Excavations at the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene of Lund, Monk Bretton

Abstract

Excavations undertaken in 2010 at Monk Bretton Priory, South Yorkshire represent the first substantive investigation of the monastery since its initial clearance in the 1920s and 1950s, and the only campaign of works to be fully recorded and published. Trenches were located to the west and north of the monastic church to reveal features thought to relate the occupation of the site by the Blithman and Talbot families in the mid to late sixteenth century. Evidence for the post-Dissolution remodelling of earlier medieval structures was encountered, as was a rich assemblage of finds belonging to all periods of occupation. Although relatively small in scale, the excavations provide an interesting insight into how the new owners sought to repurpose the religious house to secular use.

Keywords:

• Monk Bretton priory
• excavation
• dissolution
• Blithman
• Talbot

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the significant amount of time and help provided by Susan Harrison, English Heritage Curator, North Territory. We are also extremely grateful for the advice and continuous support provided by Keith Miller, former Inspector of Ancient Monuments Yorkshire & The Humber. The excavation was overseen by the authors, supported by postgraduate students from the University of Sheffield: Rachel Askew, Alex Cassels, Claire Finn, Sandeep Harry, Freya Massey, Gareth Perry, Paul Ritchie, Toby Martin and Veronicá Velasquez Sánchez-Hidalgo. We are also grateful to the large number of local volunteers, as well as those from further afield, who took part in the fieldwork. The artefacts were drawn by Jerneja Willmott, whilst all other illustrations were produced by the authors.