Newburgh Priory

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Newburgh Priory is a large house near Coxwold, North Yorkshire, England. Standing on the site of an Augustinian priory, founded in 1145, it is a stately home in a rural setting with views to the Kilburn White Horse in the distance. The grounds contain a water garden, walled garden, topiary yews and woodland walks.

The house was the country seat for the Belassis family in the 16th and 17th century. Originally an Augustinian Priory from 1145 providing priests for the surrounding churches in return for gifts of land and money from the rich landowners. It is reputed to be the burial place of Oliver Cromwell^[1] whose remains were said to have been taken to Newburgh Priory by his daughter Mary when she married the 2nd Viscount.

Newburgh belonged formerly to the Earls of Fauconberg is presently the home of Sir George and Lady Wombwell who open the Priory to visitors for guided tours from April to June.^[1]

[edit] History

An Augustinian priory was founded in 1145 through on lands originally granted by William the Conqueror to Robert de Mowbray. His son Roger de Mowbray, established he Priory. Little is known of the Priory from its founding until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 by Henry VIII, but since that time Newburgh has been within the ownership of the Bellasis family.

Henry VIII sold Newburgh to one of his chaplains, Anthony de Bellasis, for £1,062. He with his brother Richard was responsible for the dissolution of not only Newburgh, but also eight other monasteries in the north. Anthony's nephew Sir William Bellasis converted it into a private residence in 1546. Having converted the Priory, he set the scene for Newburgh as it is today and, except for the alterations and building work carried out between 1720-1760, the Priory remains very similar to what it was during the Tudor/period.

The Priory remained in the possession of the Bellasis family, who took the title of Fauconberg when created Baron in 1627 (and Viscount in 1642) until 1825. On the death, in 1802, of the second Earl of Fauconberg the earldom became extinct and Newburgh was left to Lady Charlotte his eldest daughter who married Thomas Wynn, who assumed the name of Wynn Bellasis. On her death, in 1825 without male heir, the estate passed to the son of her sister, Lady Anne, who married Sir George Wombwell, 2nd Baronet in 1791. Their son, George, the future 3rd Baronet,inherited Newburgh Priory and its estates. The Wombwell Baronetcy was conferred on George Wombwell, 1st Baronet, an extensive merchant and director, in 1778. He became Chairman of the East India Company and was M.P. for Huntingdon from 1774 to 1780.

Newburgh is still lived in, and cared for, by the present Baronet and his wife, Sir George and Lady Wombwell.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Newburgh Priory. Newburgh Priory Estate. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.