List of monastic houses in Cornwall

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

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

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 (Knights Templars and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included were it had the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptor/commandery.

Abbreviations and key

Status of remains
mark	status
none	ruins
*	current monastic function
⁺	current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^	current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
^$	remains limited to earthworks etc.
^#	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 possible duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic name but lacking actual monastic connection.

Trusteeship
EH	English Heritage
LT	Landmark Trust
NT	National Trust

Alphabetical listing

Foundation	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	Online References & Location
Altarnon Monastery	probable monastery before 1066[note 1]	Altarnun Monastery	[1] 50°36′17″N 4°30′45″W
Bodmin — Abbey of St Mary & St Petroc^*	Augustinian Canons Regular (Canons Regular of the Lateran[2]) founded 1881; raised to abbey status 1953		[3] 50°28′10″N 4°44′01″W
Bodmin Blackfriars	probable mistaken reference to Bodmin Greyfriars[note 2]
Bodmin Greyfriars ^#	Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Bristol) founded before 1260; dissolved 1538	Bodmin Greyfriars	[4] 50°28′47″N 4°43′11″W
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	[5] 50°28′14″N 4°42′56″W
Breage Grange	Cistercian monks grange dependent on Hailes, Gloucestershire; founded c.1300
Cardinham Grange ^#	purported medieval monastery		[6] 50°28′17″N 4°39′05″W (possible)
Constantyne Monastery	Celtic monks[note 3]
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	[7] 50°24′11″N 5°06′43″W
Dingerein Monastery	Celtic monks[note 4]	Dinurrin Monastery
Gulval Monastery	Celtic monks[note 5] founded by St Gudwall (Wolvela), from Wales	Dinurrin Monastery
Kea Monastery, Old Kea	Celtic monks[note 6] supposed site of monastery recorded extant 1086	St Cheus Monastery; Old Kea Monastery	[8] 50°14′10″N 5°01′27″W (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	[9] 50°20′13″N 4°26′57″W
Lansallos Monastery	Celtic monks[note 7] patronised by St Ildierna	St Salwys (St Alwys)
Lannachebran Cell, St Keverne	monks founded c.6th century[note 8] 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	[10] 50°03′03″N 5°05′13″W
Launcells Priory	Celtic monks[note 9] secular at Norman Conquest Augustinian Canons Regular
Launceston Friary(?)	Friars[note 10]
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		[11] 50°38′28″N 4°21′58″W
Lanwethinoc Monastery^~, Padstow	Celtic monks founded by Bishop Wethinoc; site possibly occupied by the medieval Church of St Petroc at Padstow	Lanuthinoc Monastery; St Petroc's Church; Petroc-stow Monastery; Padstow Monastery	[12] 50°32′28″N 4°56′35″W (possible)
Madron Monastery	Celtic monks before 12th century		[13] 50°07′54″N 5°33′53″W (approx)
Manaccan Monastery	Celtic monks		[14] 50°04′57″N 5°07′35″W (approx)
Mawgan in Pydar Franciscan Monastery *	Franciscan monks	The Franciscan Monastery of St Joseph and St Anne, St Mawgan in Pydar	[15]
Minster Priory ⁺	Celtic monks? founded before 1066; Benedictine monks alien house: daughter of the Abbey of St. Sergius, 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	[16] 50°40′59″N 4°40′33″W
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		[17][18] 50°17′45″N 4°56′39″W
Rialton Grange ^#	Augustinian Canons Regular chief manor or grange of Bodmin; manor house built 15th century	Rieltone Grange	[19] 50°25′13″N 5°01′55″W (approx)
St Anthony's Monastery, St Anthony-in-Meneage	Celtic monks[note 11] 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	[20] 50°04′58″N 5°06′32″W (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	[21] 50°08′53″N 5°00′49″W (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		[22] 50°03′43″N 5°38′54″W (approx)
St Carrok's Monastery ^#, St Winnow	Celtic monks[note 12] 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	50°22′58″N 4°39′10″W (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	[23] 50°23′48″N 4°18′35″W
St Goran's Monastery, St Goran	Celtic monks[note 13] 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		[24] 50°14′35″N 4°48′04″W (approx)
St Kew Cell ^~	monks[note 14] 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)	50°33′29″N 4°47′40″W
St Matthew's Monastery	uncertain order and foundation
St Mawgan Monastery ⁺	Celtic monks[note 15] lands passed to the Bishop before 1085; Cluniac monks; Carmelite convent possibly built on site 16th century	Lanherne Monastery; St Mawgan in Pydar Monastery	[25] 50°27′45″N 5°01′31″W (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)		[26] 50°06′59″N 5°28′42″W
St Neot's Monastery, St Neot	Celtic monks[note 16] founded 6th century?; dissolved after 1084	Saint Aniet	50°28′28″N 4°33′58″W
St Piran's Monastery, Perranzabuloe	Celtic monks founded 6th century?; dissolved before c.1085		[27] 50°21′54″N 5°08′49″W (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	[28] 49°56′51″N 6°19′44″W
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		[29][30][31] 50°20′53″N 4°30′18″W
Sele Priory	Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on St-Florent-de-Saumur; founded before 1126; dissolved 1396
Temple property ⁺	Knights Templar Knights Hospitaller		50°31′49″N 4°37′07″W (approx)
Temple Templars Preceptory ^#	Knights Templar founded 12th century; dissolved 1308-12; asserted to have become a preceptory of Knights Hospitallers[note 17] — (disputed)		[32] 50°28′41″N 4°23′50″W (approx)
Tintagel Monastery	remains interpreted as Celtic monastic dependent on Bodmin[note 18]; founded c.350; popular tradition as medieval Benedictine nunnery: evidence lacking; Norman castle built on site; current academic consensus regards earlier settlement as secular		[33][34][35] 50°40′07″N 4°45′39″W
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	[36] 50°28′46″N 4°23′30″W
Tregonan Cell, St Ewe	Celtic monks[note 19] dependent on St Keverne's Monastery founded 6th century; dissolved 11th century		[37] 50°03′19″N 5°05′21″W (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	[38] 50°03′08″N 5°05′25″W
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	[39] 50°15′59″N 4°55′03″W (conjectured site)
Truro — Convent of the Epiphany ^	Community of the Epiphany, Anglican		[40] 50°16′21″N 5°03′32″W
Truro Blackfriars	Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of London) founded before 1259 (during the reign of Henry III) by the Reskimer family; (church consecrated 1259-60); dissolved 1538; granted to Edward Anglianby 1553/4		[41] 50°15′48″N 5°03′18″W
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	[42][43] 50°21′24″N 4°41′38″W

