Monument record 3980/3/1 - Rothwell Priory

[Also known as Priory of St John the Baptist] An Augustinian priory of nuns, dedicated to St John the Baptist, was founded at Rothwell in the 13th century. It apparently lay "on the high ground on that side of the town nearest to Desborough". Initially for 14 nuns, by the time the priory was dissolved in 1537-8 there were only 3 or 4 present. None of the priory buildings are believed to have survived, although the former farmhouse known as "The Nunnery" (SP 88 SW 51) has been taken as a clear indication of the probable site of at least some of the priory buildings. That house features a datestone inscribed 1660, though there has been speculation that it might be earlier. Another nearby building known as Nunnery House is dated 1849. Building work on either The Nunnery or Nunnery House in 1849 uncovered a number of inhumations.

{1} Site of priory unlocated, but probably around SP812815. it lay 'on high ground on that side of the town nearest to Desborough' {2}. A small priory of nuns of the Augustinian Order was founded here in the 13th century. Little is known of its history and it was finally suppressed in 1536 {11}. In C19th the house called The Nunnery was said to stand on site of conventual buildings of priory. [NB RCHME may be confused with Nunnery House.] During building work on The Nunnery in 1849 large numbers of inhumations were discovered with 2 or more bodies in same grave in some cases {12}; [RCHME appears to have confused The Nunnery with Nunnery House; latter has extension dated to 1849].

{3} Site of nun's cemetery can now be fixed at SP81358131 according to analysis of historic maps; normal monastic practice would suggest that this probably lay east of conventual church which therefore might lie beneath south or north side of former courtyard immediately to west; shown clearly in maps in 1813 & 1819 & 1824; its layout surviving as garage today may represent outline of former cloister.

{4} Order of St Augustine; dedicated to St John the Baptist; priory for 14 nuns founded in C13th; by suppression were only 3 or 4 nuns; was never large or wealthy house; in 1535 entire nunnery valued at only £5; dissolved 1537/8;

{5} At Rothwell was priory of nuns of Order of St Austin; dedicated to St John the Baptist;

{6} Priory of Augustinian nuns founded C13th; dissolved 1537; none of priory buildings thought to have survived;

{7} Priory of St John the Baptist: section 5 in main report. The nunnery or priory of St. John the Baptist was founded by Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester before 1262. However Richard died before he could adequately endow the priory and his heirs neglected the House. The priory church was rebuilt on the 14th century, being licences for services in 1362 and consecrated in 1379. In 1545 the priory site was leased by John Lane. In 1635-6 the capital messuage and site of the late priory of Rothwell, said to lie within the Cirencester fee, was held by Francis Dillingham. Nathaniel Hill, draper of Rothwell who died in 1681, lived in The Nunnery, as the property was then called. In 1720 and 1755 the Nunnery close is recorded as adjacent to the Nunnery and 'bounded on the north and east by the Rothwell to Desborough highway, and 5 yardlands'. In 1819 the Nunnery is identified in the Inclosure Award.
The present building is said to date from the mid-17th century. In 1849 it was reported that a considerable portion of Mr. J. M. Cole's residence, known as The Nunnery, was demolished and in the excavation of the foundations for the reconstruction were found numerous skeletons no more than 3 ft deep, in some instances two bodies to a grave. It has been suggested that the courtyard arrangement of the farm on the 1813 map could preserve the basic layout of the claustral buildings.
The poverty of the priory at Rothwell compares to the rest of the town. It had early promise but the failure to develop through perhaps most importantly a lack of promotion by a major lord, especially in the face of competition from Kettering.

{10} Trial trench excavation undertaken in the presumed area of the priory found no clear evidence of medieval ecclesiastical use. An undated ditch, undated rubble-filled gully and the possible remains of a well shown on a map of 1819 were the only features identified. A single sherd of Lyveden/Stanion ware (c1200-1400) was found associated with the feature.

{11} Small priory of nuns of Augustinian Order founded here in C13th; little known of its history; finally supressed in 1536.

{13} None of the priory buildings are believed to have survived. The house known as The Nunnery at SP 81418126 seems to locate the site. It is built of stone and dated 1660 but may be earlier. Nunnery House at SP 81368131 is dated 1849.

{14} A large well about 5ft in diameter was found after the fill subsided. Believed to relate to the Nunnery, since ovens were found in a similar location the year before. However, the letter does not give any details about the location of the finds.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.131 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.266 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<3> Soden I., 1996, Archaeological Evaluation of land off Wales Street, Rothwell: Stage 1: Desk based Asessment, (part checked) (Report). SNN44943.

<4> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.229 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<5> TANNER, 1787, NOTITIA MONASTICA, 32 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN44969.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88SW25 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<8> 1819, Rothwell Inclosure Map 1819, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100516.

<9> 1813, Rothwell Tithe Map (TM 390/Map 3106), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100515.

<10> Poulus, E, 2018, Archaeological trial trench evaluation of land at 11 Desborough Road, Rothwell Northamptonshire May-June 2018 (Report). SNN111200.

<11> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.137-38 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<12> CYPHER P., 1869, HISTORY OF ROTHWELL, 51-3+93-4 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN44857.

<13> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 13-AUG-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<14> Northamptonshire HER, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Letter from Gwen Brown dated 26/4/71 (held at the ARC) (Oral Report). SNN115011.

Record last edited

Oct 18 2023 4:29PM