# Alvecote Priory

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Ruined priory in Warwickshire, England

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Remains of Alvecote Priory.

**Alvecote Priory** is a ruined [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) [priory](/source/Priory) in [Alvecote](/source/Alvecote), [Warwickshire](/source/Warwickshire), England. The site has been scheduled as an [ancient monument](/source/Ancient_monument).[1] Now very little remains of the priory: most of the walls have been eroded, but a fairly high wall remains on one side. The main entrance arch is the most impressive feature, still standing at around 20 feet (6 m) high. The attached [dovecote](/source/Dovecote) also survives; however both the ruined priory and the dovecote are on the [Heritage at Risk Register](/source/Heritage_at_Risk_Register) due to vandalism and water damage.[2]

## History

The priory was founded in 1159 by **William Burdett** as a dependency of [Great Malvern Priory](/source/Great_Malvern_Priory).[3] After returning from a [crusade](/source/Crusade), Burdett accused his wife of being unfaithful and stabbed her, and as penance founded the monastery.[4] Little is known of the history of this small priory.[5] We only know the names of five of its priors. The first prior of whom any record survives was William de Wikwane, who resigned in 1282. The last two priors of this small house were in office in rapid succession. William Sutton was recorded as prior in 1535, but by the following year he had been succeeded by William Umberleye. It was probably he who finally surrendered the house to the King's commissioners when the mother house of Great Malvern was finally [dissolved](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries) in 1540.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Dugdale stated that the tomb of the founder was located in an arch of the wall on the north side of the church and was covered by “a plain free stone curiously embossed with the sculpture of a large cross”. The priory was not richly endowed, and the taxation of 1291 gave its property a value of £7 9s 2d. After two centuries the priory buildings were in poor repair, but the monks gained the favour of [Edward III](/source/Edward_III). Protection was granted to the monks and their attorneys to collect alms in churches for the restoration of the church and cloister. The priory was suppressed in 1543, and the priory and its lands were granted to Chancellor Audley. In June it was alienated to Joan Robynson, the widow of the [mercer](/source/Worshipful_Company_of_Mercers) George Robynson of London. The priory remains are now included in Pooley Country Park.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The priory house (a ruin in 1965) was built from the stone of the old Benedictine Priory.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Incomplete list of priors

- William de Wikwane: resigned 1282

- William de Beaulis: appointed 1315

- Richard de Malverne: occurs 1341

- William Sutton: occurs 1535

- William Umberleye: occurs 1536

## See also

- [grid reference](/source/Ordnance_Survey_National_Grid) [SK251041](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Alvecote_Priory&params=52.634076_N_1.630562_W_region:GB_scale:25000)

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Alvecote Priory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alvecote_Priory).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Alvecote priory and dovecote (1020623)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1020623?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Alvecote priory and dovecote, Shuttington - North Warwickshire"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170806223424/https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/list-entry/1985185). *Heritage at Risk*. Historic England. Archived from [the original](https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/list-entry/1985185) on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** 'Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of Alvecote', in A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2, ed. William Page (London, 1908), pp. 61-62. British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol2/pp61-62](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol2/pp61-62) [accessed 6 August 2017].

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Evil deceit that led to murder"](http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/evil-deceit-led-murder/story-15576123-detail/story.html). *Tamworth Herald*. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2017.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Alvecote Priory"](http://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/alvecote-priory). Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

## External links

- [VCH article on history of priory](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36489)

- [Heritage at Risk Register](/source/Heritage_at_Risk_Register): [*Alvecote+Priory*](https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/results?q=Alvecote+Priory&searchtype=har)

v t e Monasteries in Warwickshire Augustinian Arbury Priory Atherstone Austin Friary Holywell Cell Kenilworth Abbey Maxstoke Priory Studley Priory Thelsford Priory Warwick St Sepulchre Priory Benedictine Alcester Abbey Alvecote Priory Atherstone Priory Bretford Priory Monks Kirby Priory Nuneaton Priory Oldbury Priory Polesworth Abbey Warmington Priory Wolston Priory Wootton Wawen Priory Wroxall Priory Cistercian Cawston Grange Coombe Abbey Holywell Cell Merevale Abbey Pinley Priory Stoneleigh Abbey Dominican Warwick Blackfriars Knights Hospitaller Grafton Preceptory Warwick Preceptory Knights Templar Warwick Preceptory Trinitarian Thelsford Priory Independent Houses Stratford-on-Avon Monastery

