Priory;Grovesbury Priory |British History Online — Alien house: Priory of La Grave or Grovebury — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.403-404)Hardwick Preceptory #Knights Hospitallerfounded before(?) 1279dissolved before(?) 1489|Harrold Priory #Augustinian Canonesses — Arroasian under protection and guidance of (possibly lay) brothers (see immediately below) alien house: daughter house of Arrouaise, Normandyfounded 1138 by Sampson le Forte;ceded to Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire 1177Augustinian Canonessesbecame denizen: independent from 1188;dissolved 1536; granted to William Lord Parrsite occupied by farmhouse and a mansion named 'Harrold Hall', built 1608–1610The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Peter, Harrold____________________Harwood Priory |British History Online — House of Austin nuns: The priory of Harrold — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.387-390)Harrold Timeline — Digitised Resources — Bedfordshire's Virtual Library Harrold Priory Cell ~Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian (or possibly lay-brothersHarrold Priory Cell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 asserts canons, whilst communications and references from J. C. Dickinson say they were lay brothers rather than canons) attached to the nunnery (see immediately above)founded c.1136-8;dissolved before 1181|Leighton Buzzard Cell #Cistercian monkscell or grange? dependent on Woburn;founded before 1159|Markyate PriorySee List of monastic houses in HertfordshireMelchbourne PreceptoryKnights Hospitallerfounded before 1176 by Lady Alice de Claremonte, Countess of Pembroke;dissolved 1486; held by the prior of England from 1489, de facto losing its status as a preceptory;granted to John, Earl of Bedford 1550/1;restored to the Knights by Queen MaryMelchbourne Priory;Melchburn Preceptory;Mechelburn Preceptory |British History Online — House of Knights Hospitallers: The preceptory of Melchbourne — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (p.394)Millbrook Priory #Benedictine monkspriory cell dependent on St Albans, Hertfordshire;founded 1097-1119: church granted to St Albans by Nigel de Waste;transferred to (/merged with) Beadlow 1143;dissolved 1140–6Saint Michael____________________Millbrook Cell |British History Online — Parishes: Millbrook — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3 (pp.316-320)Newnham Priory #Augustinian Canons Regular — from Bedford Priory (collegiate church of St Paul)(community founded at Bedford c.1165)transferred here c.1180;dissolved 1540; granted to Urian Brereton 1540/1Saint Paul____________________Newenham Priory;Newenham by Bedford Priory |British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Newnham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.377-381) (approx)Pulloxhill GrangeAugustinian Canons Regulargrange of Dunstable;dissolved; granted to Sir William Pagett 1547|British History Online — Parishes: Pulloxhill — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 2 (pp.376-381)Ruxox CellAugustinian Canons Regularcell/chapel for retired brothers from Dunstable;founded before 1189;dissolved after 1290chapel dedicated to St Nicholas____________________Rokesac |British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Dunstable — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.371-377)Turvey Abbey *Benedictine nunsextant;adjacent to Benedictine monastery The Priory of Our Lady of Peace |Turvey Abbey, Home PageTurvey — Turvey Abbey — a brief introduction — Bedfordshire's Virtual Library Turvey monastery *Benedictine monksfounded 1980; extant;adjacent to Benedictine Abbey The Monastery of Christ our Saviour |Warden Abbey #Cistercian monksfounded 1136 by Walter Espec;dissolved (surrendered by the abbot and monks) 4 December 1538;Elizabethan house built on site (of which exist only remnants)renovated 1974; (LT)The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Old Warden____________________St Mary de Sartis Abbey;Old Warden Abbey;Wardon Abbey |British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Warden — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.361-366)Woburn Abbey #Cistercian monksdaughter house of Fountains, Yorkshirefounded 28 May 1145 by Hugh de Bolebec;dissolved 1538; granted to John Lord Russell 1547/8site now occupied by a mansion, estate and safari parkThe Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Woburn Abbey |British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Woburn — Victoria County History — A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1 (pp.366-370)Woburn Abbey ~ Uncover living history at the Abbey
See also List of monastic houses in England
Notes
References
Bibliography Binns, Alison (1989) Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 1: Dedications of Monastic Houses in England and Wales 1066–1216, Boydell Cobbett, William (1868) List of Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals, And Other Religious Foundations in England and Wales and in Ireland, Confiscated, Seized On, or Alienated by the Protestant "Reformation" Sovereigns and Parliaments Knowles, David & Hadcock, R. Neville (1971) Medieval Religious Houses England & Wales. Longman Morris, Richard (1979) Cathedrals and Abbeys of England and Wales, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.