The following is a list of monastic houses in Suffolk, England.
| width = 15% | Foundation | width = 5% | Image | width = 30% | Communities & Provenance | width = 20% | Formal name or dedication and alternative names | width = 10% | References and location |
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| Alnesbourne Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1200, probably by Alberte de Neville, who granted endowments; appropriated to Woodbridge probably c.1466; dissolved before 1514; granted to Sir John Wingfield 1541/2 | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Alnesbourne ____________________ Alnesbourn Priory; Alnesborn Priory; Alensborne Priory | [1] 52.0188°N 1.1929°W | ||||||
| Babwell Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) transferred from earlier foundation at Bury St Edmunds; founded 19 November 1262; dissolved December 1538, surrendered to Richard Yngworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to Anthony Harvey May 1541 | [2] 52.2618°N 0.7105°W | |||||||
| Battisford Preceptory | Knights Hospitaller preceptory/hospital founded c.1154, benefactions from Henry II; dissolved 1540 | [3] 52.149°N 0.9895°W | |||||||
| Blakenham Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Bec-Hellouin Abbey; manor granted to Bec-Hellouin by Walter Giffard, 'Earl of Buckingham' founded before 1092; dissolved before 1230, apparently reduced to grange; transferred as a parcel to Ogbourne St George; granted to Eton College 1460 | Great Blakenham Priory | [4] 52.1081°N 1.0798°W | ||||||
| Blythburgh Blackfriars | Dominican Friars licence obtained 1384 to move from Dunwich, when that location was threatened by the sea but transfer never implemented | ||||||||
| Blythburgh Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular — from St. Osyth's Abbey, Essex ependent on St Osyth; founded before 1135, assisted by Henry I and the Clavering family; dissolved 12 February 1537 and granted to Sir Arthur Hopton 1538/9 | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blythburgh ____________________ Bliburgh Priory | [5] 52.3217°N 1.5965°W | ||||||
| Bruisyard Abbey | secular college (community founded at Campsey Ash 1347); transferred here 1354; dissolved 4 October 1366; Franciscan nuns — from Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire founded 1364-7 by Lionel, Duke of Clarence; dissolved 1359; granted to Nicholas Hare 1539 | Brusyard Priory | [6] 52.2445°N 1.4175°W | ||||||
| Bungay Priory + | Benedictine nuns founded 1183 by Roger de Glanvill and his wife, Countess Gundreda; dissolved 1336; nuns appear to have abandoned the house before April 1536; granted to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk 1537/8; most of conventual buildings destroyed by fire 1688; rebuilt 1699; reopened 1701 for parochial use as the Parish Church of St Mary | The Priory Church of Saint Mary and the Holy Cross, Bungay | [7] 52.4555°N 1.438°W | ||||||
| Bury St Edmunds Abbey | Saxon (Benedictine?) monks founded 633 by Sigeberht, King of the East Angles; destroyed in raids by the Danes c.870 secular (collegiate) founded 903; refounded c.925, endowed by King Athelstan; Benedictine monks founded 1020-2; dissolved 4 November 1539; granted to John Eyre 1559/60; subsequently granted to Thomas Badyby; abbot's palace in use as a house until 1720; other buildings incorporated into houses 17th and 19th century: extant; remains now within a public park; (EH) episcopal diocesan Bury St Edmunds Cathedral in precinct | The Abbey Church of Saint Edmund, (Bury Saint Edmunds) Beordicsworth Abbey; Bury St Edmond Abbey | [8] 52.2439°N 0.719°W | ||||||
| Bury St Edmunds Greyfriars, earlier site | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) foundation attempted 1233, but discouraged by the legate and monks of the Abbey; founded shortly after 22 June 1257: bull obtained from the Pope to establish their community; expelled by Abbey officials; re-established at a new site (see immediately below) | ||||||||
| Bury St Edmunds Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) (previous, unsuccessful foundation at earlier site (see immediately above)); founded 1258, with the assistance of Henry III; Pope Urban IV ordered the friars to demolish their buildings; re-established at Babwell | 52.2524°N 0.6942°W | |||||||
| Butley Priory ^ | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1171 by Sir Ranulph de Glanvill; dissolved 1 March 1538; remains incorporated into later buildings | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Butley Butleigh Priory | [9] 52.09°N 1.4652°W | ||||||
