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Summary

Brightley Priory was founded in 1133 and abandoned eight years later. Some architectural remains including a doorway survive in the farm buildings.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Brightley Priory. Medieval Cistercian Priory south of Brightley Bridge

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX59NE/1
• Old Listed Building Ref (II)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PRIORY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Everett, A. W., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV17322.

Vis=18/12/1951 (os) richard de brioniis said to have found a cistercian priory here in 1138, abandoned after 5 years. Now a farm, one of the outbuildings of which has a pointed arch doorway which is possibly 13th or as late as 15th century. Some possible norman features. Probably the priory church. Farmhouse, with substantial walls, may have been a monastic building (everett).

Knowles, D. + Hadcock, R. N., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV21724.

Founded 1132/1136 for an abbot and 12 monks from waverley but found unsuitable, and abandoned 1141 (knowles + hadcock).

LISTED, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252211.

Barn described in doe. List as a chapel (listed) see sx59ne/35/1.

NMR CITING OS, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV252215.

Vis=10/10/1974 (os) now a dilapidated pig farm. Most of the stone outbuildings are obscured by corrugated iron. Nothing in the building to suggest monastic origin. Extremely unlikely that any 12c material has survived (nmr citing os).

NMR CITING DOE, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252216.

Former chapel, now outbuilding. Medieval. Single cell plan with original entrance in right gable end. No original features survive (nmr citing doe).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252217.

Masterman, j. H. B. /tda/63(1931)70/address of the president: the monasteries of devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252218.

Worth, r. N. /tda/27(1895)109/okehampton beginnings.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252219.

The national gazetteer/3(1868)390.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252220.

Des=timms, s. /information received from j. Allan/(-/-/1981).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252221.

Knowles, d. , + hadcock, r. N. /medieval religious houses/(1971)112,116.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252222.

Osa=sx59ne1.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252223.

Hoskins, w. G. /devon/(1954)447.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252224.

Young, e. H. /tda/(1932)59-60/parochial histories of devonshire, no.1 okehampton.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252225.

Everett, a. W. /dcnq/22(1942-1946)179-180/brightley, near okehampton.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252226.

Des=milles, d. /index wcsl/(mid 18th century).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252227.

Des=worksheet/(goodyear,afu,1990).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252228.

Thompson, m. W. /archaeol. J. /143(1986)305-321, table 2.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV252229.

Doe/hhr:okehampton/(-/9/1987)64.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV252230.

Aph=dap/gx 8-11(10/12/1986).

THOMPSON, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV26119.

Thompson links the foundation of the priory to the presence of the castle, sx59se-007, at okehampton (thompson).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV3991.

Second-hand oral report of some excavation taking place on priory site in 1981 (timms).

WORTH, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV6808.

Priory. In 1132 richard, earl of okehampton, founded a cistercian abbey at brightley, to which he brought 12 monks. Earl richard died a year later and was buried among the unfinished buildings of the abbey. After four years the monks abandoned brightley and were eventually housed at forde abbey. Scanty remains. Round headed arch in the barn wall on priory farm is thought to have belonged to old priory. Some of the walls of the domestic buildings may also be preserved there. The arch may be the doorway of the chapel. The opening has been filled up with masonry. The arch is in a good state of preservation, there is a recess in the inner side, but owing to plastering on the face no details are visible. On the north side of the barn is an entrance now in use. On the left hand side of this, there is a plain capital and other dressed stones, all of granite. In the walls of the barn there are also dressed granite blocks (worth)(masterman).

DEAN MILLES, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV99074.

'ruined chapel at brightley 'now a barn' 18c nigh the parish of sampford courtney (dean milles).

Timms, S. C., 1976, The Devon Urban Survey, 1976. First Draft, 156 (Report - Survey). SDV341346.

Some architectural remains of Brightley Priory, which was founded in 1133 and abandoned eight years later, survive in the farm buildings.

Upham, M., 2006, Brightley Abbey, 151-164 (Article in Serial). SDV361714.

Brightley Farm (SX599974) as location of Brightley Abbey, summary of history and remains.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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