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Summary

Polsloe Priory was a Benedictine nunnery dedicated to st. Katherine. It was founded circa 1159-1160 and surrendered in 1538. The visible remains exist as an adapted structure consisting of a substantial part of the west range of the cloister, and a small gateway in a boundary wall. The buried remains are more extensive and have been shown by excavation to include the foundations of the church, south continuation of the west claustral range, south and east claustral ranges, chapter house, kitchens, ancillary buildings, and also the cemetery and water management system.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017595: St Katherine's Priory, Polsloe
• Listed Building (II*) 1169490: POLSLOE PRIORY

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99SW/3
• Old SAM County Ref: 118
• Old SAM Ref: 24848
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX99SW57
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum Accession Number: 452/2005

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PRIORY (Founded, XII - 1101 AD (Between) to 1200 AD (Between))

Full description

Oliver, G., 1846, Monasticon Diocesis Exoniensis, 191-5 (Monograph). SDV57424.

Reichel, O. J., 1902, The Devonshire Domesday (Article in Serial). SDV22298.

Reichel, O. J., 1902-1903, Tracy and Brewer, 63 (Article in Serial). SDV363805.

Reichel, O. J., 1904-1905, Conventual Houses of Exeter and neighbourhood, 188 (Article in Serial). SDV339454.

Reichel disputes the assertion by Clarke that the priory was founded by William Brewer. He also points out the Manor of Polsleuga never belonged to the priory.

F. W., 1904-1905, Polsloe Priory, 232 (Article in Serial). SDV22352.

Clarke, K. M., 1904-1905, The Conventual Houses of Exeter and the Neighbourhood, 139-143, Pls (Article in Serial). SDV24921.

Clarke notes the part played by the Brewer family in the foundation and early years of Polsloe Priory. A cemetery was granted to the priory in 1195. There was a prioress and thirteen nuns in priory at the time of the dissolution

H. S., 1904-1905, The conventual houses of Exeter, 189 (Article in Serial). SDV22351.

Reichel, O. J., 1912, Early Descents of the Manors in the Wonford Hundred, 342 (Article in Serial). SDV38843.

Reichel, O. J., 1912, The Domesday Hundred of Wenford or Wonford, 281 (Article in Serial). SDV38842.

The priory was given the Manor of Whipton during the 12th century and retained it until the dissolution.
The great manor of polsloe was worth £53 at the dissolution

Stone, H., 1920-1921, Polsloe Priory and Cowick Barton, 126-127 (Article in Serial). SDV25091.

The sale of Polsloe Priory farm and Higher Polsloe Farm in 1920 are referred to.

Masterman, J. H. B., 1931, Address of the President: The Monasteries of Devon, 69-74 (Article in Serial). SDV136066.

Everett, A. W., 1933-1936, St. Katherine's Priory, Exeter, 110-119 Figs 1-3, Pls.16-20 (Article in Serial). SDV22333.

Everett describes in great detail the evidence of the priory that was revealed by stripping of the remaining western range and excavations in the surrounds. The western range is a two-storied rectangular building 21.5m long and 9m wide constructed of Poltimore stone. It has five bays with gabled buttresses on the south and east faces. The ground floor originally consisted of a cellarium (since divided into rooms) and an outer parlour. The southern bay is marked by three oak posts supporting a large beam which in turn supports the oak screen which forms the southern end of the original great hall on the first floor. The central post with its long ogee braces and chamfered angles is an outstanding feature. The great hall occupied three central bays of the first floor, with a chamber in the northern bay, possibly the prioress's room, and another divided chamber at the southern end, possibly guest rooms.
The upper floor was reached by an external stair on the west, of which evidence remains on the outer wall. The attic probably included the priest's room. The ancient roof was removed and replaced in 1862. A former cloister lay to the east of the western range measuring 19m by 18.5m with probable 2.5m 'walks'. To the north of the cloister and western range stood the conventual church, demolished probably in the 17th century. Estimated dimensions of the church of which two minute portions remain are 43m long and over 12m wide externally, 9m wide internally. Of the east range only position of east wall has been established. This was possibly the site of the infirmary and chapter house. The southern range is even more sketchy, but it probably included a detached kitchen with possible additional accommodation above. There is evidence of a forecourt constructed before the western range. Also a probable gatehouse of which no trace exists. The tithe barn, 24m long by over 7m wide with a braced oak roof of eight bays, was demolished in 1933. Four skeletons were found in the cloister and chapter house area.