| Campsey Ash Priory | Augustinian Canonesses founded c.1195 by Theobald de Valoines, who granted land to his sisters Joan (subsequently the first prioress) and Agnes; (also given as Benedictine); dissolved 1536; granted to Sir William Willoughby 1543/4; post-medieval house and barn occupy site | The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Campsey Ash The Blessed Virgin Mary Campsey Priory; Campess Priory | [10] 52.1401°N 1.3861°W | ||||||
| Cavenham Preceptory | Knights Templar founded before 1311?; dissolved 1308-12(?) | Togrynd Preceptory; Caveham Preceptory Coddenham Preceptory | 52.3182°N 0.5661°W | ||||||
| Chipley Priory # | Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1291 (before 1235); dissolved 1468; annexed to the college of Stoke by Clare 1468; farmhouse occupies site, incorporating part of the west range of the monastic buildings, though no remains identifiably as early as 13th century | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chipley | [11] 52.1184°N 0.5721°W | ||||||
| Clare Friary * | Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Cambridge) founded 1248/9 by Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hereford; cell dependent on Bec-Hellouin; reconstituted 1326 by Edward II as a cell dependent on Westminster, Middlesex; refounded as a college 1490 by Edmund, Earl of March dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Friend 1539/40; Augustinian Friars — from Ireland refounded 1953; extant; former infirmary/barn in use as friars' chapel | The Priory Church of Our Lady, Saint Peter and Saint Paul and Saint Augustine, Clare ____________________ Clare Priory | [12] 52.0751°N 0.5813°W | ||||||
| Clare Priory | secular collegiate founded c.1045 Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Bec-Hellouin; founded 1090: collegiate church of St John the Baptist granted to Bec by Gilbert de Clare; transferred to new site at Stoke by Clare | ||||||||
| Coddenham Camera | Knights Hospitaller a member of Battisford | 52.1432°N 1.1115°W | |||||||
| Coddenham Priory | Eustace de Merch originally intended to found a house of Cistercian nuns from Nun Appleton during the reign of Henry II; Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on Royston, Hertfordshire; founded before 1184 by Eustace de Merch, who granted the church to Royston; dissolved 1537 | Covenham Priory | |||||||
| Creeting St Mary Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: (probable) grange dependent on Bernay; founded before 1156; supervised by a prior from 1327; dissolved before 1414; granted to Eton College 1462 | [13] 52.1432°N 1.1115°W | |||||||
| Creeting St Olave Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: cell or grange, under supervision of a prior, dependent on Grestein; founded before 1087; monks have been suggested to have used the parish church of St Olave #; dissolved 1360; sold privately | [14] 52.177°N 1.0695°W | |||||||
| Dodnash Priory # | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1188 by Baldwin de Toeni and his mother Alda; dissolved 1525, suppressed for Cardinal Wolsey's colleges at Oxford and Ipswich; granted to Thomas Alverde; in use as a farmhouse 19th century; some of the re-used masonry incorporated into the buildings of Dodnash Priory Farm | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dodnash | [15] 51.9797°N 1.0635°W | ||||||
| Dunwich Blackfriars | Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Cambridge) founded before 1256 by Sir Roger de Holish; licence granted 1384 to move to Blythburgh due to threat of incursion by the sea; dissolved 1538; granted to John Eyre 1544/5; destroyed by coastal erosion and submerged by the sea | [16] 52.2721°N 1.6395°W | |||||||
| Dunwich, Greyfriars, earlier site | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) founded before 1277 (?before 1272: during the reign of Henry III) by Robert Fitz John; transferred to new site (see immediately below) 1290, due to coastal erosion | [17] | |||||||
| Dunwich Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) (community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) before 1277 (?before 1272)); transferred here due to coastal erosion 1290; dissolved 1538; surrendered to Ingworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to John Eyre | 52.2755°N 1.6307°W | |||||||
| Dunwich Preceptory | Knights Templar founded before 1199; dissolved 1308-12 passed to Knights Hospitaller, who maintained a chaplain but no preceptory here; destroyed by coastal erosion and submerged by the sea | [18] 52.2722°N 1.6338°W | |||||||
