List of monastic houses in Dorset

There are multiple monastic houses in Dorset, England.

Alphabetic listing FoundationImageCommunities & provenanceFormal name or dedication & alternative names ! style="width:10%;"|References & locationAbbotsbury Abbey +secular canons collegiatefounded c.1026 by Orcus, steward to Canute;Benedictine monks — from Cerne;founded 1044 (during the reign of Edward the Confessor) by Orcius or by his widow TolaAbbotsbury — foundation: T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica, p.105;dissolved 12 March 1539; granted to Sir Giles Strangwaies 1543/4;much in private ownership, partly in parochial useThe Abbey Church of Saint Peter____________________Abbotesbury Abbey;Abbodesbirig Abbey |Houses of Benedictine monks — The abbey of Abbotsbury | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 48-53)Beaminsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community founded before 862Bebingmynster | (approx)Bindon AbbeyCistercian monks — from Little Bindondependent on Forde;founded 22 or 27 September 1172 by Robert de Burgo and his wife Maud;dissolved 1539; granted to Sir Richard Poynings 1540/1;now in private ownership|House of Cistercian monks — The abbey of Bindon | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 82-86)WebCite query resultBlackmoor Priory Hermitageorder and foundation uncertainhermitage in existence by 1300, with brothers apparently following a rule similar to Augustinian Friars;dissolved/abandoned, becoming a free chapel after 1424Hermitage |Hermitage — The 'Priory' hermitage of Blackmoor | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 96-97) (approx)Bridport Whitefriars (?)purported foundation for Carmelite Friarsfounded 1261;probably ceased to exist before 1365|Friaries — The Carmelites of Bridport | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 95-96)Bridport Prioryorder uncertain 13th century;converted into a residence named 'St Jones'|Cerne Abbey ^, Cerne Abbasmonastic before 604founded by St AugustineCerne — foundation: William of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontificum Anglorum, Rolls Series, 184-5hermitage;secular ? 9th century;Benedictine monksfounded before 987 by Engleward (Egelward)Cerne — foundation: T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica, p.104 states "Where the parish church is now was anciently an heremitage, after that a small monastery of three Religious, founded [citing J. Leland, Collectanea iii, p.67] founded pretty early in Saxon times by a rich man, named Egelward" [citing J. Leland, Collectanea, i, p.26 and William of Malmsbury — adding "if any credit is to be given to the legendary story in Capgrage's Life of St. Austin, that this monastery was originally founded by Augustin the monk, it outh (sic?) to be placed much higher. It must be conceded, that Reyner, tract. ii, p.138. and Camden in his Britannia, at Cerne, seem to believe this story; and that Camden quotes Will.Malmsbury for it. But quaere"];purportedly destroyed by CanuteCerne — destruction: ibid., citing J. Leland, Collectanea, iii, p.67;dissolved 1539; granted to John Dudley and ___ Ascough 1574/5;remains now incorporated into private houseSt PeterSt Mary, St Peter and St BenedictSt Edwold (St Athelwold)____________________Cernell Abbey |Houses of Benedictine monks — The abbey of Cerne | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 53-58)Charminsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community;parish church of St Mary (dating from 11th century) possible successor of minster on site|Chilcombe CameraKnights Hospitallerdissolved before 1308|Christchurch Priory +tradition of very early monastery;secular canons collegiatefounded before/c.1060;manor and church granted by Henry I to Richard de Redvers and Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon;Augustinian Canons Regularfounded 1150, by petition of Hilary, Bishop of Chichester, and the bishop of Winchester to Richard de Redvers;dissolved 28 November 1539; granted to Joseph Kirton 1545/6;on site of earlier church demolished 1094;priory church 1540, now in parochial useThe Priory Church of Christ, ChristchurchChurch of the Holy Trinity, Twyneham____________________Twyneham Priory;Twinham Priory |Cranborne Priorytradition of early monasteryBenedictine monksfounded c.(?)980 by Haylward Snew (Aylward Sneaw (Snow)); becoming dependent on Tewkesbury (of which Cranborne was previously the mother house) in 11th century;abbot and 57 monks removed to Tewkesbury 1102, Cranborne reduced to priory status, becoming a cell dependent on Tewkesbury;dissolved 31 January 1540; granted to Thomas Francis 1559/60The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint BartholomewThe Priory Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bartholomew, Cranborne____________________Cranbourne Priory;Cranburn Cell |Dorchester Greyfriars #Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Bristol)founded before 1267 by "the ancestors of Sir John Chidiock";dissolved 1538 (1536); granted to Sir Edmund Peckham 1543/4|Forde Abbey ^Cistercian monksdaughter house of Waverley, Surrey;(community founded at Brightley, Devon 1136 or 1138)transferred from Brightley 1146/8?;dissolved 1539;claustral remains now incorporated a mansion with public access| Frampton PrioryBenedictine monksalien house: daughter house of St-Etienne, Caen, Normandy;founded before 1077 by William the Conqueror;dissolved before 1414; granted to St Stephen's College, Westminster 1437; granted to Sir Christopher Hatton 1571/2, who sold it to John Brown, Esq.