List of monastic houses in Cornwall

The following is a list of monastic houses in Cornwall, England.

In this article alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and Hospitallers). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptory/commandery.

The name of the county is given where there is reference to an establishment in another county. Where the county has changed since the foundation's dissolution the modern county is given in parentheses, and in instances where the referenced foundation ceased to exist before the unification of England, the kingdom is given, followed by the modern county in parentheses.

The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from the details provided by Historic England PastScape ^[1] and Ordnance Survey publications.

A Monastic Glossary follows the listing, which provides links to articles on the particular monastic orders as well as other terms which appear in the listing.

Abbreviations and key

The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus: * indicates current monastic function + indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) ^ indicates current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure $ indicates remains limited to earthworks etc. # indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains ~ indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown ≈ identification ambiguous or confused Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic appellation but lacking monastic connection.

Trusteeship denoted as follows: EH English Heritage LT Landmark Trust NT National Trust

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Altarnon Monastery

St Mary and St Petrock Abbey, Bodmin

Bodmin Friary (site)

Bodmin Priory

Cardinham Grange (possible site)

Crantock Monastery

Kea Monastery (supposed site)

Lammana Priory

Lannachebran Cell

Launceston Priory

Lanwethinoc Priory (possible site)

Madron Monastery (approx.)

Manaccan Monastery (approx.)

Minster Priory

Probus Monastery (site)

Rialton Grange (approx.)

St Anthony's Monastery (approx.)

St Anthony-in-Roseland Priory (approx.)

St Buryan's Monastery (approx.)

St Carrok's Monastery (approx.)

St German's Priory

St Goran's Monastery

St Kew Monastery

St Mawgan Monastery (approx.)

St Michael's Mount Priory

St Neot's Monastery

St Piran's Monastery (approx.)

Scilly Priory

Sclerder Abbey

Temple property (approx.)

Temple Templars Preceptory (approx.)

Tintagel Monastery

Trebeigh Preceptory (site)

Tregonan Cell

Tregonan Grange (site)

Tregony Priory (approx.)

Convent of the Epiphany, Truro

Truro Dominican Friary (site)

