March 1190 A.D. Seaton Priory, Bootle, Cumbria, UK—Benedictine Nuns, Daughter Priory of Nunbumholme, Yorkshire; Independent Priory, 1313; Dissolved 1540
March 1190 A.D. Seaton Priory, Bootle, Cumbria, UK—Benedictine
Nuns, Daughter Priory of Nunbumholme, Yorkshire; Independent Priory, 1313; Dissolved 1540;
Granted to Hugh Askue, 1541; Site Occupied by Farmhouse Named “Seaton
Hall;” 305 Miles NW of London, 2200 as
the Crow Flies
Seaton Priory
Contents
Early life
Sculptural remains
Dissolution
Known Prioresses of Seton
References
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
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Seaton Priory
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Seaton Priory
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Monastery information
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Full name
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The Priory of the Blessed Vigin Mary
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Other names
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Lekeley Priory, Seton Priory
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Established
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Late 12th Century
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1537-42 approx
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Carlisle
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People
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Founder(s)
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Henry son of Arthur son of Godard, lord of
Millom
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Site
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Location
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Visible remains
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very little, only a wall with Lancet windows
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Public access
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No
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Originally called the nunnery
of Lekeley from the name of the land it was built upon, the former nunnery of
Seaton is to the north of the parish of Bootle, Cumbria, England.
Contents
Early life
The nunnery was founded at
Lekeley by Henry son of Arthur son of Godard, lord of Millom, in the late
twelfth century. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and its nuns followed
the Benedictine rule. The nunnery was never prosperous, in common with other
religious associations of women in the region, due to the unsettled nature of
the area in part caused by the proximity to the Scottish border. To help, in
1227 Archbishop Walter Gray granted the appropriation of the church of St.
Michael of Irton to the prioress and convent of Lekeley to alleviate their
poverty. Later, in 1357, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, likewise granted the
appropriation of the hospital of St. Leonard, Lancaster, to assist the house.
The abbey of Holmcultram also helped the nuns. In 1459, Thomas York, abbot of
Holmcultram, leased all the lands the abbey possessed between Esk and Duddon,
called Lekeley, to Elizabeth Croft, prioress, for twelve years at an annual
rent of twenty shillings.
Sculptural remains
There are some remains of the
conventical church, with lancet-shaped windows. A fragment of what appears to
have been the monumental slab of a prioress is built into the wall of a barn at
High Hyton not far from the nunnery towards the sea. Part has been lost, but
the remaining inscription reads: + HIC IACET . . . DENTONA AN . . . From the
charges made in 1536 by Layton and Legh, Joan Copland was the prioress at that
date and that Susanna Rybton was an inmate of the house
Dissolution
The total revenue of the
nunnery in 1535 was returned at £13 17s. 4d. The date of dissolution is not
known, but by 1537 Sir Hugo Askew had the lease of the Priory lands. Though an
attempt was made, when the northern counties rose in rebellion, to oust him and
restore the nuns to their old home.
Known Prioresses of Seton
Elizabeth Croft, occurs 1459
Joan Seaton, occurs 1535
Joan Copland, occurs 1536
References
·
J. Wilson
(editor) Victoria County History - A History of the County of Cumberland:
Volume 2, pub 1905
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