Lincolnshire, 10 ½ miles ESE of Louth, near coast (CLAPHAM)

Founded as house of St Thomas *More of Canterbury (KNOWLES) *the Martyr (THOMPSON) in 1175-6  by Agnes of *Orby (KNOWLES) *Orreby and Herbert son of Alard (THOMPSON) as a priory dependent on Welbeck.  She may have been the wife of Herbert fitz Alard.  Became an abbey in 1250.

Probably for 13 canons at most;  1377:  12;  1381:  10.

Temporal income in 1291:  £20;  c. 1535:  £87.

Suppressed in 1536;  abbot given a pension, 6 of canons given 20s. each.  (KNOWLES)

Desolate moated site with extensive foundation mounds of very indefinite form;  nothing above ground (CLAPHAM)