| Dunwich Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Eye (itself dependent on Bernay); founded after 1080, church granted to Eye by William the Conqueror; submerged by the sea between 1272 and 1307 (in/about the reign of Edward I) | St Felix? | [19] 52.2762°N 1.6489°W | ||||||
| East Bergholt Abbey * | Benedictine nuns land purchased 1857; extant | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, East Bergholt | 51.9695°N 1.0135°W | ||||||
| Edwardstone Priory # | Benedictine monks Priory cell dependent on Abingdon, Berkshire (Oxfordshire) founded 1114, church granted to Abingdon by Hubert de Monchesney, confirmed 1115; dissolved c.1160: community transferred to Earl's Colne by Abbot Walkelin | The Blessed Virgin Mary | [20] 52.0586°N 0.8285°W | ||||||
| Eye Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Bernay; founded c.1080 by Robert Malet; became denizen: independent, refounded c.1385; dissolved October 1534/1537 | The Priory Church of Saint Peter, Eye | 52.3224°N 1.157°W | ||||||
| Felixstowe Priory, possible earlier site | Benedictine monks Priory cell dependent on Rochester Cathedral, Kent; founded c.1105 (before 1107); church of St Felix granted to Rochester by Roger Bigod; possibly transferred from this site to a new location (see immediately below) 14th century | ||||||||
| Felixstowe Priory | Benedictine monks Priory cell dependent on Rochester Cathedral, Kent; founded c.1105 (before 1107) (possibly at earlier site (see immediately above)); church of St Felix granted to Rochester by Roger Bigod; absence of a church infers the monks used the parish church of St Mary dissolved 1538: suppressed for Wolsey's college at Ipswich (formal grant 30 December 1528); granted to the Duke of Norfolk on the suppression of Ipswich College; granted to Thomas Seckford (Sexford) 1576/7 | Walton Priory; Walton, St Felix; Wilton St Felix Priory; Fylstowe Priory; Filstou Priory | [21] 51.9733°N 1.343°W | ||||||
| Flixton Priory ^? | Augustinian Canonesses founded 1258 by Marjory (Margery) Harnes, widow of Bartholomew de Crek (Clerk/Creke); dissolved 1537; granted to Richard Warton 1537; granted to John Tasburgh 1544; remains of conventual church possibly incorporated into Abbey Farmhouse, 16th/17th century | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Katharine, Flixton | [22] 52.4261°N 1.4041°W | ||||||
| Gislingham Preceptory # | Knights Templar founded before 1228 by Sir Robert de Burgate; dissolved before 1308(?); destroyed 1338; granted to John Grene and Robert Hall 1553 | Giselingham Preceptory | 52.3084°N 1.0193°W | ||||||
| Great Bricett Priory + | Augustinian Canons Regular alien house: dependent on St-Léonard-de-Noblat founded c.1110 (1114-9) by Ralph fitz Brien and his wife Emma; destroyed by fire 1416; apparently re-occupied; dissolved 1444(?); granted by Henry VI to his college in Cambridge; remains of conventual church incorporated into current parish church of SS Mary and Lawrence | The Priory Church of Saint Leonard, Bricett ____________________ Bricett Priory; Bresete Priory | [23] 52.1168°N 0.976°W (church) 52.1169°N 0.9732°W | ||||||
| Hadleigh Monastery | supposed Saxon monastery | [24] | |||||||
| Hoxne Priory | Secular collegiate founded before 951 by Theodred, Bishop of London probably destroyed soon after; joint cathedral with North Elmham before 1040 to 1072?; Benedictine monks church of St Peter and chapel of St Edmund, King and Martyr granted to Norwich, Norfolk by Bishop Herbert Losinga 1101; chapel rebuilt, endowed and granted by Maurice of Windsor and his wife Egidis for a convent of monks 1130; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Gresham 1546/7 | Hoxon Priory | [25] 52.3422°N 1.2033°W | ||||||
| Icanho Monastery ~ | Saxon Benedictine? monks founded 653-4 by St Botolph destroyed in raids by the Danes c.870; also suggested to have been in Lincolnshire | Ikanho Monastery Iken Monastery | |||||||
| Ipswich Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars founded during the reign of Henry III by Henry de Manesby and others; dissolved; granted to William Sabyne 1541/2 | ||||||||
| Ipswich Blackfriars | Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Cambridge) founded 1263; dissolved 1538 | [29] 52.0541°N 1.1491°W | |||||||
| Ipswich Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Cambridge) founded before 1236; dissolved 1535 | 52.0549°N 1.1505°W | |||||||