Tywardreath Priory

Locations of monastic houses in Cornwall

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	Online References & Location
Altarnon Monastery		probable monastery before 1066	Altarnun Monastery
Bodmin — Abbey of St Mary & St Petroc*		Augustinian Cannons Regular (Canons Regular of the Lateran) founded 1881; raised to abbey status 1953
Bodmin Blackfriars		probable mistaken reference to Bodmin Greyfriars
Bodmin Greyfriars #		Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Bristol) founded before 1260; dissolved 1538	Bodmin Greyfriars
Bodmin Priory +		Celtic monks abbey? purportedly founded 6th century by St Petroc; Benedictine? monks refounded 936; nuns? dissolved c.1113; monks or secular dissolved c.1124; Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1124; dissolved 27 February 1538; buildings destroyed apart from the parish church, in parochial use as Church of England parish church; church in use for secular and industrial purposes post-dissolution	Bodmin Monastery; Bodmin Abbey
Breage Grange		Cistercian monks grange dependent on Hailes, Gloucestershire; founded c.1300
Cardinham Grange #		purported medieval monastery		(possible)
Constantyne Monastery		Celtic monks
Crantock Monastery		Celtic monks probably founded by a St Carrock; secular before 1066; recorded extant 1086; secular canons collegiate refounded 1236; dissolved 1549	St Corontocus ____________________ St Karentoc's Monastery
Dingerein Monastery		Celtic monks	Dinurrin Monastery
Gulval Monastery		Celtic monks founded by St Gudwall (Wolvela), from Wales	Dinurrin Monastery
Kea Monastery, Old Kea		Celtic monks supposed site of monastery recorded extant 1086	St Cheus Monastery; Old Kea Monastery	(supposed)
Lammana Priory, Looe Island		Benedictine monks founded 6th century; Benedictine monks cell dependent on Glastonbury and chapel; founded before 1114; disposed of by Glastonbury between 1239 and 1329; chantry chapel of the Dawnay family before 1329; dissolved 1549	The Priory Church of St Michael, Lammana ____________________ Lammana Chapel
Lansallos Monastery		Celtic monks patronised by St Ildierna	St Salwys (St Alwys)
Lannachebran Cell, St Keverne		monks founded c.6th century under the tutelage of St Achebran; secular collegiate refounded before 1086; Cistercian monks grange dependent on Beaulieu, Hampshire; founded before 1263; dissolved 1527; granted to Francis, Earl of Bedford 1559/60	St Keiran's Monastery; St Keverne's Monastery; Lanachebran Monastery
Launcells Priory		Celtic monks secular at Norman Conquest Augustinian Canons Regular
Launceston Friary(?)		Friars
Launceston Priory, earlier site		monks or secular founded before c.830; secular canons to c.1126
Launceston Priory +		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1127; dissolved 1539; restored 1871; in parochial use as the Church of St Thomas the Apostle
Lanwethinoc Monastery~, Padstow		Celtic monks founded by Bishop Wethinoc; site possibly occupied by the medieval Church of St Petrock at Padstow	Lanuthinoc Monastery; St Petroc's Church; Petroc-stow Monastery; Padstow Monastery	(possible)
Madron Monastery		Celtic monks before 12th century		(approx)
Manaccan Monastery		Celtic monks		(approx)
Mawgan in Pydar Franciscan Monastery *		Franciscan monks	The Franciscan Monastery of St Joseph and St Anne, St Mawgan in Pydar
Minster Priory +		Celtic monks? founded before 1066; Benedictine monks alien house: daughter of St-Serge, Angers founded before 1190 by William de Bottreaux; dissolved before 1407; slight remains of priory near the medieval parochial church	The Priory Church of Saint Materiana, Minster St Mertherian ____________________ Talcarne Priory; Minster Cell
Paul Grange		Cistercian monks grange(?) dependent on Hailes, Gloucestershire; founded c.1300(?)
Probus Monastery		Celtic monks or secular founded 924, purportedly by King Athelstan; dissolved 940; secular canons collegiate founded before 1086 (or during the reign of Henry I, who granted the church to Exeter Cathedral 1120); dissolved 1549
Rialton Grange #		Augustinian Canons Regular chief manor or grange of Bodmin; manor house built 15th century	Rieltone Grange	(approx)
St Anthony's Monastery, St Anthony-in-Meneage		Celtic monks Benedictine monks alien house: grange of St-Serge, Angers; founded from Brittany?; became parochial after 1066; became a grange of Twywardreath before mid-12th century (though referred to as a cell); founded after 1088; dissolved after 1381	Lantenning Monastery	(approx)
St Anthony-in-Roseland Priory ^		Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell dependent on Plympton, Devon founded before 1288; dissolved 1538; remains incorporated into house named 'Place House' built on site 16th Century	St Anthony-in-Roseland Cell	(approx)
St Buryan's Monastery, St Buryan		Celtic monks secular collegiate founded c.930, purportedly by King Athelstan; dissolved 1545; parish church (SS Andrew, Thomas the Martyr, Nicholas and Beriana) on site rebuilt 13th Century, though mostly now 15th century		(approx)