Lega-Weekes, E., 1934, The pre-reformation history of St. Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, 181-199, Pls 9-12 (Article in Serial). SDV22330.

Polsloe Priory, Exeter, dedicated to St Katherine. A Benedictine nunnery founded in about 1159-1160. Early benefactors were Sir William de Traci who gave the priory the Manor of Whipton, and Henry de Pomeroi who endowed it with lands in his manor of Heavitree. An enclosure of about 2 1/4 acres is now entered from the west by a perpendicular stone arch in a high cob wall. The priory had a guest house (the western range and the sole remaining building) which may have lodged guests for long periods; Bishop Stapledon issued ordinances in 1319 to improve the discipline of the nuns including the regulation of the lodging of secular women. The priory was surrendered in 1538. There is no evidence of residence on the premises between 1538 and 1609, when it was probably converted into a substantial residence. In the 18th century the premises underwent another change of use when it was converted into a farmhouse which it remained until 1932. The author gives an account of documents relating to the priory's many properties and benefactions, including rectorships of East Budleigh, Aylesbeare and the chapel of St John's in the Wilderness, Withycombe. Excavation finds are described including medieval ornamented floor tiles, pottery sherds, fragments of wine bottles, tiny fragments of stained glass found near east end of church, parts of hand quern and stoup, and silver shillings of Henry VIII and James I.

Anon, 1934-1935, Editorial Notes, 193 (Article in Serial). SDV22361.

The gift of the property to the City of Exeter in c.1934 is recorded.

Everett, A. W., 1934-1935, Polsloe Priory: A remarkable architectural feature, 170-171, Figs (Article in Serial). SDV22360.

The screen at the south end of the guest hall has five openings, two posts flank the central three openings. A cob wall separates the prioress's room from the guest hall and it contains posts of similar dimensions. These posts were lengthened at the time of construction, by means of scarf joints: the earliest examples of this particular type of joint.

J. B., 1934-35, Ancient tiles at St. Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, 321 (Article in Serial). SDV22362.

The similarity of the arms on one of the tiles with those on a tile from Haccombe is noted.

Everett, A. W., 1934-5, Ancient tiles at St. Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, 213, Pl. 1 (Article in Serial). SDV22363.

Some of the tiles found during excavations are illustrated. Two motifs are noted: the wheel of St Katherine and the zodiac sign Sagittarius.

Radford, C. + Radford, R., 1935, Fourteenth Report on Ancient Monuments, 75-76 (Article in Serial). SDV135854.

Lega-Weekes, E., 1935, The history of St. Katherine's Priory Part II, 349-359 (Article in Serial). SDV22331.

Continuation of documentary history of the priory including the post-reformation period.

Rose-Troup, F., 1936 - 1937, Lead from the Dissolved Religious Houses in Devon in 1549, 122-126 (Article in Serial). SDV7422.

Lead taken from Polsloe Priory in 1549 is included in Arundell's contemporary account of lead taken from Devon's dissolved religious houses.

Everett, A. W., 1936-1937, An improvised mould for lead, 254-255 (Article in Serial). SDV22356.

Everett, A. W., 1936-1937, Ancient Tiles at St. Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, 36-37 (Article in Serial). SDV22355.

Ancient tiles identical with some found at Polsloe have been found at Torre Abbey and Buckfast Abbey, and Exeter and Salisbury Cathedrals, Stokesay Castle and Haccombe. Their provenance is uncertain. Two sections of a former column had been used as moulds to cast pigs of lead taken from Polsloe Priory. In the vicinity of the mould was shattered glass from the windows that had been pillaged.

Lega-Weekes, E., 1937, The History of St. Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, Part 3, 447-470 (Article in Serial). SDV4220.

