More information : (SD 57746903) Priory Farm on site of (NAT) Hornby Priory (NR) (1)
The priory cell of St Wilfred at Hornby was founded for Premonstratensian canons by one of the Montbegon family after 1160 (?) circa 1172. "As the house is later referred to as a hospital, it possibly began as such after 1160, becoming a priory .... dependent on Croxton (Leics) after circa 1172". There were five canons in 1381 but later only three. Dissolved 1538. (See also Hornby almshouse - SD 56 NE 28 for possible associations) Collingwood tentatively inferred that the site of an ? 8th century church or monastery preceeded the Medieval priory cell. He based this on the two Anglo-Saxon cross fragments built into the early 19th century barn of the modern Priory Farm and now in Hornby Church (see SD 56 NE 11) Another fragment, probably Anglo-Saxon, also said to be built into the interior of the barn was not seen by Collingwood. Taylor mentioned that several Medieval floriated sepulchral slabs "were now to be seen in the farmer's garden", proving that a burial ground once existed here. (2-5)
No visible remians of priory cell. (6) |