| Kirkham Priory | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Kirkham, North Yorkshire |
| Nearest city | York |
| Coordinates | 54°04′58″N 0°52′36″W / 54.0829°N 0.876675°W |
| Built | 12th century |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Kirkham Priory |
| Designated | 11 February 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1149116[1] |
| Official name | Kirkham Priory Augustinian monastery: monastic precinct, three fishponds, and precinct boundary |
| Designated | 9 October 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1014024[2] |
.svg)  Location of Kirkham Priory in North Yorkshire | |
The ruins of Kirkham Priory are situated on the banks of the River Derwent, at Kirkham, North Yorkshire, England. The Augustinian priory was founded in the 1120s by Walter l'Espec, lord of nearby Helmsley, who also built Rievaulx Abbey. The priory was surrendered in 8 December 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Legend has it that Kirkham was founded in remembrance of l'Espec's only son who had died nearby as a consequence of his horse being startled by a boar. The area was later used to test the D-Day landing vehicles, and was visited by Winston Churchill.[3] The ruins are now Grade I listed and a scheduled monument in the care of English Heritage.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1149116)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1014024)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ David Prudames (21 May 2004). "Yorkshire priory commemorates Churchill's secret visit on eve of D-Day". Culture24. Retrieved 7 December 2009.