Bellman, J., 1938-1939, Polsloe Priory, 142 (Article in Serial). SDV22359.

A deed of a grant of land for a burial ground at Polsloe Priory is dated 1st March 1159.

Everett, A. W., 1938-1939, Polsloe Priory, 42-43 (Article in Serial). SDV22358.

The results of ongoing excavations are described in brief.

Everett, A. W., 1940-1941, Sketch/Discovery at Polsloe Priory, 171-172 (Article in Serial). SDV22354.

Possible remains of part of a kiln in the forecourt of the priory.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1952, SX99SW57 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV22349.

Remains of St Katherine's Priory at Polsloe. A Benedictine nunnery founded in 1169 by William, Lord Briwere and surrendered by Eleanor Sydnam on February 19th 1538. The remains form part of one of the main walls and entrance arches.

Youings, J., 1952, The City of Exeter and the Property of the Dissolved Monasteries, 123-141 (Article in Serial). SDV22284.

Youings gives an account of the disposal of the priory's properties after the dissolution. A map of Exeter's religious houses is included.

Jope, E. M. + Dunning, G. C, 1954, The Use of Blue Slate for Roofing in Medieval England, 216 (Article in Serial). SDV173185.

Excavated examples of blue slate from the site of Polsloe Priory are noted.

Walker, H. H., 1961, Notes for a Study of Bishop Walter de Stapledon and the Church in the West Country in the Early 14th Century, 324 (Article in Serial). SDV18677.

Bishop Stapledon's pastoral letter of 1319 to the prioress is referred to.

Alcock, N. W., 1966, The Medieval Buildings of Bishops Clyst, 136 (Article in Serial). SDV126511.

In 1319 some buildings were reported to be ruinous yet there is evidence of later prosperity. The west claustral range was probably the guest house and prioress's rooms.

Knowles, D. + Hadcock, R. N., 1971, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, 254, 263 (Monograph). SDV323253.

Founded by William Lord Brewer. Lay sisters recorded in the 14th century. The priory was said to be in great poverty in 1327. The house was surrendered in February 1538. The prioress and 13 nuns were granted pensions.

Alcock, N. W. + Barley, M. W., 1972, Medieval Roofs With Base-crucks and Short Principals (Article in Serial). SDV177657.

At St Katherine's Priory, Polsloe, a base-cruck roof spanned the first-floor hall in the west range. The roof has been destroyed. The hall may have been the prioress's and have been used for guests in an establishment too small to have separate provision for them.

Department of Environment, 1974, Exeter City, 14 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV22994.

1977, Untitled Source, 5 (Article in Serial). SDV22341.

Midmer, R., 1979, English Medieval Monasteries, 140 (Monograph). SDV22282.

In 1319 some buildings were reported to be ruinous yet there is evidence of later prosperity. The west claustral range included a probable guest house and prioress's rooms. On an outer wall there is evidence of a rare two-storied cloister.

Cherry, J., 1979, Medieval Britain in 1978, 250, 251, Fig. 4 (Article in Serial). SDV22336.

An interim report and plan illustrating phases of development of the priory, including what may have been a temporary chapel before the construction of the nave of the church, are given as a result of excavations carried out by emafu between 1976 and 1978. Details include finds of pottery sherds, animal bones apparently of butchery waste and medieval burials in stone-lined graves and wooden coffins.

Alcock, N. W., 1981, Cruck Construction: An Introduction and Catalogue, 113 (Report - non-specific). SDV342504.

Base cruck recorded (citing Antiquaries Journal).

Timms, S., 1984, Polsloe Priory (Personal Comment). SDV22366.

The west range was converted to a community centre in 1982.

Gibbons, P., 1984, Polsloe Priory, 134701 (Report - non-specific). SDV22369.

