West Ravendale Priory Cell Remains
Destination: West Ravendale
Mission: Locate and Photograph Archaeological Remains
Mode of Transport: Velocipede
What a day ! The sun was shining and there was only a light breeze - my only dilemma was Kitchen Garden or Cycle Trip ! In the finish I did both !
The first full length trip of the year went off without a glitch and was, simply, a pure delight.
I was heading through the Lincolnshire Wolds in search of some archaeological ruins noted on the OS map. I had once had a cursory look on a trip last year but failed to find them.
Eventually I was cycling down perhaps the most delightful and non-Lincolnshire lane I have seen in the county. It soon became apparent why I had not found it before, it is on private land and has no public access.
Undaunted I decided to chance my arm and entered Priory Farm and met the landowner who was holding a young lamb !
I politely apologized for disturbing him and explained what I was looking for, he could not have been more helpful - a real gentleman ! we spoke for some time and he was only too happy to allow me through his farm and following his directions I found this . . .
Wall and One Corner
There is very little left but what there was was infinitely satisfying, I love seeing these things and always feel myself transported back in time wondering who has been here before me.
It was all pretty overgrown and I should happily have cleared some of the foliage but I wasn’t for me to disturb anything so I left it as I found it - secluded and still keeping all it’s secrets and history, hopefully protected against the elements and modern life for evermore
Inside the Cell
I have done a little research and managed to unearth some government pdf files, the information is below
Another Section Opposite the Wall Above
History and Information About the Priory at West Ravendale
-
What’s left is a small medieval building thought to have been part of West Ravendale Priory.
The monastery belonged to the Premonstratensian Order, one of the smaller monastic orders in England
It was a cell, of Beaufort Abbey in Brittany.
Founded in circa 1202 by Alan, son of Earl Henry of Brittany.
In the early 14th century it was described as being in ruins.
What’s left is only a minor part of what is believed to be an outer part.
It is seated on a mound and there is believed to be more buried beneath
Returning home in glorious sunshine I was reminded just how lucky not only I am but potentially we all are to be able to enjoy such simple pleasures and acquaint ourselves with both the countryside and history - the only cost being a little of our, usually squandered, time.
It is also a reminder to treat the countryside and those who own the land with the same respect with which we would expect of others coming onto our property.
My thanks go to the owner of Priory Farm who also told me he owned the chalk ‘cliffs’ I visited last year and that the chalk was quarried in the 1930s for Binbrook Aerodrome
The rest of the day was spent in the Kitchen Garden and I sit her now truly satisfied having had the most fabulous day - perhaps I’m too easily pleased - if so I can live with it.
Here’s to more of the same
Regards to All
Rod
Jordan said,
April 2, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
RC
Very nice and not a thong in sight!
Jordan
Rod said,
April 2, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
Jordan
thanks for that and pleased you’ve alluded to the like of ‘girl’ content going on the site.
I’ve let tons of things go that once would have found their way here.
Quality content only now
Cheers
Rod
Jordan said,
April 2, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
RC
“Quality content only now”
What are we to gather from this comment? Is Mr Collins no longer “The Eligible Bachelor?!”
Jordan
Rod said,
April 2, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Jordan,
I am still, though it has to be said ’self-styled’, an Eligible Bachelor !
It’s arguable that I’m eligible and also I’m only a bachelor according to a couple of specific dictionaries but I am single or a Singleton as I now believe the term is.
Sad to see the hot chicks go
Best
Rod
WoE said,
April 2, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
Rod,
We note there’s still no photographic evidence of you in your cycling gear…. presumably you don’t want to over excite the readers?
Pity because we’ve been looking forward to seeing you in your pre war tweeds and wired scarf perched on a penny farthing 
WoE
Rod said,
April 2, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
WoE,
it’s all to do with health and safety !
It could be dangerous for women of a certain age, I understand women around my age are prone to hot flushes and menopausal symptoms - I should hate to be responsible for bringing on an attack of some sort
I’m looking for a tweed jacket funnily enough !
Best
Rod
Little Brother said,
April 2, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
Rod,
A great post and photos, very interesting indeed.
The way to go methinks.
LB
Rod said,
April 3, 2009 @ 7:39 am
LB
I am pleased with the photos, especially after scaling them down, that said the pics are thanks to you !
Cheers
Rod
Jessica said,
June 4, 2010 @ 6:14 pm
I am shocked!
I have just been looking about history of this house, seeing if I could find anything so thanks!!
I live on Priory farm in Priory Cottage, and have always wondered the history of the house etc.
I heard our house was a monastry and was never sure whether to believe it or not.
