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Summary

The site of the Gilbertine priory of St Mary at Alvingham.

Full description

The site of the Gilbertine priory of St Mary, Alvingham, that was founded as a double house between 1148 and 1154, by Hugh de Scotney, or one of his tenants, and was surrendered in 1538. The nuns, according to Henry, Bishop of Lincoln, held the churches of Alvingham, Cockerington St Mary, Cockerington St Leonard, Keddington and Calthorpe. Tithes and customary offerings of St Mary's, St Adelwold's and St Leonard's churches were made out to the priory in 1155 and Alvingham mill was also given. The site was marked by mounds and moats to the west of the church. {1}{2}{3}

In 1300, income was derived from the export of ten sacks of wool per year. In 1376 there was a prior, 7 canons, 29 nuns and 11 sisters resident. {4}

There was a maximum population of 80 nuns and lay sisters and 40 canons and lay brothers. The income was about £138 in 1291. The priory estate was valued at £128 14s. 10d. in 1535. The priory was surrendered in 1538 and the prior, 6 canons, the prioress and 11 nuns received a pension. {5}{6}{7}{8}

A watching brief was carried out at Abbey farm (TF 3673 9141) in 1995. Stone foundations, floors, occupation deposits and destruction layers were identified, indicating that the site was located within an area which had contained stone buildings. At least four stone wall alignments were traced, and it seems likely that there were at least two buildings standing at the time of the priory's demolition. Evidence of further buildings on the north side of the site was recorded. {9}{10}

During the demolition of a garage and utility at TF 3666 9132, in 2001, large limestone blocks which may have come from the priory were recorded. A subsequent watching brief recorded an east/west wall and a north/south wall with a westwards turn, both constructed from dressed limestone blocks, and dated to the late 15th to mid 16th centuries. This dating is thought to reflect the destruction of the priory. The walls followed the alignment of later outbuildings, suggesting that they were still extant when the outbuildings were constructed. {11}{12}

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the construction of a new stable block, shelter, hay store, service trench and septic tank on land at Church Lane, Alvingham in 2004. This watching brief identified a slight bank running north to south that aligns with the large bank and ditch visible from early aerial photography. {13}{14}{15}

Geophysical survey undertaken in 2009 on land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham (41255a), revealed possible evidence of walls and masonry deposits of the priory. {16}{17}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 39 SE 2 (Index). SLI2352.

<2> SMR FILE, TF 39 SE - (Index). SLI2874.

<3> William Page (ed), 1906, The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2, vol.2, pp.192-4 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1104.

<4> Dorothy M. Owen, 1971, Church and Society in Medieval England, pp.66, 144 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1064.

<5> D. Knowles and R.N. Hadcock, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales - First Edition, pp.171, 194 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI902.

<6> EXTRACTS FROM ALVINGHAM PRIORY, vol.VI (Unpublished Document). SLI4515.

<7> ROSS COLLECTION.LOUTHESK HUNDRED, - (Bibliographic Reference). SLI999.

<8> Lincolnshire Archives, Document Held by the Lincolnshire Archives, 2CC/9143, box.32; AFA95 (Unpublished Document). SLI4514.

<9> Pre-Construct Archaeology, Aug 1995, Abbey Farm, Alvingham, LCNCC 96.95 (Report). SLI5097.

<10> Pre-Construct Archaeology, Aug 1995, Abbey Farm, Alvingham, LCNCC 96.95 (Archive). SLI1453.

<11> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2001, Land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham, AFA99 (Report). SLI6960.

<12> Pre-Construct Archaeology, Mar 2001, Land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham, LCNCC 60.99 (Archive). SLI6961.

<13> Pre-Construct Archaeology, Nov 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Kerry, Church Lane, Alvingham, CLA04 (Report). SLI9645.

<14> Pre-Construct Archaeology, Nov 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Kerry, Church Lane, Alvingham, LCNCC 2004.241 (Archive). SLI9646.

<15> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, TF3691: LI.365.1.1-6, 1993 (Map). SLI3613.

<16> Pre-Construct Geophysics, 2009, Geophysical Survey on land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham, - (Report). SLI13006.

<17> Pre-Construct Geophysics, 2009, Geophysical Survey on land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham, - (Archive). SLI13007.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval - 1148 AD to 1539 AD)
• PRIORY (Medieval - 1148 AD to 1538 AD)
• RELIGIOUS HOUSE (Medieval - 1148 AD to 1538 AD)
• WALL (Medieval - 1148 AD to 1538 AD?)
• WALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1470 AD to 1550 AD)

Associated Finds

• DRESSED STONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1470 AD to 1550 AD)

Associated Events

• Geophysical Survey on land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham
• Abbey Farm, Alvingham
• Land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham
• Land at Abbey Farm, Alvingham
• Kerry, Church Lane, Alvingham

Protected Status

• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

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