| Ipswich — Holy Trinity Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1133, endowed largely by Norman Gastrode fitz Eadnoth, one of the first canons, before 1177; dissolved 1537; destroyed by fire and rebuilt 1194, by the bishop of Norwich; dissolved 1537; granted to Sir Thomas Pope 1544/5 | The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Ipswich Christchurch | [30] 52.0606°N 1.1581°W | ||||||
| Ss Peter & Paul Priory, Ipswich | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1190 (late in the reign of Henry II) by [the ancestors of] Thomas Lacy and his wife Alice; dissolved May 1528, suppressed for Wolsey's college at Ipswich; granted to Richard Percival and Edmund Duffield 1611/2 | The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Ipswich | [31] 52.0531°N 1.155°W | ||||||
| Ipswich Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded during the reign of William the Conqueror by Gilbert Blund; dissolved; granted to Richard Codington 1538/9 | ||||||||
| Ipswich Whitefriars | Carmelite Friars founded before c.1271 (1278); rededicated 1477 after a probable major rebuild; dissolved 1538; granted to John Eyre 1544/5 | [32] 52.0531°N 1.155°W | |||||||
| Ixworth Priory, earlier site | possible early projection c.1100 either failed or lapsed; Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1170 by a member of the Blunt family destroyed during civil warfare; | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ixworth | |||||||
| Ixworth Priory ^ | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1170, on a different site from the original foundation; dissolved 1537; remains incorporated into house named 'Ixworth Abbey' built on site | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ixworth Ixworth Abbey | [33] [34] 52.2981°N 0.8288°W | ||||||
| Kersey Priory ^ | hospital founded 1218 by Thomas de Burgh Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1219; dissolved 1443-4; granted to SS Mary and Nicholas, Cambridge (afterwards King's College, Cambridge) (1533/4?) | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Anthony, Kersey | [35] [36] 52.0624°N 0.9139°W | ||||||
| Lavenham Priory ^ | Benedictine monks converted into mansion latterly open to public, now hotel accommodation | ||||||||
| Leiston Abbey ^ | Premonstratensian Canons from Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire (community founded at Old Leiston 1183); transferred here 1365; dissolved 1536; granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk 1537; parts of the conventual church incorporated into later buildings; remains incorporated into house named 'Abbey House' built on site 17th century; (EH) | Leyestone Abbey | [37] 52.2214°N 1.578°W | ||||||
| Letheringham Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular dependent on SS Peter & Paul, Ipswich; founded c.1194 by William de Bovile; dissolved 1537; granted to Elizabeth Naunton, daughter of Sir Antony Naunton of Wingfield 1553; | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Letheringham Letherington Priory | [38] 52.1788°N 1.3158°W | ||||||
| Little Welnetham Priory | Trinitarian | ||||||||
| Mendham Priory | Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk; founded before 1155 by William Huntingfield; became denizen: independent from sometime between 1351 and 1374; dissolved 1537; granted to Richard Freston | All Saints Mindham Priory | [39] 52.388°N 1.3217°W | ||||||
| Old Leiston Abbey | Premonstratensian Canons daughter house of Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire; founded 1183 by Sir Ranulph de Glanvil; obtained licence from pope Urban V to move to another site due to flooding; transferred to new site at Leiston 1365; old site continued in use as a cell | The Blessed Virgin Mary | |||||||
| Orford Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Cambridge) founded 1295-9, land granted by Robert Hewell 1205, building appears to have begun 1299; dissolved December 1538 | [40] 52.0931°N 1.5353°W | |||||||
| Redlingfield Priory ^ | Benedictine nuns founded c.1120 by Manasses, Count of Giusnes (Ghisnes) and his wife Emma; dissolved 10 February 1537; granted to Edmund Bedingfield 1536/7; house rebuilt 1875; monastic remains incorporated into barn | The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Andrew, Redlingfield | [41] 52.2907°N 1.2044°W 52.2911°N 1.2045°W | ||||||
| Ringshall Cell (?) | Benedictine monks purportedly a cell | 52.12°N 0.9638°W | |||||||
| Rumburgh Priory + | possible site of Saxon minster or monastery, 11th century; Benedictine monks Priory dependent on St. Benet's Abbey, Norfolk founded between 1047 possibly subsequently dependent on St Mélanie, Rennes; cell dependent on St Mary's Abbey, York, York c.1137: granted to York by Stephen, Earl of Brittany 1135; dissolved 1528; suppressed for Wolsey's college at Ipswich; conventual church in parochial use as the Parish Church of St Michael | ThePriory Church of Saint Michael and Saint Felix, Rumburgh Wisseta Priory | [45] 52.3846°N 1.4468°W | ||||||
