Monument record 3043/4 - St Mary's Priory (Fineshade Abbey)

In about 1200 Richard Engayne founded a house of Augustinian canons on the site of Castle Hymel. The name Fineshade was adopted in the middle ages. It was dissolved in 1536. After the Dissolution, the West range of the conventual buildings were converted into a country residence, (3043/3). This and the abbey buildings were totally destroyed in 1749.

{1} Possible Roman features, Medieval castle and priory, Post medieval mansion evaluation by AG Johnston and B Dix.

{2} The charter of the Priory of Fineshade (1227) refers to iron working at the site of the priory.

{3} The Augustinian Priory of Castro Hymel, later known as Fineshade, was founded around 1200 by Richard Engayne, the King's huntsman, on the site of his castle. This castle, in part encircled by woodland and assarts, lay at the northern limit of Richard's manors of Laxton and Blatherwyke. Initial endowments of land from Laxton and the nearby township of Blatherwyke were made to the priory by Richard and his two sons Richard and vitalis; Henry Engayne, the founder's grandson, later added to these and also gave his nearby valley manor of Woodnewton.

{4} The priory passed in 1536 to John Lord Russel;

{5} It was first known as priory of Castle Hymel & later of Fineshade; located to the north east of castle; Bridges says that the priory hall was on east side of the later mansion & the site of the church was marked by a heap of stones at the mansion's north west corner "contiguous to the north west part of the house is a heap of rubbish; made as is supposed by the ruins of the steeple"; north of this was found "the very pavement & foundation" ;

{7} The priory was founded by Richard Engayne who died in 1208. The priory was dissolved in 1536 and the conventual buildings were turned into a residence. No trace remains on the ground of the priory but it probably lay on the site of, and around, the 18th-century house.The priory church is alleged to have been located close to the site of the later house as skeletons and foundations were discovered in this area in the 18th century. In 1720 an arch of the original priory was still standing;

{12} Six short segments of wall were found during the watching brief. A compact limestone surface was asociated with one of the walls but it was unclear whether it was an internal floor or external yard surface. Pottery within this layer was dated to between the 13th and 15th centuries, which may suggest that the walls seen within this area relate to the part of the priory buildings.

{15} See 6" map diagram, annotated 25" survey and air photo.

<1> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P119 (Article). SNN104441.

<2> Bellamy B.; Jackson D.; Johnston G., 2000-01, Early Iron Smelting in the Rockingham Forest Area: A Survey of the Evidence, p.103-128 (unchecked) (Article). SNN103947.

<3> Bellamy, B and Johnston, G., 2015, The lands and landscape of the priory of Fineshade, p. 139 (Article). SNN110578.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP99NE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.135+307 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> A History of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Chapter). SNN57443.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.38/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<8> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 135-6 (Series). SNN100369.

<9> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.137 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP99NE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<11> STUKELEY, 1887, FAMILY MEMOIRS, 80/3.73 (Series). SNN60496.

<12> Thorne A., 2001, Archaeological Watching Brief At Fineshade Abbey, Northamptonshire May - June 2000 (Report). SNN101353.

<13> Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN32494.

<14> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, CPE/UK 1925 (1947) 2130-1 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<15> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 18-MAR-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<16> Historic England, Fineshade Abbey (Archive). SNN115348.

<17> Historic England, Undated, FINESHADE ABBEY, DUDDINGTON WITH FINESHADE, BF061870 (Archive). SNN116140.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:23PM