Newsham
Title
Newsham
Also Known As
Newhouse
Dates
Founded 1143; dissolved 1546
Dedication
Martial; Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Newsham was founded in 1143 by Peter Goxhill, and was the first Premonstratensian house established in England. The monastery was badly damaged by storms in the 1380s.
Newsham Abbey was suppressed in 1536. Nothing survives of the monastic complex.
Newsham Abbey was suppressed in 1536. Nothing survives of the monastic complex.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Gerlo, 1143-1160
Amblardus, ?-1177
David, 1177-1183
Gervase
Adam, fl. 1199
Lambert, 1200-1203
Walter
Geoffrey, ca. 1219-1226
Osbert, 1226-ca. 1230
Thomas, ca. 1242-ca. 1275
John de Cave, ca. 1278-1296
Thomas de Hedon, 1296-ca. 1310
Ralf, fl. 1327
Alan, 1334-ca. 1354
Robert of Thornton, 1355-?
William of Tealby (Teleby, Tevelby), ca. 1377-ca. 1383
Henry, ca. 1394-1397
Hugh, ca. 1400-ca. 1419
Henry of Limber (or Lymbergh), 1421-ca. 1435
Robert, ca. 1446-ca. 1462
Thomas Ashton, ?-1478
John Swift, 1478-1497
William Sawndalle (or Sandall), 1497-ca. 1504
Thomas Johnson (or Kernyngton), fl. 1508/09
Robert Esington (Eseyngton), 1510-ca. 1513
John Max (or Maxey), ?-1519
Christopher Lord, 1519-1534
Thomas Doncaster (or Harpham), 1534-1546
Gerlo, 1143-1160
Amblardus, ?-1177
David, 1177-1183
Gervase
Adam, fl. 1199
Lambert, 1200-1203
Walter
Geoffrey, ca. 1219-1226
Osbert, 1226-ca. 1230
Thomas, ca. 1242-ca. 1275
John de Cave, ca. 1278-1296
Thomas de Hedon, 1296-ca. 1310
Ralf, fl. 1327
Alan, 1334-ca. 1354
Robert of Thornton, 1355-?
William of Tealby (Teleby, Tevelby), ca. 1377-ca. 1383
Henry, ca. 1394-1397
Hugh, ca. 1400-ca. 1419
Henry of Limber (or Lymbergh), 1421-ca. 1435
Robert, ca. 1446-ca. 1462
Thomas Ashton, ?-1478
John Swift, 1478-1497
William Sawndalle (or Sandall), 1497-ca. 1504
Thomas Johnson (or Kernyngton), fl. 1508/09
Robert Esington (Eseyngton), 1510-ca. 1513
John Max (or Maxey), ?-1519
Christopher Lord, 1519-1534
Thomas Doncaster (or Harpham), 1534-1546
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Kew, The National Archives
DL 25/325 (12th/13th c.)
DL 25/325/269 (12th/13th c.; seal)
E 36/154 (16th c.)
E 132/1/4 (13th c.)
E 326/6976 (1523)
PRO 23/2730 (seal mould cast)
SC 8/129/6434 (1333)
SC 8/189/9412 (15th c.)
SC 11/431 (16th c.)
Lincoln, Lincolnshire Archives
YARB/3/3/1/1 (13th c.; cartulary)
YARB 3/3/1/2 (1694; cartulary copy)
New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Osborn fa.40 (ca. 1199)
DL 25/325 (12th/13th c.)
DL 25/325/269 (12th/13th c.; seal)
E 36/154 (16th c.)
E 132/1/4 (13th c.)
E 326/6976 (1523)
PRO 23/2730 (seal mould cast)
SC 8/129/6434 (1333)
SC 8/189/9412 (15th c.)
SC 11/431 (16th c.)
Lincoln, Lincolnshire Archives
YARB/3/3/1/1 (13th c.; cartulary)
YARB 3/3/1/2 (1694; cartulary copy)
New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Osborn fa.40 (ca. 1199)
Reference
Bibliography
Page, William, ed. “Houses of Premonstratensian Canons: The Abbey of Newhouse or Newsham.” In A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2, 199–202. London: Victoria County History, 1906. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lincs/vol2/pp199-202.
Image Credit
Site of Newsham Abbey, 2003. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Newsham,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/159.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| This Item | DependentOn | Item: Licques |
| Item: Newbo | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: East Halton | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Orford | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Sulby | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Tupholme | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Welbeck | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Alnwick | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Barlings | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Beeleigh | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Broadholme | DependentOn | This Item |