Monument record 0045900000 - LITTLE MARLOW PRIORY

Summary

Benedictine Nunnery probably founded in the second half of the 12th century and dissolved in 1536. Excavated in 1902, the plan revealed that it was probably for 13 nuns. The plans revealed a church with North transept and North-east chapel separate from the quire, and a West tower. The East claustral range consisted of the chapter house, dorter and warming house. The West range comprised the cellar or guest house over. The frater occupied the South range, the kitchen being offset at the South-West corner. South of these were the farmery and reredorter in separate buildings. An ornamental moat surviving as an earthwork may have originally been for drainage. This moat is associated with Abbey House which stands to the West.

Protected Status/Designation

Archaeological Notification Area: Remains of Medieval nunnery of Little Marlow Priory. (DBC9281)

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Type and Period (13)

PRIORY (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
WARMING HOUSE (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
WALL (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
REFECTORY (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
PRIVY HOUSE (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
MOAT (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
GUEST HOUSE (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
DRAIN (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
DORMITORY (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
CLOISTER (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
CHURCH (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
CHAPTER HOUSE (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)
BENEDICTINE NUNNERY (12th Century to 16th Century - 1150 AD to 1536 AD)

Description

PRIORY OF ST MARY FIRST RECORDED IN 1218, BUT MAY HAVE BEEN FOUNDED EARLIER. EXCAVATIONS SUGGEST EARLIEST BUILDINGS C.1220 & PRIORY INTENDED FOR AT LEAST 13 NUNS. IN EARLY C14 PRIORY BARELY SELF-SUPPORTING. 1530: 5 NUNS & PRIORESS. 1535: ONLY 5 NUNS LEFT, 3 OF WHOM WERE DISMISSED. DISSOLVED 1538 (B1-6).

(SU 88938773) Site of (NAT) St Marys Priory (NR) (Benedictine). (B16)

Little Marlow, Priory of Benedictine nuns founded 1150-90, dissolved 1536. (B5)

Nunnery, ruins and moat, at The Abbey, or Abbey Farm. A complete excavation of the ruins of the Nunnery was made in 1902. They were probably of the 13th century, but only a low wall of rough flint and clunch now remains in situ above ground; it has a short return at the east end, and is the NE corner of the frater; there are two gaps in it, but no worked edges or mouldings. At the west end is a shed partly built of old stones. The moat is formed by a stream which runs into the River Thames about 200 yds south of the site of the nunnery. Condition - well preserved. (B10)

The conventual hall was pulled down in 1740 and by 1797 there were scarcely any remains left. Part of the wall of the tower was, however standing but the other ruins had been taken down and a farmhouse built with the old materials - possibly that now called Abbey Farm. (B17)

St Mary's Priory (Benedictine Nuns) Detailed plan and site plan. (B18)

'The Abbey' is a private house of many periods but uncertain age. It is not outstanding. The flint rubble walling reputed to be the NE corner of the frater (3) lies to the east of the house at SU 88928773. It stands about 1.5m high but modern material in the packing suggests re-building, although below a clear footing line no modern material is evident. A gap about 1.0m wide appears original. The moat surrounding the area is entirely canalised and ornamental, but if an original feature of the priory it would appear to be for boundary or drainage purposes. Surveyed at 1:1250. (Priory remains) (B19).

NRHE Insert 1997, Update 2001 and 2003 (B20)

Sources (20)

<1>SBC7298 Bibliographic reference: LANGLEY T 1797 HISTORY & ANTIQUITIES OF HUNDRED OF DESBOROUGH PP318-323.
<2>SBC26953 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 3). Volume 3. pp607-608.
<3>SBC1723 Article in serial: 1873. BIRCH W DE GRAY 1873 'ACCOUNT OF NUNNERY OF LITTLE MARLOW', IN RECS OF BUCKS 4. Vol 4. pp64-73.
<4>SBC20462 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1925. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume III. Volume 3. pp78-79.
<5>SBC7157 Bibliographic reference: KNOWLES D & HADCOCK R N 1971 MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES OF ENGLAND & WALE-S, 2ND EDIT. PP254, 260.
<6>SBC3155 Bibliographic reference: COLVIN H M 1963 HISTORY OF THE KINGS WORKS 1 P882 (CITING FOREIGN ACCOUN-T ROLL 45 EDWARD III, ROT.F.
<7>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire. Volume 1. pp231-232.
<8>SBC5491 Map: G E SCRIMGEOUR AUGUST 1988 FROM OS 1960 6INCH MAP & PLAN IN B9.
<9>SBC11649 Article in serial: PEERS C R 1902 'BENEDICTINE NUNNERY OF LITTLE MARLOW', IN RECS OF BUCKS 8 PP419-434 & FIGS.
<10>SBC20460 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1905. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume I. Volume 1. pp357-360.
<11>SBC34 Bibliographic reference: A R PIKE (BCM) DEC 1978 FROM B7 & B9.
<12>SBC5489 Bibliographic reference: G E SCRIMGEOUR AUG 1988 FROM ILLUS. IN B9.
<13>SBC36 Bibliographic reference: A R PIKE (BCM) MARCH 1984 FIELD VISIT (& SEE CORRESPONDENCE & PHOTOS, FILED).
<14>SBC15227 Bibliographic reference: VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS MISS E M MARCH-APRIL 1998 (CORRESPONDENCE, FILED).
<15>SBC19256 Bibliographic reference: Browne Willis. 1717. An History of the Mitred Parliamentary Abbies. Vol 2. p28.
<16>SBC27645 Cartographic materials: Ordnance Survey. 1925. Ordnance Survey Map OS 25" 1925.
<17>SBC27646 Serial: Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. 1870-77. Records of Buckinghamshire volume 4. Volume 4. p73.
<18>SBC27647 Serial: Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. 1902. Records of Buckinghamshire volume 8. Volume 8. p417-434.
<19>SBC27648 Verbal communication: J R Linge. 1974. Field Investigators Comments- F1 JRL 15-AUG-74. 1226685 OS card SU88 NE 45, 1974, Index Card. TracingAntiquity Model: Surveyed.
<20>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference	SU 88900 87700 (point)
Civil Parish	LITTLE MARLOW, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (4)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Event - Intervention: Excavation: St Mary's Priory (EBC11801)

Record last edited

Jul 22 2025 9:27AM