Monument record 1248/2/0 - Mobberley Priory

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1947 /237 (Book). SCH2309.

Mobberley Priory was founded c.1206 by Patrick de Mobberley, for regular canons of the order of St Augustine in honour of God, the Virgin Mary and St Wilfrid. The canons were given half the church to abide and dwell in for ever. The existence of the priory as an independent foundation was short lived and ended before 1240, when the moiety of the church and the advowson was annexed to the priory of Rocester in Staffordshire

<2> Women's Institute, 1952, The History of Mobberley Village, /33 (Oral Communication). SCH3152.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ78SE5/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> Knowles, D & Hadcock, RN, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, /146 (Book). SCH2177.

<5> Various, Cheshire History, 8/73-88 Dunn F I 1981 (Journal/Periodical). SCH811.

Dunn suggests the original Priory building would have been a temporary wooden structure, not on the site of the manor. 26 charters recently arrived in Chester record office. These record the gifts and deeds of land to the black cannons, and point out the low status of those who are offering the grants. The community had a poor financial start, by 1225-1228 they have sold land in Tatton to Hugh de Venebales, following its lease. The community failed, and the priory lands appear to have returned to de Mobberleys via Rocester

<6> Archaeophysica, 1998, Geophysical Survey at Mobberley, Cheshire. (Client Report). SCH4350.

The exact whereabouts of the Priory were unknown and so a Geophysical survey was commissioned to locate and characterise the subsurface remains in 1998.The area surveyed lies about 30m west of St Wilfreds Church at Mobberley at SJ 789 802. According to the geophysical survey, an area can now be suggested for the Priory. Two anomalies thought to be buildings were identified on the site surveyed, feature C being the most likely (by form) to be the Priory, the other € to be outbuildings or dwellings known to be associated with the Priory. Anomalies D and F are believed to be a ditch (associated with E) and a ditched enclosure (around the whole site) respectively. Features A and B are the original layout of the paths around the site which have been altered during the last 60 years (6).