Croxton
Title
Croxton
Also Known As
Croistona, Crokeston, Croxten Curiall, Croxten Keriall, Croxten Kyriel, Vallis S. Joannis
Dates
Founded 1160; dissolved 1538
Dedication
John the Evangelist
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Croxton was founded by 1162 as a priory on land given by Guillaume I, count of Boulogne. It was later elevated to the status of abbey. The heart of John I of England was buried in Croxton's abbey church. The majority of the monastic complex was destroyed by fire in 1326, but it had been largely rebuilt by 1500.
Following the Dissolution, the site was granted to Thomas, Earl of Rutland, who built a manor house there. Nothing remains of the former monastic complex today. The site was partly excavated in 1926.
Following the Dissolution, the site was granted to Thomas, Earl of Rutland, who built a manor house there. Nothing remains of the former monastic complex today. The site was partly excavated in 1926.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Alan, 1160-1165
William, fl. 1177
Adam, ca. 1202-ca. 1221
Elyas, ca. 1228-ca. 1231
Ralph of Lincoln, ca. 1231-ca. 1240.
Geoffrey, 1241/42-ca. 1268
William of Graham (or Grantham), 1274-ca. 1280/81
William of Huntingdon, fl. 1285
William of Brackleye, fl. 1319
H., fl. bef. ca. 1342
William, ca. 1342-ca. 1348
Thomas of Loughborough, ca. 1351-ca. 1374
John Grantham, 1394-?
John of Skotyltorp, fl. 1401/02
William (Slyford?), fl. 1408/09
William Overton, fl. 1417
Adam of Berforthe (Berfordh), 1421-ca. 1425
John Eston, ca. 1425-ca. 1444
Robert, fl. 1448
John Forman, 1456-?
John Arghume, 1473-1491
Elias Atterclyff (or Scherwod or Hatersatage), 1491-1534
Thomas Greene, 1534-1538
Alan, 1160-1165
William, fl. 1177
Adam, ca. 1202-ca. 1221
Elyas, ca. 1228-ca. 1231
Ralph of Lincoln, ca. 1231-ca. 1240.
Geoffrey, 1241/42-ca. 1268
William of Graham (or Grantham), 1274-ca. 1280/81
William of Huntingdon, fl. 1285
William of Brackleye, fl. 1319
H., fl. bef. ca. 1342
William, ca. 1342-ca. 1348
Thomas of Loughborough, ca. 1351-ca. 1374
John Grantham, 1394-?
John of Skotyltorp, fl. 1401/02
William (Slyford?), fl. 1408/09
William Overton, fl. 1417
Adam of Berforthe (Berfordh), 1421-ca. 1425
John Eston, ca. 1425-ca. 1444
Robert, fl. 1448
John Forman, 1456-?
John Arghume, 1473-1491
Elias Atterclyff (or Scherwod or Hatersatage), 1491-1534
Thomas Greene, 1534-1538
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Berkeley, Berkeley Castle Muniments
BCM/A/5/3/9. (14th c.; register)
BCM/D/5/20/19. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/20. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/21. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/22. (1340)
BCM/D/5/20/59 (Late 13th c.)
Kew, National Archives
C 143/233/11 (1335/36)
E 322/67 (1538)
E 326/12354 (1538)
PRO 23/252 (Seal)
REQ 2/6/237 (1520/21)
REQ 2/8/186 (1492-1538)
REQ 2/8/252 (1492-1538)
SC 8/209/10410 (1352)
Leicester, Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
DE 3136
London, British Library
Add. MS 1894-99.
Add. MS 4934, fol. 145r.
Add. MS 4935, fol. 95r.
MS Stowe 928.
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
FH/N/A/0502. (ca. 1270; Schedule of Deeds)
BCM/A/5/3/9. (14th c.; register)
BCM/D/5/20/19. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/20. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/21. (1335)
BCM/D/5/20/22. (1340)
BCM/D/5/20/59 (Late 13th c.)
Kew, National Archives
C 143/233/11 (1335/36)
E 322/67 (1538)
E 326/12354 (1538)
PRO 23/252 (Seal)
REQ 2/6/237 (1520/21)
REQ 2/8/186 (1492-1538)
REQ 2/8/252 (1492-1538)
SC 8/209/10410 (1352)
Leicester, Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
DE 3136
London, British Library
Add. MS 1894-99.
Add. MS 4934, fol. 145r.
Add. MS 4935, fol. 95r.
MS Stowe 928.
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
FH/N/A/0502. (ca. 1270; Schedule of Deeds)
Reference
Bibliography
Herbert, Albert. “Croxton Abbey, Leicestershire.” Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society 22, no. 4 (1942): 289–91. https://doi.org/10.5284/1107928.
Hoskins, W.G., and R.A. McKinley, eds. “House of Premonstratensian Canons: The Abbey of Croxton Kerrial.” In A History of the County of Leicestershire, 2:28–31. London, 1954. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/leics/vol2/pp28-31.
Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette. “Croxton Abbey.” December 24, 1964.
Round, J.H. “Croxton Abbey Records.” In The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Rutland ... Preserved at Belvoir Castle, 4:174–82. London, 1905. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015031910667.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Croxton,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/91.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| Item: Melling | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Sproxton | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Cockersand | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Ault Hucknall | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Barlings | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Hose | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Saltby | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Skeffington | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Blanchland | DependentOn | This Item |