Notes

Altarnon Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p. 54, Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Bodmin 'Blackfriars' — given by John Leland, Itinerary; T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica p.72, note n. gives this as a seemingly erroneous reference to Bodmin Greyfriars
Constantyne Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p. 78, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Dingerein Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.100, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Gulval Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.104, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Kea Monastery Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.116, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Lansallos Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.133, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Lannachebran Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", pp. 117-8, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925 and W. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum v, p.682
Launcells Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p. 136, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Launceston Friary — T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica p. 72, cites mention of friary in addition to the abbey or priory by Mr Carew, Survey of Cornwall, f.81b/f.116b
St Anthony-in-Meneage Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p. 55, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
St Carrok's Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.213, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
St Goran's Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.102, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
St Kew's Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.119, Cornish Church Guide, 1928
St Mawgan/Lanherne Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p. 156, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
St Neot's Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.179-83, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Temple Preceptory: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.112 & 212, Cornish Church Guide, 1928
Tintagel Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", pp. 203-6, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925
Tregonan Monastery: cited by C. Henderson, "Parochial History of Cornwall", p.118, The Cornish Church Guide, 1925

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Bibliography

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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
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Map of Monastic Britain, South Sheet, Ordnance Survey, 2nd edition, 1954

List of monastic houses in Cornwall

Alphabetical listing

See also

Notes

References

Further reading