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Summary

An alien priory dedicated to St Gregory, dependent upon the Abbey of St Pierre-sur-Dives, Normandy, was founded at Modbury c.1140. It was dissolved by Henry VI c.1414 and its land and property given to Eton College. There is some doubt over its location but it is generally presumed to have stood to the north of the church. The 1841 Tithe Map shows two fields, Scotts Garden and Scotts Field, both recorded as being in the ownership of Eton College. Building foundations were discovered when the churchyard was extended in 1911.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX65SE/33
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX65SE8

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PRIORY (Early Medieval to XV - 1066 AD to 1500 AD)

Full description

Dean Milles, 1747-1762, Parochial Survey Questionnaire (Monograph). SDV16186.

A respondent to Dean Milles questionnaire noted a priory of the time of Henry V, of which nothing now remains, now converted to a field.

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

The small square field, No. 1988, on the north side of church is named as Scotts garden on the Tithe Apportionment and the larger field to north-west, No. 1170, is Scotts Field. Both are recorded as being in the ownership of Eton College.

1841, Modbury Tithe Map (Cartographic). SDV163570.

Annotated sketch map of a section of the Modbury Tithe Map showing the fields around the church.

Cawse, G. A., 1860, Modbury, 7-8 (Monograph). SDV163568.

The traditional site of the priory is adjacent to the higher part of churchyard, to the north of church. Remains of ancient edifice with large walled up arches were converted into a barn called Scotland. Building foundations were located when digging graves in the new burial ground.

Birch, W. G., 1892, On Three Lists of Monasteries Compiled in 13th Century, 45-64 (Article in Serial). SDV131388.

The abbey appears as Molery, Sancti Gregorii, in a list of monasteries compiled in the 13th century.

Reichel, O. J., 1898, The Domesday Churches of Devon, 309 (Article in Serial). SDV863.

The priory church is said by Reichel to have been in existence at the time of the Domesday Survey, as part of the manor 'Motbilie'.

R. B. M., 1922-1923, Modbury Priory (Article in Serial). SDV366652.

The connection between Eton College and Modbury Priory is noted.

Masterman, J. H. B., 1931, Address of the President: The Monasteries of Devon, 74 (Article in Serial). SDV136066.

The Priory of St Gregory, Modbury, was in dependence on the Abbey of St Pierre-sur-Dives, Normandy. It was dissolved by henry VI, and its meagre endowments transferred to Eton College.

Alexander, J. J., 1937, Tavistock in the 15th century, 276 (Article in Serial). SDV322349.

The priory was granted to the Abbot of Tavistock in 1466.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 436, 553 (Monograph). SDV17562.

In 1140, Ralph Fortescue of Modbury gave lands to the priory; an early 14th century cartulary of the priory is now open at Eton College.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1970, SX65SE8 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV163563.

An alien priory was established at Modbury c.1140 and suppressed c.1414. It was granted to Tavistock Abbey in 1467. There is much doubt over its location. Leland reported that remains were visible on the north side of the church. An unpublished memorandum written in 1795 by John Andrews says that the site was at Scotland, adjoining the higher side of the churchyard. The Tithe Map shows Scott's Garden and Scott's Field to the north of the church. Notes by J. F. Williams state that foundations were discovered in 1911 and are now within the churchyard.

Miles, H., 1971, Archaeological Review, 38 (Article in Serial). SDV337585.

A watching brief at SX656516 in 1971 revealed nothing.

Modbury Local History Society, 1971, History of Modbury, 5 (Monograph). SDV163569.

There is an account in Bishop Grandisson's register for 1336 of parishoners burying dead under the priory window overlooking churchyard to annoy the prior. The Bishop forbids burial on the north side of the church. The diary of John Andrews of Modbury states in 1795 that some priory buildings converted into barn still stand on higher side (north) of churchyard. The foundations of buildings were discovered when the churchyard was extended in 1911.

Knowles, D. + Hadcock, R. N., 1971, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, 90 (Monograph). SDV323253.

The priory of St George was founded by a member of the Chambernoun family, according to Oliver. The cell, extant in 1430, was granted to Eton College by Henry VI and then in reversion to Tavistock Abbey, which never took effect.

Timms, S., 1982, Modbury Priory (Site Visit). SDV163571.

Site visit by F. Griffith and S. Timms 26th July 1982. No obvious trace of priory visible in churchyard which has been significantly levelled on north side of church to a level below that of field to north and waste ground to west.
Scotts garden is probably the site of the priory buildings.

Devon County Council, 1986 - 1987, Devon Religious Houses Survey (Un-published). SDV347681.

Modbury Priory was one of sixty plus religious houses investigated as part of the Devon Religious Houses Survey, a Devon County Council Rescue Project. The aims of the survey were to identify how much remains of the site and to consider how any surviving remains could be conserved for the future.
It appears from the archive that, although some documentary evidence was gathered, the survey was not taken forward.

James, J., 1999, The Norman Benedictine Alien Priory of St George, Modbury AD1135-1480, 81-103 (Article in Serial). SDV340427.

Champernowne, C. E., c.1952, Modbury. Some notes on the church and priory (Un-published). SDV366653.

The typescript includes a plan from the notebook of the late J. F. Williams showing the presumed site of the priory in the new churchyard. The location of some 19th century graves between the site of the priory and the church are also indicated.

Unknown, Unknown (Record Office Collection). SDV366654.

Drawing of Modbury Church.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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