Sulby
Title
Sulby
Also Known As
Soleby, Suleby, Sulleby, Soulbie, Suleby de Parva Hareweden, Suldeby de Weledford, Wilfort
Dates
Founded 1155; dissolved 1538
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Sulby Abbey was founded in 1155 by William de Wideville. It was initially located in the adjacent parish of Welford, but within a few years moved two miles to its permanent location in Sulby. It enjoyed the patronage of Edward II in the 14th century, but by the 15th century the abbey's fortunes were in decline.
Sulby was suppressed in 1538, and the property passed into private hands. There is now a farm on the site.
Sulby was suppressed in 1538, and the property passed into private hands. There is now a farm on the site.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Richard I, fl. ca. 1155
Adam, fl. ca. 1200
John I, fl. 1207
Walter I, ca. 1226-1232
William I, 1232-1255
Robert I, fl. 1257
Hugo, 1276-1280
John II, 1280?-1290
Henry, 1297-1301
Simon, fl. ca. 1305
John III of Welford, 1314-?
Walter II of Belgrave, 1322/23-bef. 1346
Walter III, 1355-1356
Richard II of Burton, 1356-1360
John IV, fl. 1377-1380
Robert, fl. 1403
William II Gysburgh (or Gysburn), 1414-?
Alan, fl. 1437
Robert II Sproxton, fl. 1442
John V Coventry, ?-1447
William III Knolles, 1447-1452
John VI Halley, 1452-ca. 1488
John VII Middleton, 1488-1504
Robert III Goodall, 1506-1524
Ralph (or Randolph) Armonte, 1534-1538
Richard I, fl. ca. 1155
Adam, fl. ca. 1200
John I, fl. 1207
Walter I, ca. 1226-1232
William I, 1232-1255
Robert I, fl. 1257
Hugo, 1276-1280
John II, 1280?-1290
Henry, 1297-1301
Simon, fl. ca. 1305
John III of Welford, 1314-?
Walter II of Belgrave, 1322/23-bef. 1346
Walter III, 1355-1356
Richard II of Burton, 1356-1360
John IV, fl. 1377-1380
Robert, fl. 1403
William II Gysburgh (or Gysburn), 1414-?
Alan, fl. 1437
Robert II Sproxton, fl. 1442
John V Coventry, ?-1447
William III Knolles, 1447-1452
John VI Halley, 1452-ca. 1488
John VII Middleton, 1488-1504
Robert III Goodall, 1506-1524
Ralph (or Randolph) Armonte, 1534-1538
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Cambridge, Harvard Law School Library
MSS Deeds 432 (1482)
Kew, The National Archives
E 163/8/33 (15th c.)
E 210/1367
E 210/1900
E 210/2284
E 210/2894
E 210/2956
E 210/3006
E 210/3214
E 210/3232
E 210/3478
E 210/3686
E 210/3910
E 210/5457
E 210/7513
E 210/8088
E 322/230 (1538)
E 326/9874
E 326/11660
E 327/444
E 327/621 (1453)
E 327/757
E 329/290 (13th c.)
SC 11/526 (1294/5; rent roll)
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
FH 2677, 3095 (16th c.)
MSS Deeds 432 (1482)
Kew, The National Archives
E 163/8/33 (15th c.)
E 210/1367
E 210/1900
E 210/2284
E 210/2894
E 210/2956
E 210/3006
E 210/3214
E 210/3232
E 210/3478
E 210/3686
E 210/3910
E 210/5457
E 210/7513
E 210/8088
E 322/230 (1538)
E 326/9874
E 326/11660
E 327/444
E 327/621 (1453)
E 327/757
E 329/290 (13th c.)
SC 11/526 (1294/5; rent roll)
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
FH 2677, 3095 (16th c.)
Reference
Bibliography
Serjeantson, R.M., and W.R.D. Adkins, eds. “House of Premonstratensian Canons: The Abbey of Sulby.” In A History of the County of Northampton, 2:138–42. London, 1906. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/northants/vol2/pp138-142.
Image Credit
The site on which Sulby Abbey once stood, 2010. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Sulby,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/71.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| This Item | DependentOn | Item: Newsham |
| Item: St. Botolph's (Sulby) | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Wappenbury | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: East Haddon | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Wistow | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Great Harrowden | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Lubenham | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Little Addington | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Sibbertoft | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: North Kilworth | DependentOn | This Item |