35. KIRKLEES PRIORY
The Cistercian nunnery at Kirklees in the
parish of Dewsbury was founded during the reign
of Henry II by Reiner le Fleming, lord of the
manor of Wath-upon-Dearne, (fn. 1) whose grant was
confirmed some time before 1240 by William, Earl
Warenne, and in 1236 by Henry III. (fn. 2) From
the years 1306 to 1315 there appears to have
been some scandal at Kirklees, especially with
regard to three of the nuns, Alice Raggid, Elizabeth Hopton, and Joan Heton.
In 1397 Sir John Mountenay, kt., John
Amyas, and others gave the priory 50 acres and
the advowson of the church of Mirfield (fn. 3) to
provide a chaplain for ever for the soul of Sir
John de Burgh at Kirklees. Boniface IX
(1400-4) allowed the nuns of Kirklees to appropriate Mirfield Church and to take corporal
possession on the death or retirement of the then
rector. (fn. 4) The prioress could appoint or remove
at will a fit priest, either secular or regular, but
in 1403 Archbishop Scrope ordained a perpetual
vicarage there. In 1412 John de Burgh
bequeathed 13s. 4d., and in 1407 Sir William
Scot, kt., of Great Halyton left 10 marks to the
fabric of the nuns' church, and 10 marks to the
nuns. In 1535 all the temporalities and
spiritualities were only worth £20 7s. 8d. gross
value, and £19 8s. 2d. net. (fn. 5)
The priory was not dissolved in 1535, but a
grant was given for its continuance in 1538 for
divine worship and hospitality. Cecilia Topcliffe
was to be prioress, and the convent was to consist
of those who had been there on 4 February 1536,
and they might enjoy all their possessions as
before the passing of the Act. (fn. 6) Eighteen months
later, in 1539, Joan Kyppes surrendered the
priory, which had then eight inmates. At that
date the whole property amounted to
£29 18s. 9d. (fn. 7)
Prioresses of Kirklees (fn. 8)
Sybil, occurs 1240
Alice le Mousters, occurs 1305 (fn. 9)
Margaret of Claworth, elected 1306
Alice Screvyn, elected 1308
Alice, occurs 1328 (fn. 10)
Elizabeth Stainton (date uncertain)
Margaret Savile, elected 1350
Alice Mountenay, occurs 1403
Cecilia Hick, occurs 1473, (fn. 11) died 1491
Joan Stansfield, elected 1491, died 1499
Margaret Tarlton, elected 1499
Margaret Fletcher, 1505
Cecilia Topcliffe, 1527
Joan Kyppes, surrendered November 1539