Monument record 91 - Sewardsley Priory

Cistercian nunnery founded in 1154-89, appropriated to Delapre (Cluniac) in 1459-60 and dissolved in 1536. The nunnery appears to have been quite poor from its foundation until the early 14th century when it purchased the manor and estates of Easton Neston. Although there were periods of hardship during the later 14th century, the nunnery won the advowson of the parish church and during the early 15th century the nuns were claiming the church tithes for themselves. This appears to have resulted in accusations of excess and lewd behaviour. By the later 15th century, the nunnery was appropriated to Delapre Abbey (in Northampton) because it was unable to maintain its inhabitants and repair the buildings although it seems to have retained its independence. In 1470, the nunnery was associated with a case of alleged witchcraft. In the mid 19th century, alterations to the current house revealed three graves to the east of the house as well as wall foundations and medieval finds. The remains of a fishpond survive to the south of the farm and enclosures survived to the north until the later 20th century. Archaeological evaluation undertaken by Time Team in 2007 included resistivity survey, ground penetrating radar survey and trial trench excavation. The layout of the nunnery was confirmed comprising a central cloister with a chapel or church to the north, and ranges of buildings surrounding the remaining three sides. A number of phases of construction were identified, of which the earliest dated to the 12th century, with later buildings added during periods of prosperity. Burials dated to the earliest phase of construction as well as to the 13th century. A possible two-storey building located to the south-west of the cloister was interpreted as a possible Prioress's lodgings.

{1} Medieval priory at Sewardsley. Cistercian Priory/Convent of nuns was founded by Richard de Lister in the reign of Henry II [1154-89].

{2} It constituted the second residence of Easton Neston in 1570.

{3} It had long since degenerated into a common farmhouse.

{4} Little now remains of the priory. The present house, though much altered especially in the mid 19th century, appears to include some parts of a medieval building. In 1852 during the alteration of the house at least three graves associated with elaborately carved coffin lids of the 14th century were discovered under and immediately E. of the E: wing of the house. These remain in the garden. A number of wall foundations, glass and decorated floor tiles were also recorded {7, 14}. More recently another plain coffin lid and at least two more burials have been found in the garden E. of the farm-house.

To the S. of the farm, in the bottom of a shallow S.W.-draining valley on Upper Lias Clay (SP 717507), are the remains of a small rectangular fishpond 40 m. by 20 m. and only 0.25 m. deep with a low dam at its S.W. end. There are traces of an inlet channel at its N.E. end, and below the dam to the S.W. are several other shallow ditches and an irregular depression which may mark the site of another pond. The main pond and others in the area are said to have been filled in soon after 1850 {7}.

Immediately N. of the farm (SP 717509) there were, until recent destruction, some rectangular enclosures bounded by banks (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 1030–5; FSL6565, 1997; air photographs in NMR). No trace of these now exists but large quantities of limestone rubble and 18th and 19th-century material as well as a few medieval sherds remain. The closes probably represent post-medieval buildings unrelated to the priory.

{5} In 1459-60 the priory was appropriated to Delapre. There were four nuns and a prioress at Suppression in 1536.

{6} In 1432 the Bishop reports that the nuns are living evil lives.

{7} Finds of 1852 during alterations to the house. Beneath and to the east of the east wing were found at least three burials with elaborately carved C14th coffin lids. Also wall foundations, glass and decorated floor tiles. A few marks of antiquity were still visible in the kitchen in 1855.

{11} Archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2007 by Channel 4's 'Time Team' comprised resistivity and ground penetrating radar surveys and subsequent trial trench excavation. The east-west aligned priory chapel was identified immediately to the east of the present house. Several graves were identified at the eastern end of the chapel. Four ornamental grave slabs surrounded by a modern circular stone walled garden feature were excavated to investigate whether the stone slabs were those recorded by Brookes in 1857, following the rebuilding work of c.1855. It was believed that the graves slabs were not in situ, although the excavation proved that they were. The decoration of the grave slabs dated the grave slabs to between c1220 and the late 13th century. Further trenches confirmed the presence of other ranges of buildings around the cloister including, possibly, the chapter house and the Prioress's lodge. The inner cloister walls and possible cloister walkway surfaces were identified; the distance between the inner and outer cloister walls was c4m, giving the width of the walkway.

