Monument record 27/1 - Chacombe Priory

Chacombe Augustinian Priory was founded in the reign of Henry II, and dissolved 1536. At the east end of the 17th century house called `Chacombe Priory' is a short building known as the chapel which is medieval, and was utilised as a dovecote. The priory precinct appears to be delineated, at least in part, by fishponds which have been made into ornamental features.

{1} For 10-12 canons. 1291 income was £61. There were 8 canons in 1442 and 9 in 1536

{2} Augustinian priory founded in the reign of Henry II and dissolved in 1536

{3} A 2 week excavation was undertaken by Coventry and District Archaeological Society. No further details known.

{4} The Priory chapel was built in 1200. One of the windows here is thought to be one of earliest windows in England. Three stone coffins were dug up in 1800: one has a Crusader's Cross on it and when opened contained teeth and jack boots but no means of identification. The treasure chest accompanying it was also found to be empty.

{5} The priory of Austin canons was founded by Hugh de Chaecombe (changing his name from Anis) in connection with Canons Ashby (defunct 1543). The priory chapel was built in 1200. During Edward III's reign, as in his second year the priory was enlarged and in 1329 it would seem the moat around the priory was constructed, but it may have been earlier during the reign of Henry III, when the first prior was elected in 1232. The monks needed to drain the land surrounding the priory because of the flooding wetlands. They did this by digging into the watershed and establishing a moat around the priory. Parts of the surviving moat may be seen today. In c.1750 the moat at the front of the priory was remodelled and became ornamental.

{6} The priory was founded by Hugh de Chacombe, lord of th emanor of Chacombe in the reign of Henry II. Little is known of its early history, although some details of its later life are recorded. It was dissolved in 1536.

The present house is partly of early 17th-century date but there are many later additions and alterations. Only one medieval structure, containing some 13th-century features, and said to be a chapel, exists at the E. end of the house. The S. and E. boundaries of the grounds around the house are defined by a continuous water-filled ditch with a total length of about 500 m. In its present form this is an 18th-century landscape feature. At its N.E. corner the line of the pond is continued N. and W. by two rectangular depressions 10 m. wide and up to 1 m. deep linked by a short channel and further W., along the N. and W. sides of the priory grounds, there is a wide ditch or pond 10 m. wide and 1 m. deep. These channels, forming a continuous line of water along the N. and W. sides of the priory grounds, lie beyond the landscape gardens of the existing house, and have not been altered: they indicate that the whole of the medieval priory precinct was bounded by a wide, water-filled ditch or fishpond.

{7} "The gatehouse and lodge of the abbey were not long since standing" in the early C18th

{9} Print of tiles from the priory; tiles given to H. Dryden in 1863

{10} The chapel has some C13th work in it

{11} The remains of the chapel at SP48814388 were heightened and revoated - nest holes show its former use as a dovecote

{12} A fragment of vase was found in a stone box, placed at the head of a stone coffin of an Augustinian Monk or Knight Hospitaller, discovered at Chacomb Priory, Northamptonshire.

{13} The present house "Chacombe Priory" dates from the E 17c, but there is little of this period now apparent later additions, restoration and modernisation having been heavy. See photograph. At SP 4881 4388 are the remains of the chapel which is the sole remaining feature of the Augustinian house. This building has been restored, heightened and renovated and is now in use for general storage. C200 nest-holes testify to its earlier use as a cote. It is now in good condition see photographs. The published fish ponds are water filled and ornamental. The gatehouse/lodge could not be sited. The whole property is open to the public at selected times.

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

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, pp.133-5 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> 1960, Letter, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN46072.

<4> ALLFREY E., The History of Chacombe Priory, (checked) (Note). SNN46074.

<5> Bowes J.P., 1997, Archaeology Survey Of Chacombe and Environs, (checked) (Report). SNN101068.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.26 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<8> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.591-97 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<9> Parish File, (unchecked) (Print). SNN46073.

<10> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.146 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP44SE23 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<12> 1858, The Archaeological Journal (15), p.88 (checked) (Journal). SNN10881.

<13> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 22-APR-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<14> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 1205-7; F21 58/RAF/1567, 0080-1; F21 58/RAF/3963, 0010-11 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<15> 1845, The Archaeological Journal (1), p. 393 (checked) (Journal). SNN20168.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:52PM