Any questions? Try here first

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument () 32628/01: Drax Augustinian priory

Monument Type(s):

• PRIORY (12th CENTURY - 1101 AD to 1200 AD)

Other References/Statuses

• AMIE Reference / HOB UID: 57907 DRAX PRIORY
• National Monuments Record: SE62NE1
• Old Sites & Monuments Record Number: 9366

Full description

FOUNDED C.1130 BY WILLIAM PAYNELL. THE CHARTER SHOWS THAT HE GAVE THE ISLAND CALLED HALLINGTON ANDMIDDLEHOLM DRAX CHURCH AND OTHER CHURCHES AND LAN DS. THE PRIORY WAS SUPERVISED AND SUPRESSED IN1535. THE EARTHWORKS SUGGEST BURIED FOUNDATIONS AND THE MOAT IS NOW LARGELY FILLED IN.(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) (11)

Drax Abbey is included in two leaflets on the history of Drax (12,13)

Study bringing together the results of desk-based assessment and previous archaeological investigation for the area to the north of Drax power station affected by proposed development works, one focus being the potential effects on Drax Augustinian Priory.(14)

Trial Trenching in 2015 on the western side of the scheduled area found evidence for a possible fish pond and moat associated with Drax Priory and a ditch and pit of Roman date. (15)

An aerial photograph taken on 5/7/1952 of Drax Abbey (16)

An article discussing the licences granted to crenellate in Yorkshire was included in Medieval Yorkshire in 2017. Drax Priory is listed in the gazeteer with the date of the licence as 23rd July 1362. (Davis, P) (17) Further information can be found on the website for the Gatehouse Gazeteer. The Priory was moated for flood protection and there is nothing to suggest anything other than the usual monastic features. (Davis, P) (18)

<1> 1953, MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES: ENGLAND AND WALES, P136 (Bibliographic reference). SNY1672.

<2> 1912, Victoria County History Yorkshire Vol 2, P377 (Monograph). SNY2132.

<3> 1913, Victoria County History Yorkshire North Riding, P17 205-8 (Monograph). SNY2133.

<4> North Yorkshire County Council, 1979, HISTORIC TOWN STUDIES: DRAX (Manuscript). SNY2096.

<5> The Royal Archaeological Institute, 1884, ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, P389 (Serial). SNY1275.

<6> The Royal Archaeological Institute, 1885, ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, PP447-8 (Serial). SNY1276.

<7> 1831, A New History of The County of York (Volume III), P310 (Monograph). SNY1198.

<8> Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 1977 - 1980, Yorkshire Studies Card, SE62NE 2040 (Card Index). SNY2.

<9> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Record Card, SE62NE001 (Card Index). SNY1.

<10> 1999, Yorkshire Monasteries Cloister, Land and People, p 223 (Monograph). SNY16258.

<11> Institute of Historical Research, 1913 (1974), Victoria County History of the Counties of England County of Yorkshire Volume III, p 205 (Monograph). SNY16144.

<12> 1987, The History of Drax. Part Two. The Augustinian Priory of St Nicholas and The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul (Leaflet). SNY21341.

<13> 1987, The History of Drax. Part One. From Pre-History until the closure of Drax Priory in 1535-36 (Leaflet). SNY21340.

<14> Capture Power Ltd, 2015, Chapter 10: Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (Report). SNY21140.

<15> Headland Archaeology Ltd, 07/2015, White Rose CCS Facility, Drax. Report on Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNY21866.

<16> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs, 07/1952, Drax Abbey (Photograph). SNY22103.

<17> Medieval Yorkshire, 2017, Yorkshire Licences to Crenellate, p38 (Article). SNY22629.

<18> Philip Davis, The Gatehouse Gazeteer (Webpage). SNY22630.

Sources and further reading

Provide feedback for this record

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.