v t e Benedictine abbeys and priories in medieval England and Wales Independent houses Abbotsbury Abergavenny Abingdon Alcester Athelney Bardney Bath Battle Bedford Birkenhead Bradwell Brewood (Black Ladies) Buckfast Burton Bury St Edmunds Canterbury (Christ Church) Canterbury (St Augustine's) Canwell Cerne Chertsey Chester Cholsey Colchester Coventry Crowland Durham Ely Evesham Eynsham Farewell Priory Faversham Glastonbury Gloucester Humberston Luffield Malmesbury Milton Monk Bretton Muchelney Molycourt Norwich (Holy Trinity) Pershore Peterborough Ramsey Reading Repton Rochester St Albans St Benet of Hulme Sandwell Selby Sherborne Shrewsbury Snelshall Tavistock Tewkesbury Thorney Upholland Walden Westminster Whitby Winchcombe Winchester (New Minster) Winchester (St Swithun) Worcester York (St Mary's) Dependent houses Aldeby Alkborough Alcester Alvecote Beadlow Bedemans Berg Belvoir Binham Breedon Brecon Bristol Bromfield Cardiff Cardigan Cranborne Darenth Deeping Dover Dunster Earls Colne Ewenny Ewyas Harold Exeter Farne Felixstowe Finchale Freiston Great Malvern Hatfield Peverel Henes (Sandtoft) Hereford Hertford Holy Island Horton Hoxne Hurley Jarrow Kidwelly Kilpeck King's Mead Kings Lynn Lammana Langley Leominster Leonard Stanley Lincoln Little Malvern Littlemore Lytham Middlesbrough Monkwearmouth Morville Norwich (St Leonard's) Oxford (of Canterbury) Oxford (of Durham) Oxford (of Gloucester) Penwortham Pilton Redbourne Richmond Rumburgh St Bees St Ives Scilly Snaith Snape Stamford Studley (Oxfordshire) Studley (Warwickshire) Tickhill Tynemouth Wallingford Westbury-on-Trym Wetheral Wymondham Yarmouth Alien priories Allerton Mauleverer Andover Andwell Appuldurcombe Arundel Astley Aston Priors Atherington Avebury Axmouth Blyth Boxgrove Brimpsfield Burstall Burwell Caldy Carisbrooke Chepstow Clatford Cogges Corsham Covenham Cowick Creeting (St. Mary) Creeting (St. Olave) Debden Deerhurst Dunwich Ecclesfield Edith Weston Ellingham Everdon Eye Folkestone Frampton Goldcliff Grovebury Hamble Harmondsworth Hatfield Regis Haugham Hayling Headley Hinckley Holbeck Horsham St Faith Horsley Lancaster Lapley Lewisham Isleham Livers Ocle Llangennith Llangua Loders Minster Minster Lovell Minting Modbury Monks Kirby Monk Sherborne (Pamber) Monmouth Newent Ogbourne Otterton Panfield Pembroke Pill Ruislip Runcton St Cross St Dogmells St Michael's Mount St Neots Sele Spalding Sporle Standon Steventon Stogursey Stoke-by-Clare Stratfield Saye Swavesey Takeley Throwley Tickford Titley Toft Monks Totnes Tutbury Tywardreath Upavon Ware Wareham Warminghurst Warmington Wath Weedon Beck Weedon Lois West Mersea Wilsford Wing Winghale Wolston Wootton Wawen York (Holy Trinity)

[52°38′03″N 1°37′50″W / 52.63408°N 1.63056°W / 52.63408; -1.63056](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Alvecote_Priory&params=52.63408_N_1.63056_W_region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SK251041))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alvecote Priory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvecote_Priory) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvecote_Priory?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.