|Fryer Mayne PreceptoryKnights Hospitallerfounded before 1275;shared single preceptor with Baddesley 15th century;formally merged with Baddesley 1471;dissolved; granted to William Pole and Edward Downing 1563/4Friary Mayne Preceptory;Friar Mayne Preceptory;Freyer Mayne Preceptory;Mayne Preceptory;Mayne Ospitalis |Houses of Knights Hospitallers — The preceptory of Friary Mayne | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 90-92)Gillingham Friarypossible Dominican Friarsfounded c.1267: Henry II granted oak for repair of the Dominicans' church;no other reference|Gillingham MinsterSaxon minster19th century St Mary's Parish Church possibly on site|Hilfield Friary *Franciscan Friarsfounded 1921 in farm buildings; extantThe Friary of Saint Francis, Hilfield |Holme PrioryCluniac monksalien house: dependent on Montacutefounded 1142 (mid 12th century or c.1107) by Robert de Lincoln;became denizen: independent from 1407;dissolved 1539; granted to John Hannon 1547;parish church until 1746;mansion named 'Holme Priory House' built on site of remainsThe Blessed Virgin Mary____________________East Holme Priory;Holne Priory;Holme Cell |New Page 1 Horton PrioryBenedictine monksabbeyfounded 961 (960 or (c.)970) by Ordgar, Earl of Devonshire or his son Ordulph (Edulph);probably destroyed in raids by the Danes 997;refounded c.1050;reduced to priory cell status 1122 under Henry I, dependent on Sherborne;dissolved 1539; granted to Edward, Duke of Somerset 1547; then to William, Earl of Pembroke;18th-century church built on site of ruins of previous parochial church on the site of the priorySt Wolfrida____________________Horton Abbey;Horton Cell |Houses of Benedictine monks — The priories of Cranbourne and Horton | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 70-73)Iwerne Minsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community;parish church of St Mary possible successor of minster on site|Kingston CameraKnights Hospitallermember of Fryer Mayne, with Stinsford church| (approx)Little Bindon AbbeyCistercian monks — from Fordefounded 1149 by William de Glastonia;transferred to Bindon 1172;much of the masonry used in the construction of Lulworth Castle|Loders PrioryBenedictine monksalien house: daughter house of St-Mary-de-Montebourg, Normandyfounded c.1107 (during the reign of Henry I) by Richard Re Redveriis;Carthusian monks under the monastery of St Anne at Coventry 1399-1414; Priory Church now in parochial use;Brigetine nuns (under Syon, Isleworth) 1414St Mary Magdalen____________________Lodres Priory |Lulworth AbbeyTrappist monks — from Val Sainte, Switzerlandfounded 1795 by Mr Thomas Weld;raised to abbey status 1813;forced to leave England and returned to Melleray 1817The Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, Lulworth |Lyme Friary (?)Carmelite Friars — to be licensed to William Darre, chaplain — apparently never establishedLyme Regis Friary |Friaries — The Carmelites of Lyme | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 96)Lytchett Minsterpre-conquest monastic or secular community|Melcombe Priory, Melcombe RegisDominican Friars (under the Visitation of London)founded 1418 by Rogers Esq. of Brianston;dissolved 1538; granted to Sir John Rogers 1543/4Milton Friary;Melcombe Regis Friary |Friaries — The Dominicans of Melcombe Regis | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 92-93) (approx)Milton Abbey ^, Milton Abbassecular collegefounded 938 (or 933) by King Athelstan;Benedictine monksfounded 964;destroyed by fire 1309; rebuilt 1322;dissolved 1539; granted to Sir John Tregonwall 1539/40; restored 1789 and 1865;domestic remains incorporated into a mansion 1771;Abbey Church is owned by the Diocese of Salisbury but used by Milton Abbey School in term time as its chapel. The Abbey Church is open to the public and accessed through the school grounds.The Priory Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mary, MiltonThe Abbey Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Samson and Saint Branwalader, Milton____________________Middleton Abbey |Houses of Benedictine monks — The abbey of Milton | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 58-62)Muckleford Grangepossible Tironensian monksalien house: cell (grange?) dependent on Tiron;estate granted to Tiron Abbey, Normandy, de facto controlled by Andwell, Hampshire| (approx)Piddletrenthide PrioryBenedictine monkscell dependent on Hyde Abbey, Hampshirefounded unknown;dissolved 1354 (1345?); chapel demolished after 1382Piddletrenthide Cell |Poole — St George's FriaryFriars of St George — apparently a guild property|Povington PrioryBenedictine monksalien house: grange: dependent on Bec-Hellouin;foundation date unknown, manor granted to Bec-Hellouin by Robert Fitz Gerold;dissolved 1230; reckoned to be a parcel of Ogbourne by 1291Povington Grange |Shaftesbury AbbeyBenedictine nunsfounded c.888 by Alfred (or before 860 by Alfred, his father Æthelbald and brothers Æthelbert and Ethelred), possibly on site of 7th century Saxon minster (see immediately below);Benedictine nunsrefounded during the reign of Edgar;dissolved 2 March 1539; granted to William, Earl of Southampton 1547/8;remains now within a walled gardenThe Abbey Church of Saint Mary, ShaftesburyThe Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Saint Edward, King and Martyr, Shaftesbury |House of Benedictine nuns — The abbey of Shaftesbury | A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (pp. 73-79)Shaftesbury MinsterSaxon nunspossibly founded before c.670;destroyed? in raids by the Danes before 888;Benedictine nunnery possibly built on site (see immediately above)| (possible)Shapwick Grangepurported priory order and foundation uncertain;acquired by the Carthusians at Sheen, Surrey (Greater London) after 1414; (limited corroboration for existence and status)Shapwick Priory |Sherborne Abbey ^founded before 672: granted by Cenwealh, King of Wessex;Saxon minster and bishop's seesecular episcopal diocesan cathedral prioryfounded 705;Benedictine monkscathedral priory refounded c.993;see transferred to Old Sarum between 1075 and 1078;raised to abbey status 1172;dissolved 18 March 1539; granted to Sir John Horsey 1546/7;church now in parochial usemonastic buildings now incorporated into a public schoolThe Blessed Virgin Mary____________________Shireburn Abbey