Abbeys and Priories in Hampshire - Overview

Overview

Hampshire, and especially the city of Winchester had many important and influential monasteries, especially those Benedictine houses of royal foundation such as the Priory of St Swithun and Newminster. The county was also rich in alien priories, probably because the county was readily accessible from the continent and Normandy. The Cistercians considered the New Forest remote enough for a foundation at Beaulieu and its daughter house at Netley. In addition, all four orders of the mendicant friars established houses in Winchester, one of only a handful of cities where all four orders were present. There were six houses of Austin Canons but only one of Premonstratensian Canons. The Carthusians and Gilbertines had no presence in the county. The Knights Templar owned property but had no establishments, and the Knights Hospitaller had only one preceptory at North Baddesley.

There were hospitals for the accommodation and relief of poor wayfarers, the sick and infirm at Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke and Fordingbridge. And colleges at Marwell, Winchester and Basingstoke.

The main table includes abbeys, priories and friaries, including alien houses, monastic granges, cells, and camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and Hospitallers). Hospitals and colleges are listed separately.