Also I’m very skeptical when it comes to ghosts and stuff and there is a lot of noises in our house and I have always wondered whether it was haunted or not because it is so old.
George the farmer once told us the house is on ley lines and I have always been freaked out by the house ever since.
I am very pleased I stumbled accross this site
Rod said,
June 4, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
Jessica,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - hope you’ll return.
This was one of my first historical trips and I have to say a real treat - the landowner is an absolute gentleman.
Now when it comes to Ley Lines we have an esteemed commenter on the site goes by the name of Steve and he’s knows all about ley lines - hopefully he’ll see this and chime in - he really does know his stuff.
If you find anything else out Jessica it would be great if you shared it with us - should you wish of course.
Best wishes
Rod
Steve... said,
June 4, 2010 @ 8:24 pm
Thanks Rod…
I would not go so far as to say that I know all about Ley line/Earth energy, far from it, but I have been working with them and other related subjects over the last 20 years. My dowsing/sensing abilities extend to the mapping and clearing of property and landscape energy.
West Ravendale priory intrigued me with its seclusion sitting on the hill. I was also impressed by the moat/embankment next to the farm.
All the best…
Jessica said,
June 6, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Well I don’t actually know what Ley lines are, I just know they’re related to the paranormal.
There’s been a few occasions where there has been tapping on the ceiling (just in my room) and I’ll go get my mum to come in and listen and the noises will just stop. Then as soon as she leaves the noises will start again, so it looks like I’m going mental. A couple of times, I’ve ran down crying the noises got so bad, I’m 18 so I wouldn’t cry for no reason. My dad would look in the loft after I claimed I heard noises and there would be nothing up there, it’s completely empty.
Now I could put the noises down to animals like birds etc. but we had a new roof put on last year and I thought “ok so if it’s an animal the noises should stop” because there is no way they could get in now, but again, tapping, scratching, shuffling.
I had my boyfriend stop over last weekend while my parents were away, he’s 25 and even he got freaked out.
A lot of the time, I’ll try and convince myself it’s impossible for ghosts to exist, but there’s just too much evidence of ghosts out there for me not to believe there is a possibility of it.
So I dunno if I sound mental to you lot or not? but I really think there’s something in my house.
Amiguru said,
June 6, 2010 @ 6:28 pm
Jessica,
‘It takes all sorts’ as they say but I for one consider it all bunkum. My feet are so firmly planted on the ground I have trouble climbing loft ladders
Seriously, “but we had a new roof put on last year”…..you would be amazed at how small an access hole mice can get in through. Two centimetres diameter is plenty large enough. Even the holes in the airbricks are big enough, and once through, the wall cavity is an ideal vertical tunnel into the loft. It has been a long cold winter and various species will have taken advantage of any opportune access to a cosy home.
You sound really sensible but are being influence by the suggestions of others. I would suggest, buy a humane mouse trap, which catches them without harming them so they can be released. Get someone to put it in your loft, ideally above your room, then they could return in a couple of days and check it out. OK, it may not work but if if it does and the noises stop you will be able to go to bed and be calm and so much the wiser.
As far as I’m concerned, ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night are very real but only exist in people’s heads.
Hope this helps give you peace of mind.
Regards,
Neville
History Hunter said,
June 6, 2010 @ 11:00 pm
Au contraire mon fraire ……….. each to their own Nev
Having seen a few, been physically attacked by one, and heard a lot more, i personally say that one mans bunkum is another mans reality!
That doesnt make me insane, just because ive encountered what can only be called ‘the supernatural’.
To stand there at 1am in the middle of a public building, in the middle of hoovering a large area of carpet, to look up and see the figure of a WW2 airman walk past me across the floor certainly takes some explaination, even when trying to describe what i had just seen to my workmates. To this day i stand by what i saw.
Im as normal as the next man, unless that next man is Michael Barrymore!!!!
Jessica said,
June 6, 2010 @ 11:11 pm
Thanks for scaring me history hunter, just before bed time aswell
I should also mention, I sleep with the light on! it’s not just the tapping that scares me Neville, there’s been many other things. For example when my boyfriend was stopping over, he went to the toilet for about the 4th time, and as he was opening the door I swear he was talking to himself so when he got back in my room I asked “was you just talking to yourself” and he said “no…oh don’t you’re scaring me now!” so that freaked me a bit cos I honestly hand on heart thought I could hear him talking to himself. Another example, this could just be me losing it, I often hear my mum shouting me, so I go to the top of the stairs and ask yes? was you just shouting me? and the answer is mostly no, and that’s a recurring thing.
