North Ormsby Priory a History of the Lost Lincolnshire Abbey
The priory at North Ormsby, also known as Nun Ormsby, date back to the mid 1100s. Sadly nothing but the site and its history remain but what a site !
It’s hardly surprising they wanted to be there . . .
The Gilbertine’s certainly knew back then it was all Location, Location, Location - what a stunningly beautiful spot. You’ll get some idea from the picture but I promise you it’s even more inspiring that it looks in the picture.
Just imagine what it must have looked like when in-between 1148 and 1154 when the priory was endowed by two people Gilbert son of Robert of Ormsby and William the earl of Albemarle
The Area North Ormsby Priory Once Stood
It seems to have been fairly well established with reasonable endowments, certainly they seem reasonable given the rural location, with 100 nuns and lay sisters and 50 canons and lay brothers.
In the 1200s the Gilbertine House was seemingly well set with their holy fingers in many pies. They were doing quite well in the wool trade as well as owning 8 granges with rights to other tithes.
This expanded in the early 1300s as they acquired three-quarters of a knight’s fee from Ormsby as well as smaller portions of knight’s fees from other outlying villages in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
A Knight’s Fee, or portion of, was measured by the cost of keeping a knight, his horse, armour and squire for one year, merely a legalese form of levying a tithe or tax at the time.
The advent of the Black Death dramatically reduced their revenues in the mid to late 1300s but they ‘remained in business’ even trying to get their hands on the church at Ludborough.
One salivating detail I noted from research was the house was noted for ‘many parchments but few printed books’
Oh to see those parchments today . . .
In 1534 it was all over - the Dissolution came and the Priory acceded to the King’s will and much of the land and benefits went to one Robert Heneage - now it’s as if it had never been.
The rolling hills have taken back what was once theirs and anybody driving or walking by would never know just what went on in this beautiful part of the country all those hundreds of years ago.
Anybody with an eye for earthworks may have a twitch or two in and around the area but the land is back to how it was and indeed probably was back in Saxon times.
Rolling hills and one farmstead, just visible mid right n picture, I’d love to know what was under there but I’m also happy to see it left - just as is
Monkishly Yours
Rod
If you know anything at all about this site, the history or have any opinions please do leave a comment - many thanks
Femme Fatale said,
March 12, 2010 @ 9:39 am
Rod,
Very interesting post and a beautiful photograph,
It is amazing what you find out, as you say, many people would not know the history of this place, but thanks to you we do now.
Many thanks
FF
xx
Rod said,
March 12, 2010 @ 9:58 am
FF,
it’s a cracking spot - fantastic place to walk never mind the history - there’s so much out there just waiting to be enjoyed
Regards
Rod
Little Brother said,
March 12, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
Rod,
A really lovely post, looks a great place. Wouldn’t mind a bit of that right now!
Adios amigo
LB
Lina said,
February 17, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
Hi Rod
May I use your info pls? I’m doing a history of the Ormsby family worldwide so this will be a great intro.
regards
Lina in Australia
Rod said,
February 18, 2011 @ 8:32 am
Hi Lina,
thanks for the comment and please do feel free to use the nformation - best of luck with the project
All the best
Rod