{12} A Cistercian Priory, known as Sewardsley, was founded in c.1155. The priory remained relatively poor throughout its existence, but also had an unfortunate propensity for scandal in the later medieval period. This involved financial irregularities and other excesses, culminating in an association with a case of witchcraft in 1470, and the declaration as null and void of the election of one of the last prioresses, in 1530, on the grounds of her unfitness for the post. At the time of the Dissolution in 1536, Sewardsley was the second poorest nunnery in the country. The remains of the Priory are still depicted by the time of the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1884.
Early records refer to “Sewardsley”, however over time it has also been referred to as Shewerdsley, Showslie, Sewesley and Shewsley which literally means the ley or field of Sewerd. Another reference of “Showardley” was found in the 1861 census return.
After the Dissolution the site of the Priory and its demesnes were added to the manorial estate in Easton Neston. Sewardsley became one of the larger farmhouses on their estate and the only one in the parish outside Hulcote village.
The last Earl of Pomfret died unmarried in June 1867, aged 42. The Easton Neston estate passed to his sister Anna Maria Arabella and her husband Sir Thomas George Hesketh Bt. of Rufford Hall, near Ormskirk, who took the additional name of Fermor. As soon as he secured possession of the estate, Fermor- Hesketh began a major campaign of repairs to the mansion and farm buildings.
In the 1870s and 1880s there were two principal farms in the parish, Sewardsley (or Showsley) and Manor Farm, Hulcote. Sewardsley was one of the farms improved by the erection of new buildings in the later 1860s. In 1872 Sewardsley was valued at £760 a year. It was described as containing good pasture, although much of the arable land was cold and wet. The buildings were substantial and well arranged.

{14} Drawings of the coffin lids and a location plan.

{17} NCCAP: SP7150/001-007+014.

{18} The features (prob fishponds) visible on Air Photo CPE/UK 1926/1032 at this site have been destroyed by cultivation. There are very few definite marks of antiquity in the present building although many substantial walls remain. Some of the early gravestones are in the garden of Showsley Grounds but they are not in situ. A further source of information on this site is a MS Document written by J H Brookes, Dec 1st 1856 which is in Northampton Ref Lib

<1> 1858, History of Sewardsley Priory, (xlvii) (unchecked) (Series). SNN55173.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.125-27 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.155 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.46/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.225 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.295 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> 1857, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.139-40 (unchecked) (Series). SNN17383.

<8> BROOKS, The History of Sewardsley Priory, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN46153.

<9> Ivens R J., 2004, An Archaeological Desk-based Evaluation of Showsley Grounds Farmyard, Easton Neston, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104987.

<10> G.S.B. Prospection Ltd., 2007, Geophysical Survey Report: Sewardsley Priory, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106131.

<11> Thompson S., 2008, Sewardsley Priory, Showsley Grounds, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106132.

<12> Fletcher T., 2013, Showsley Grounds, Easton Neston, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Recording, p.11 (checked) (Report). SNN109130.

<13> A view of the scite of Sewardesley Priory now a farm house called Shosly belonging to the Lord Lempster (Illustration). SNN110880.

<14> 1859, Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries, p.121 (unchecked) (Series). SNN17384.

<15> Supplementary File, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN51741.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75SW11 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<17> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAPS: SP7150/001-007 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<18> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 4-AUG-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<19> Ivens R. J., 2005, An Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation of Showsley Grounds Farmyard, Easton Neston, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105276.

<20> Riden P.; Insley C., 2002, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN102540.

<21> 1844, Plan of Easton Neston House and Village, (unchecked) (Map). SNN74000.

<22> 1849, Easton Neston (With Hulcote) Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN17813.

<23> Ordnance Survey, 1884, First Edition OS Map (Sheet 56.3), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109236.

<24> 1895, Easton Neston Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN109235.

Record last edited

Oct 20 2026 2:23PM