Monument record 748/1 - Luffield Priory (Benedictine)

Benedictine Priory founded in 1116, annexed to Windsor College in 1494. There are no remains visible. Air photographs show cropmarks of a number of features visible north and south of Luffield Abbey Farm, including possible fish ponds and enclosures to the south and possible trackways to the north, within an enclosure which seems to encompass all the features. The features may form part of the priory complex. Inhumation burials were recovered in 1967, there was an excavation in 1974.

{1} Dedicated to St Mary The Virgin. The Benedictine Priory was founded after 1118 by Robert, second son of Robert First Earl of Leicester. There were originally twelve monks. Tanner, citing Camden, says that all died of Black Death. In the C15th there was one prior and two monks. In 1494 it was annexed to Windsor and the mocks were placed in other houses.

{2} In 1494 the buildings were ruinous.

{3} The 1349 charter does not mention the Black Death and life seems normal.

{4} Brief history of the priory. In 1230 Henry III granted the monastery the right to hold a three-day fair.

{9} In 1974 excavations were being carried out by Mrs G.Brown on the Buckinghamshire part of Luffield Priory.

{10} Benedictine abbey, founded in c.1124 by Robert de Bossu, earl of Leicester. The abbey was poorly endowed, but the monks soon increased their property by assarting or the clearance and cultivatio of woodland areas. There are various accounts for the demise of the abbey. One is that during the out break of the Black Death in 1349 the whole of the monastic community perished. However, this has no authority. Nevertheless the revenue of the abbey did fall and was no sufficient to support the remaining prior and two monks . In 1500 the abbey was given to the Abbot and convent of Westminster and continued as a cell to the Abbey of Westminster until the dissolution of religious houses. The abbey fell into ruins and the last traces were obliterated during the war when the airfield was built on top of it.

{11} Luffield Priory labelled on site that is now Luffield Abbey Farm.

{12} The site of Luffield Priory, a Benedictine monastery founded after AD 1118 and dissolved in AD 1494, lay from 500m to 100m to the south. There are no visible surviving above-ground remains, but inhumation burials were recovered in 1967, there was an excavation in 1974, and numerous fragmentary ditches may indicate the position of the former monastic layout.

{13} A Fair was granted in 1230, Exaltation of Holy Cross.

{15} Luffield Abbey Farm and its outbuildings are modern, and no remains of the Old Priory are evident. The owner stated that nothing relating to the Priory had been found during farming. The name and local tradition are the only evidence that the Priory was sited here.

{16} SP 674421. Indication of an associated village site.

{17} A rapid examination of air photography {18} shows cropmarks of a number of features visible north and south of Luffield Abbey Farm, including possible fish ponds and enclosures to the south and possible trackways to the north, within an enclosure which seems to encompass all the features. The features may form part of the priory complex.

{20} SP 673419 cropmarks identified on aerial photos

{20-22} Probable boundary ditches and banks associated with a medieval priory or abbey are visible on historic aerial photographs and were mapped as part of Historic England’s North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project. Located immediately adjacent Luffield Abbey Farm and centred at SP 67428 42024, the cropmarks extend across an area about 275 W-E and 445 N-S. The cropmarks comprise a double-ditched boundary or trackway/road about 365 metres long that curves NNW-SW. The inner ditch is up to 7 metres wide, but the outer ditch is much narrower at 3 metres wide and more fragmentary. Extending from the SW end of the ditch is an earthwork bank that continues SW for a further 150 metres. To the W of the boundary ditch centres at SP 67389 41950 is a linear ditch up to 12 metres wide that extends 175 metres NW-SE, from which a further 15 metres wide ditch extends SW for 65 metres. Earthwork banks flank the SW facing side of the ditch. It is possible that these cropmarks represent the remains of fishponds. Also visible is a three-sided ditch centred at SP 67497 41933, between 4 and 9 metres wide, two sides of which are linear and the third curving. The side aligned W-E is 50 metres long, the ditch turns S for 37 metres and then curves gently SW for 64 metres. The west facing side is open. The function is uncertain. To the north of the site are three small subcircular hollows or pits that may have been ponds, about 12, 13 and 16 metres in diameter

<1> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.70 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64SE2 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, pp.106, 169 (checked) (Book). SNN5137.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.95-97 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Elvey G.R. (Editor), 1957, Luffield Priory Charters: Part I, (unchecked) (Series). SNN55572.

<6> Elvey G.R. (Editor), 1975, Luffield Priory Charters: Part II, (unchecked) (Series). SNN105885.

<7> Liscombe G., 1847, History of Buckinghamshire, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN12913.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.132 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<9> FARLEY M., 1974, Letter re. Excavation at Luffield Priory, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN51736.

<10> Marsden F., 1997, An Archaeological Assessment in Connection With A Proposed Development at Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN62109.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1950s, OS 6 inch map, OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN14073.

<12> Sims M., 2013, Silverstone University Training College, Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Strip and Map Report, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN109177.

<13> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (checked) (Report). SNN103118.

<14> Brown, G, 1972-5, Luffield Priory excavations (Notes). SNN112728.

<15> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 02-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<16> Aerial Photograph, AP J.K.St Joseph ACT 64 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<17> Miller, A, 1994, RCHME AP Primary Recording Project, Andrew Miller/09-MAY-1994/RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project (Report). SNN113777.

<18> Aerial Photograph, NMR, SP 6742/1-2 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<19> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP6742/008-9 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<20> Vertical Aerial Photograph, CAP ACT63 24-APR-1961 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<21> Vertical Aerial Photograph, MAL-63617 V 117989 12-OCT-1963 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<22> Vertical Aerial Photograph, OS-73336 V 598 24-JUN-1973 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:17PM