St Carrok's Monastery #, St Winnow		Celtic monks dissolved/destroyed before 1086?: seized by Robert, Count of Mortain; Cluniac monks alien house: cell dependent on Montacute, Somerset; founded 1100-40: granted to Montacute by William, son of Robert c.1100; became denizen: independent from 1407; dissolved 1537; granted to Laurence Courtney 1534/5	St Carroc Monastery; St Syriac's Monastery; St Cyricus and St Julitta's Monastery; St Cadix's Monastery; St Syriac's Cell	(approx)
St German's Priory +		Celtic monks possibly founded 7th century; secular canons episcopal diocesan cathedral founded c.936; see transferred to new site at Crediton, Devon 1042; monks or secular founded 1042; Augustinian Canons Regular refounded 1184 (1161-87); dissolved 2 March 1539; granted to Catherine Champernoun, John Ridgeway and others 1541/2; now in use as parish church; remains of claustral buildings incorporated into Port Eliot House	The Priory Church of Saint German, Saint Germans
St Goran's Monastery, St Goran		Celtic monks founded 6th century; patronised by St Goran in the time of St Petroc; dissolved after 1083; church and lands granted to the college of Glasney 1269		(approx)
St Kew Cell ~		monks founded 6th century (in the time of St Samson); purported Augustinian cell secular minster status confirmed by King Edgar, who granted land to the minster 961-3; secular collegiate clerks or secular canons until 1283; Augustinian Secular Canons — from Plympton, Devon until before 1283 church rebuilt 1496 and restored 1883	St Daw (or St Docco) Saint Kew (from 1440)
St Matthew's Monastery		uncertain order and foundation
St Mawgan Monastery +		Celtic monks lands passed to Bishop before 1085; Cluniac monks; Carmelite convent possibly built on site 16th century	Lanherne Monastery; St Mawgan in Pydar Monastery	(approx)
St Michael's Mount Priory +		Saxon Benedictine? monks 8th century-11th century; Benedictine monks founded 1087-90; church consecrated 1135; alien house: dependent on Mont-St-Michel, Normandy granted by Edward the Confessor to Mont-St-Michel before 1050; seized during wars with the French 1362; dissolved c.1414; granted by Henry VI to King's College, Cambridge; granted by Edward IV to Syon Abbey; used alternately as fortress and monastery and private residence with public access; (NT)
St Neot's Monastery, St Neot		Celtic monks founded 6th century?; dissolved after 1084	Saint Aniet
St Piran's Monastery, Perranzabuloe		Celtic monks founded 6th century?; dissolved before c.1085		(approx)
Saltash Monastery		uncertain order and foundation
Scilly Priory		Celtic monks, monastic cells founded before 1066; Benedictine monks cell dependent on Tavistock, Devon; founded before 1114; dissolved c.1538; Tresco Abbey Gardens created by Augustus Smith around the priory remains in 1834	The Priory Church of St Nicholas, Scilly ____________________ Tresco Cell
Sclerder Abbey +		Dames de la Retraite founded c.1843; dissolved 1852; Franciscan Recollects founded 1858; dissolved 1864; Carmelite founded 1864; dissolved 1871; Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary founded 1904; dissolved 1910; Minoresses — from Rennes 1914-1920; Minoresses — from Bullingham 1922-1981; Franciscan c.1925; Carmelite — from Quidenham 1981-2014; Chemin Neuf 2014-; extant
Sele Priory		Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on St-Florent-de-Saumur; founded before 1126; dissolved 1396
Temple property +		Knights Templar Knights Hospitaller		(approx)
Temple Templars Preceptory #		Knights Templar founded 12th century; dissolved 1308-12; asserted to have become a preceptory of Knights Hospitallers — (disputed)		(approx)
Tintagel Monastery		remains interpreted as Celtic monastic dependent on Bodmin; founded c.350; popular tradition as medieval Benedictine nunnery: evidence lacking; Norman castle built on site; current academic consensus regards earlier settlement as secular
Trebeigh Preceptory #		Knights Templar (purportedly); Knights Hospitaller founded before 1199 "by the bounty of" Henry de Pomeral and Reginald Marsh; united with Ansty before 1432; dissolved after 1557/8; granted to Henry Wilby and George Blythe 1573/4	Treleigh Preceptory; Turleigh Preceptory
Tregonan Cell, St Ewe		Celtic monks dependent on St Keverne's Monastery founded 6th century; dissolved 11th century		(approx)
Tregonan Grange		Cistercian monks grange of Beaulieu, Hampshire founded before 1263; dissolved before 1527; "considerable remains" existing 1755 have since disappeared	St Keverne Grange
Tregony Priory ~		Augustinian Canons Regular alien house: priory cell dependent on Le Val, Bayeux; founded before 1125(?); granted to Merton, Surrey 1267	The Priory Church of St James, Tregony ____________________ Tregoney Priory	(conjectured site)
Truro — Convent of the Epiphany ^		Community of the Epiphany, Anglican
Truro Blackfriars		Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of London) founded before 1259 (during the reign of Henry III) by the Reskiner family; (church consecrated 1259-60); dissolved 1538; granted to Edward Anglianby 1553/4
Tywardreath Priory		Benedictine monks alien house: daughter of St-Serge, Angers founded c.1088 by Richard fitz Turold, Lord of Cardinham Castle, chief baron of Cornwall (or 1169 "by some noblemen", or 1135); became denizen: independent c.1400; dissolved 1536; granted to Edward, Earl of Hertford 1542/3	St Andrew ____________________ Truwardraith Priory