Upstanding and buried remains of a priory of the Benedictine order in occupation from at least 1160 until 1538.
Polsloe Priory conforms to the traditional monastic plan in which a church and three ranges of two-storeyed buildings were grouped around the central open square court of the cloister, with ancillary buildings further from the nucleus. The visible remains exist as an adapted structure consisting of a substantial part of the west range of the cloister, and a small gateway in a boundary wall.
The buried remains are more extensive and have been shown by excavation to include the foundations of the church, south continuation of the west claustral range, south and east claustral ranges, chapter house, kitchens, ancillary buildings, and also the cemetery and water management system. The cloister stood to the south of the church.
The brief interim interpretation of the excavation presents nine phases of medieval activity with a major re-organisation of the site around 1300. The full ground plan of the priory church and claustral ranges remains incomplete as features extended beyond the limits of the excavation on all sides. The west range currently exists as a free-standing, rectangular two-storied building of some 26m by 8.6m overall size, divided into five bays, with a modern roof, and small single storied extension at the south end. Excluding the extension, this building represents the extent of the main part of the west range in existence until c.1300. The build of this phase, mainly in local breccia, remains visible in the east end of the north wall, and as a plinth, originally buttressed, along the e face of the building.
In c.1300 the west range was rebuilt, mainly in local sandstone, and originally lengthened to about 38m. Most of the fabric of the existing structure, and therefore the layout, including the extension, dates to this period. The outer face of the west wall retains a moulded string-course that locates the position of the roof of the cloister walk. The ground floor of the range was principally occupied by a storeroom with a door opening into the cloister at the south end of its west face. The north bay formed a parlour with opposed doorways, originally separated from the store by a stone wall. On the first floor the n bay was partitioned off by a wooden screen, part of which is original, to form accommodation, furnished in its north wall with a fine carved stone fireplace, a garderobe, and a wall cupboard. There was probably a second-floor chamber in the roofspace above this room. The three central bays were occupied by a hall with open roof trusses, and with an original main entrance through the w wall opening onto an external wooden stair. The hall is divided from the south bay the original open wooden screen, the central part of which originally gave direct access to a straight staircase that led down and through the south wall into the area of the extension to connect at ground floor level with a covered passageway leading to the kitchens. A small room enclosed on the west side of the stairwell contained a stair leading to a second-floor chamber in the roofspace above the south bay. The area of the extension to the immediate south of the south wall of the building remained open, with covered passageways connecting the hall, kitchens and south claustral range.
The date of the foundation of the priory and the name of the founder are not known. The earliest reference to the site occurs in a document of 1159 in which the priory was granted leave to establish a cemetery. After 1232 the priory came under the patronage of the Bishops of Exeter, and entries in the episcopal registers give some indication of the nature of the priory buildings: in 1319/20 there are references to the refectory, kitchen, parlour and outer gate, and repairs to the dormitory, infirmary, and other buildings. In 1347 to the chapter house, gatehouse chamber, and the chapel of St Thomas Beckett. In 1465 to a barn, in 1514 to a new barn, and in1536 to the guesthouse. In 1539 there was a prioress and 13 nuns in residence. Dissolved in 1539. The priory had fallen within the remit of an earlier act in which the smallest and poorest religious houses had been disbanded, but had gained exclusion through a substantial cash payment. Following their disposal by the crown, parts of monastic buildings were often converted to habitable use, usually the apartments occupied by the prioress which were of a more domestic nature, and this pattern was followed at Polsloe.
After its disposal by the crown the priory passed through a succession of ownerships and leases. It appears that by the later 16th century the church and most of the buildings, excluding the west range and barn, had been demolished. The west range was adapted to domestic use which included the addition of a cross wing to the north side of the medieval building. The two ruined structures to the east of the west range date to the post-medieval use of the site.
The buildings formed part of a farm that appears to have remained in continuous occupation until 1932. OS maps prior to 1933 show a cluster of farm buildings and yards, including the monastic barn, to the immediate north and north-west of the west range. A detailed analysis of the fabric of the west range has resulted in the interpretation of a complex structural sequence.
With the threatened demolition of the remaining priory buildings in 1933, excavations were undertaken which established the main elements of the plan of the priory and investigated the fabric of the west range. In 1936/7 parts of the medieval fabric of the west range that had been damaged by later activity were reconstructed. Between 1967/8 a research excavation was undertaken of the area of the church and cloister, extending beyond the south range. In 1979/80 a fabric survey of the west range was undertaken. The west range is listed at Grade II*.

