Canons Ashby Priory was an Augustinian priory at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England.

Canons Ashby Priory
West front of the priory church of St Mary
Canons Ashby Priory is located in Northamptonshire
Canons Ashby Priory
Location within Northamptonshire
Monastery information
OrderAugustinian
Establishedby 1151
Disestablished1535
People
Founder(s)Stephen la Leye
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II* listed
Designated date18 January 1963
Site
LocationCanons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England
Coordinates52°08′59″N 1°09′21″W / 52.1496°N 1.1558°W / 52.1496; -1.1558
Grid referenceSP57795052
Visible remainspriory church
Stained glass window in the priory church

History

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The Priory was founded by Stephen la Leye on a site to the south of the present church between 1147 and 1151 in the reign of Henry II.[1]

In 1253 the Augustinians were granted a licence to dig the Norwell, which still exists north of the present church, to supply water to the priory.

In 1452, John Nantewych is named as the prior of Canons Assheby. [2]

In 1537 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Crown granted the priory and its estates to Sir Francis Bryan,[1] a close ally of Henry VIII. Bryan held the estate for only about a year before selling it in 1538 to Sir John Cope,[1] a wealthy Banbury lawyer. Sir John's daughter Elizabeth inherited what is thought to have been the priory farmhouse [wrong – Wilkyns farm was part of John Dryden's inheritance. Copes Ashbie – across the road – was inherited by Elizabeth's brother, who died early leaving his sons as Wards of the Dryden family] [contradictory]. In 1551 she married John Dryden, who extended the building to form the earliest parts of Canons Ashby House.

Part of the building survives: the Church of England parish church of St Mary dates from about 1250 and this, together with Canons Ashby House, is now owned by the National Trust. Its power and size can be judged by its outlying buildings which cover a large area of the surrounding countryside. The remains of the priory's hospitalium survive as the monastic building centred on the parish church of Maidford, about 5 miles (8 km) away.

Burials

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Serjeantson & Adkins 1906, pp. 130–133
  2. ^ Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; held at the National Archives; plaintiff in the 4th entry, in a plea of debt: http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT3/H6/CP40no764/bCP40no764dorses/IMG_1614.htm

Sources

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  • Serjeantson, R.M.; Adkins, W.R.D., eds. (1906). "The Priory of Canons Ashby". A History of the County of Northampton. Victoria County History. Vol. 2. Archibald Constable & Co. pp. 130–133.
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