Glossary

Orders: Augustinian Augustinian Canons Regular / Austin Canons / Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) - Arrouasian / (Arroasian) - Victorine - Holy Sepulchre Austin Friars (Augustinian Friars) Augustinian Recollects Benedictine / Order of St Benedict (O.S.B.) Bonshommes Bridgettine / Briggittine Carmelites Carmelites (White Friars) Carthusians Cistercian Cluniac Crutched Friars / (Crouched Friars / Crossed Friars / Fratres Cruciferi / Brethren of the Holy Cross) Culdee Dominican (Black Friars) / Ordinis Praedicatorum (Order of Preachers) (O.P.) / Friars Preachers Franciscan (Grey Friars) Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (The Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.) / Ordo Fratrum Minorum) Capuchin (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) Franciscan Observants Franciscan, Third Order Regular Franciscan Recollects Minoresses (Poor Clares) Friars of the Order of Blessed Mary (Friars of St Mary / Fratres Beatae Mariae) Friars of Penitence of Jesus Christ (Friars of the Sack) Gilbertine Grandmontine Military Orders Knights Hospitaller / Hospitallers / Order of Hospitallers / Knights of Saint John / Order of Saint John Order of the Holy Sepulchre Knights Templar / Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon / Order of the Temple / Templars Order of Saint Lazarus

St. Lazarus Hospitallers Premonstratensian Savignac Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Sisters of St John of Jerusalem Tironensian Trappist Trinitarian (Maturines) Valliscaulian General terms: Abbots / Abbesses / Abbey Alien House Anchorites Camera (pl. Cameræ) Canons Canons Regular cell Commandery Double monastery Friars / Friary Friars Eremites / anchorites Hermits Mendicants Monks Nuns / Nunnery Preceptor / Preceptory Priors / Prioresses / Priory Secular canons

Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

Northumberland Durham Lancashire Cheshire Derbs. Notts. Lincolnshire Leics. Staffs. Shropshire Warks. Northants. Norfolk Suffolk Essex Herts. Beds. Bucks. Oxon. Glos. Somerset Wiltshire Berkshire Kent Surrey Hampshire Dorset Devon Cornwall Heref. Worcs. Bristol East Riding of Yorkshire Rutland Cambs. Greater London Tyne & Wear Cumbria North Yorkshire South Yorks. West Yorkshire Greater Manc. Merseyside East Sussex West Sussex Isle of Wight West Midlands

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See also

• List of monastic houses in England

References

• Binns, Alison (1989) Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 1: Dedications of Monastic Houses in England and Wales 1066-1216, Boydell
• Cobbett, William (1868) List of Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals, And Other Religious Foundations in England and Wales and in Ireland, Confiscated, Seized On, or Alienated by the Protestant "Reformation" Sovereigns and Parliaments
• Knowles, David & Hadcock, R. Neville (1971) Medieval Religious Houses England & Wales. Longman
• Morris, Richard (1979) Cathedrals and Abbeys of England and Wales, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
• Thorold, Henry (1986) Collins Guide to Cathedrals, Abbeys and Priories of England and Wales, Collins
• Thorold, Henry (1993) Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland, Collins
• Wright, Geoffrey N., (2004) Discovering Abbeys and Priories, Shire Publications Ltd.
• English Cathedrals and Abbeys, Illustrated, Odhams Press Ltd.
• Map of Monastic Britain, South Sheet, Ordnance Survey, 2nd edition, 1954

Further reading

• Oliver, George (1846) Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis: being a collection of records and instruments illustrating the ancient conventual, collegiate, and eleemosynary foundations, in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon, with historical notices, and a supplement, comprising a list of the dedications of churches in the Diocese, an amended edition of the taxation of Pope Nicholas, and an abstract of the Chantry Rolls [with supplement and index]. Exeter: P. A. Hannaford, 1846, 1854, 1889
• Olson, Lynette (1989) Early Monasteries in Cornwall (Studies in Celtic History series). Woodbridge: Boydell Press ISBN 0-85115-478-6
• Orme, Nicholas (2007) Cornwall and the Cross. Chichester: Phillimore; English Heritage
• Orme, Nicholas (1996) English Church Dedications: with a Survey of Cornwall and Devon, University of Exeter Press ISBN 0-85989-516-5