| St. Olaves Priory, Herringfleet | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1216 by Roger fitz Osbert; dissolved 1537; purchased by Sir Henry Jerningham, who built house on site 1547, incorporating monastic remains; demolished 1784, and stone removed to repair Herringfleet church; refectory undercroft converted to a cottage 1825 in use until 1902 | The Priory Church of Saint Olave, Heringfleet St Mary and St Olave, King and Martyr Herringfleet Priory | [47] 52.5381°N 1.624°W | ||||||
| Sibton Abbey | Cistercian monks from Warden Abbey, Bedfordshire founded 22 February 1150 (1149) by William de Cayneto (Cheyney); dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk; sold to John Scrivener 1610; house built on the site, demolished later 18th century; site currently within the estate of 19th century house named 'Sibton Abbey', without public access | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Sibton Abbey | [48] 52.2756°N 1.4656°W | ||||||
| Snape Priory # | Benedictine monks cell dependent on St John's Abbey Colchester, Essex founded 1155 by William Martel, his wife and son; dependent on Butley, granted by Henry VIII; dissolved 19 January 1525; Abbey Farm possibly occupies the site, though buildings appear not to incorporate monastic remains | St Mary | [49] [50] 52.1668°N 1.49°W | ||||||
| South Elmham Monastery | apparent religious centre 7th century | ||||||||
| Stoke by Clare Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Bec-Hellouin Abbey; (community founded at Clare before 1090); transferred here 1124 from Clare; dissolved 1415; became a secular college; enlarged 1897 by Lutyens; dissolved 1548, converted into a mansion; present house currently in use as a school named 'Stoke College'; church rebuilt and in parochial use as the Parish Church of St John the Baptist; | [52] 52.0611°N 0.5381°W (church) 52.0595°N 0.5388°W | |||||||
| Stoke-by-Nayland Monastery (?) | monks or secular college founded before 946 (?) possibly during the reign of King Edmund by Alfgar who left bequest to the community of Stoke; land granted to Ely by King Edgar | ||||||||
| BlackFriars, Sudbury | Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Cambridge) founded before 1247 by Baldwin de Shipling; dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas Eden, Esq. 1539/40 demolished for a residential house; 'Priory Wall' is sleeper wall of 'Priory Gate', built shortly before dissolution | [53] 52.0358°N 0.726°W | |||||||
| Sudbury Augustinian Priory # | Augustinian Canons Regular | ||||||||
| Sudbury Benedictine Priory # | Benedictine monks cell dependent on Westminster Abbey Middlesex; founded c.1115 by Wilfric; chapel built early-15th century, but monastic buildings appear not to have been built; dissolved c.1538; granted to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster 1542/3; Priory house demolished 1779 | St Bartholomew's Chapel | 52.052°N 0.7273°W | ||||||
| Wangford Priory | Cluniac monks cell dependent on Thetford Priory, Norfolk; founded before 1160 by Doudo Asini; became denizen: independent from sometime between 1376 and 1393; granted to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk 1540/1; last remains demolished 19th century | [54] 52.3543°N 1.6196°W | |||||||
| Welnetham Crutched Friars | Crutched Friars dependent on London, Middlesex; chapel of St Thomas Martyr granted to London; founded before 1274; dissolved 1538 | ||||||||
| Wherstead Priory | uncertain order and foundation; alleged 13th century monastery at Wervestede | 52.0168°N 1.132°W (alleged) | |||||||
| Wickham Skeyth Priory | Benedictine monks dependent on St. John's Abbey, Colchester, Essex; founded after 1135 (early in the reign of Stephen) by Robert de Salchovilla (Sakeville), later a monk at Colchester; dissolved c.1164, transferred to Colchester by consent of Jordan, son of the founder | Wickham Skeith Priory | 52.2787°N 1.0536°W | ||||||
| Woodbridge Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1193 by Ernald Rufus (Ernaldus Ruffus); dissolved 1534/7; granted to Thomas Seckford, Master of Requests 1576/7; building constructed on site 1547-64, now in use as school known as 'the Abbey' | The Blessed Virgin Mary | [55] 52.0931°N 1.3139°W | ||||||
| Yenston Grange | Benedictine monks alien house: grange dependent on St-Sever; foundation and dissolution unknown |