Healaugh Park Priory

Healaugh Park Priory is a monastic building constructed from Magnesian limestone with Welsh slate roofing and brick chimneys, rising two stories near Tadcaster. The structure displays the original layout of a religious complex, with additional sections added when it served as a manor house and farm dwelling.

Jordan de Santa Maria and his wife Alice founded the Augustinian priory in 1218 at the location now known as Healaugh Manor Farm. Over time the religious community ceased operations and the complex was repurposed as a residential manor house and eventually a working farm.

The site is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, a naming choice that reflects the spiritual focus of medieval religious communities. The transformation from monastery to residential dwelling shows how these structures adapted to changing needs across generations.

The building is accessible to view from outside and demonstrates the transition from religious to private use across its structure. Being located near Tadcaster makes it convenient to visit when exploring medieval construction in the North Yorkshire area.

The site contains a moated enclosure and fishponds whose origins remain uncertain, possibly dating to either the monastic period or the later manor house phase. These water features reveal the practical resource management that was essential for both periods of occupation.

Location: Healaugh

GPS coordinates: 53.91100,-1.26242

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:22