My dad who is 65, who I know wouldn’t lie has told me about a story about when he lived in another house and my half brother when he was little used to hear my dad calling him, and he never was. So I definately believe there’s something out there. Nothing harmful or untoward, but they’re there for some odd reason.
Amiguru said,
June 7, 2010 @ 10:56 am
Jessica,
“Nothing harmful or untoward” Whatever the case, you said it yourself,so why worry?
I’d be more concerned about your boyfriend’s bodily functions if he needs to go to the toilet four times in a night - I thought it was only old geezers like myself who have such requirements 
HH,
What I said was not meant to be an attack on anyone’s beliefs only to keep a balance by letting others see that it is possible to say ‘boo’ to the ghost theory
My main concern was to allay Jessica’s anxiety in a practical way. I would still put money on the mice theory regardless.
Calmer Karma to all,
Neville
Jessica said,
June 7, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
I hope it is just mice
and haha, nah he was just drinking a lot of beer that night.
Thanks Neville
Rod said,
June 7, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
A few years ago it sounded as though there was something in my attic, always early morning woke me up.
I wondered about a mouse but it made far too much noise.
I was married at the time and once my wife had me out of bed and in the attic looking for what was up there.
To cut a long story short there was nothing up there. The noise was coming from a bird that was trying to widen a small hole in the soffit so it could get in. The hollowness of the facia and soffit acted as a sound tube magnifying it as it went into the attic.
I covered the smalll hole and it never happened again.
the real point is, I firmly believed something much bigger than a mouse (don’t believe in ghosts at the moment) was up there and all it turned out to be was a starling scratching at wood.
All the best
Rod
Jessica said,
June 7, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
Ah yes Rod before I forget!
Was this “real gentleman” you came accross in like a blue jumpsuit? with white hair? because if so, he doesn’t own the farm, he just works on it. George the actual owner isn’t a real gentleman really haha! also I can’t imagine him holding a lamb!
Rod said,
June 8, 2010 @ 7:09 am
Jessica,
no jump suit and he said he owned the place, we spoke for some time and he happily gave permission to access the site via his land etc.
Perhaps he was an imposter who travels around Lincolnshire holding lambs and giving half-witted would be historical inverstigators permission to do anything they wish
I once remember on the dock one evening asking somebody if it was OK to look on board an old trawler.
‘Do as you like for me’ was his reply
I did and then found out he was nothing what so ever to do with the boat
Best
Rod
PS: a bit like the Peter Sellers gag ‘does your dog bite’
Jessica said,
June 8, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
Oldish with glasses then? and quite a loud fella? Just can’t believe George was a gentleman haha, hope he doesn’t ever come on this site!
When did you actually come visit then? did you come accross the yappy black dog Molly?
Rod said,
June 9, 2010 @ 6:40 am
Jessica,
Aprill last year the post is dated so would be then or very late March - I seem to recalll dogs but it seems lik soooo long ago now.
Cheers
Rod
Jessica said,
October 13, 2010 @ 11:35 pm
Noises are still happening!
Rod said,
October 14, 2010 @ 6:34 am
Jessica,.
presumably you’ve tried to pin them down, locate or identify what they might be ?
Best
Rod
Jessica said,
October 18, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
Indeed, my dad has looked up there about 10 times and from what I know has put repellent up there aswell.
They only really happen at night and the other night the noises were happening all over, in the ceiling, in the walls etc. Got my mum in and they stopped haha.
I will not rest until I know what it is!
Steve... said,
October 18, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
Jessica,
I may be able to help detect the source of the unusual activity on your property and area.
Maybe Rod would pass on my email at your request?
Jessica said,
October 18, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
Yes please
Rod said,
October 19, 2010 @ 8:13 am
If you’d like to click on my name above you’ll get my email address - if you both drop me a quick email I can then exchange to known working addresses to each other - hope this helps
Regards
Rod
Jessica said,
January 26, 2011 @ 11:10 pm
Just thought I’d keep you updated.
After all this time, it’s been a mouse/mice all along! the knocking moved into the emmersion cupboard which also had some stuff in bags, vanity cases etc. which we discovered has become frayed! and also one of the really tough strong bags had holes in it. So we put some poison in a little bowl and at first when we checked the next morning the mouse had been putting bits of rubble in the bowl haha but overtime now the noises have completely stopped, haven’t heard a noise for weeks, ahhhhh bliss!
Rod said,
January 27, 2011 @ 8:42 am
Jessica,
pleased to hear you’ve found some peace both literally and of the mind.
Great news
Kind regards
Rod
Steve... said,
January 27, 2011 @ 10:13 am
Jessica,
Good to hear that the source of the noise has been located; many of these kind of experiences can easily be explained but not always…
Best regards
Steve…