Department of Environment, 1985, Polsloe Priory (Correspondence). SDV22368.

Scheduled monument consent granted for a new doorway.

Devon Religious Houses Survey, 1986-7, Devon Religious Houses Survey 1986/87. Preliminary Assessment Form. Polsloe Priory (Archive - Survey). SDV22370.

A Benedictine nunnery founded c.1159-60. The late 13th century western range survives, although altered and now a community centre. Part of the boundary wall also survives. The tithe barn was demolished in 1933. Excavations were carried out in the late 1930s, when a small portion of the church survived, and the 1970s.

Devon County Council, 1986-87, Devon Religious Houses Survey (Un-published). SDV347681.

Polsloe Priory A pre-conquest minster at South Molton 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. The work comprised a rapid assessment of the site, summarising the present state of knowledge, followed by a more detailed survey where sufficient evidence and remains survived. On this occasion it appears that the survey was not taken forward as the site had already been surveyed by Exeter Archaeology.

Keen, I., 1990, Fifteenth Century Floor Tiles from Spreyton and Throwleigh, 189-191, Fig. 5 (Article in Serial). SDV350263.

Floor tiles of Exeter Series 1 have also been found at Spreyton.

Department of Environment, 1991, Polsloe Priory (Correspondence). SDV22374.

Scheduled Monument Consent granted for the installation of five radiators and associated pipework on the first floor.

Orme, N., 1991, The Medieval Chapels of Heavitree, 123, 126 (Article in Serial). SDV24915.

Orme, N., 1991, Unity and Variety. A history of the church in Devon and Cornwall, 40 (Article in Serial). SDV22373.

Leverett, M. + Manning, P. + Allan, J., 2011, A Guide to the Archives of Archaeological Projects Carried Out In Exeter, 1970-90: Part I (Report - non-specific). SDV347114.

Leverett, M. + Manning, P. + Allan, J., 2011, A Guide to the Archives of Archaeological Projects Carried Out In Exeter, 1970-90: Part II, 10 (Report - non-specific). SDV347115.

Lists publications and reports relating to excavation and recording which took place between 1976 and 1979 in advance of building refurbishment and landscaping works, and gives descriptions and locations of primary material. Other details: EA site no 59.

Pye, A., 2013, Polsloe Priory, Heavitree, Exeter: Watching Brief (Report - Watching Brief). SDV362875.

Ordnance Survey, 2026, Mastermap 2026 (Cartographic). SDV366713.

Area marked as Polsloe Priory (rems of).

Historic England, 2026, National Heritage List for England 2026, 1017595 (National Heritage List for England). SDV366714.

St Katherine's Priory, Polsloe. Scheduled Monument.
St Katherine's Priory is one of only three nunneries in Devon and Cornwall. The two storied standing structure which constitutes the remains of part of the west claustral range has a high state of preservation in which all of the medieval layout either remains visible or can be reconstructed. Within the structure there are two wooden screens, one of which dates to c.1300, and the other contains timber of that date. St Katherine's is one of the few nunneries to have undergone an extensive archaeological excavation and fabric survey, and the information resulting from that work has been used to reconstruct a complex developmental sequence which has added considerably to an understanding of aspects of this class of monument. The history of the priory is closely connected with the history of the City of Exeter and the cathedral, and some of the documentary sources resulting from this relationship provide a more general insight into the location of nunneries and women in medieval thought and society.
See official list entry for full description.
Date first listed: 27th July 1936. Date of most recent amendment: 23rd February 1998

Farnell, A., Sept 2010, Archaeological Evaluation and Recording at 48 Beacon Lane, Exeter (Report - Evaluation). SDV352697.

Deckament, Unknown, Deckament Collection (Record Office Collection). SDV366654.

Illustration of the priory.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV2416 - Devon Religious Houses Survey
• EDV8063 - Watching Brief: Polsloe Priory, Heavitree, Exeter

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