An Echo of Grosmont Priory

The Grandmontine Priory of Grosmont was established around 1200 at a site overlooking the River Esk. It was one Joan de Turnham who granted the site to the monks, and according to the deed of gift, a “mansion house” already existed there. Its surrounding fields, covering about 200 acres, were already in cultivation, evidenced by the use of the word “land”. The “mansion house,” upon which the new Priory was based, was likely a significant dwelling, possibly the manor house or principal messuage in the township¹Laurence, Alastair. Old Egton:A New History. 2018..

It is generally thought that monks chose wild and lonely places for their monasteries in order to have peace and quiet. Also that monks then brought order to such wild places through farming and agricultural husbandry. It appears however that the “land” at Grosmont would have already been tilled for centuries before they came, given its fertile soil over deep alluvial deposits. The soils here must surely have been the best in the township, agriculturally speaking; thus, Joan de Turnham had given the monks a prime piece of her landholdings. Therefore, one thing is certain: at the time of the founding, circa 1200, the riverbank site at Grosmont was far from being any kind of ‘wilderness.’

By May 1830, the priory had been long dissolved and the lands had passed to a prosperous merchant by the name of James Wilkinson (c.1782-1855). At the time of his purchase, significant remains of the Priory ruins were still visible: the semi-circular chancel apse of the former church stood a few feet high, and substantial gable ends and chimney breasts from the kitchen and refectory block dominated the riverbank. However, Wilkinson, having no sentiment for the crumbling monastic structures, ordered their complete demolition. He wanted to clear the site for his new gentleman’s residence, which he built on the old manor house site.

The house that Wilkinson built, Priory House, is seen in the featured photo overlooking the River Esk, and was constructed mainly using new local sandstone. Nonetheless, some carved monastic stones apparently remain in the east wing.

Wilkinson likely viewed his swift transformation with pride, though today we lament his disregard for historical preservation.

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  Laurence, Alastair. Old Egton:A New History. 2018.