| Summary : The Gilbertine priory of St Mary was founded as a double house in 1139 and dissolved in 1539. The then marshy island at Haverholme was granted to Fountains Abbey in 1137 and construction of the the monastic buildings begun. However, when the monks arrived, they disliked the site. Consequently, the monks were granted a new site at Louth Park, and the Haverholme site was granted to the Gilbertines. The site was excavated in 1961-62 when a well or storage pit was found, and wall foundations of unspecified priory buildings. |
More information : [TF 1089 4938]. Site of [T.I.] St. Mary's Priory [G.T.] (Gilbertine Founded A D 1139) [T.I.]. (1)
The Gilbertine priory of St Mary, Haverholme, was founded as a double house in 1139. Nuns, lay-sisters and lay-brothers were sent from Sempringham by St. Gilbert to occupy buildings, erected on a marshy island in the river near Sleaford in 1137-8 for Cistercian monks from Fountains, and rejected by them. [See TF 38 NE/2 for Cistercian Abbey of Louth Park.] The house was dissolved in 1538.
Site excavated in 1961-2 when, to the south-west of the area, three outbuildings (coursed rubble walls) and yard, over ditches containing Stamford "shelly" ware, were seen. A 10 ft deep stained well/storage pit was discovered, with a gravel filter fed by double lead pipes from a spring. The present Haverholme Priory is 18th/19th century Gothic. (2-5)
M.O.W. excavation trenches were open at the time of investigation, and show extensive foundation walling of the old priory, in an area centred at TF 0914937. Surrounding land, arable & woods, shows no associated earthworks and the 18th/19th c. house has been almost completely demolished. (6)
TF 109 494. Haverholme Priory. Scheduled no. LI/178. (7) |