According to Dugdale it was endowed by King Alexander I of Scotland in 1255 as a Benedicitine community. Power however sets foundation date before 1235. According to S. Thompson, the community was probably founded by a member of the Umfraville family (Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest, 223).
In 1291 there were 27 nuns, 4 brothers and 3 chaplains, with a master. There were only 5 in 1379. In 1432, 7 nuns were recorded. After the surrender the prioress and 6 nuns were granted pensions. Four nuns were still on the pension list in 1553.
In 1535 the net income was valued at over 11 pounds.
SC 8/184/9190, in this petition the prioress and convent of Holystone request the restoration of an annuity of eight marks originally granted to them by King Alexander from the town of Berwick.
Currently, the the remains of Holystone are part of Northumberland National Park and are considered a site of considerable interest for further investigation. A detailed description of the site, along with a PDF file of historical surveys of Holystone, and a substantial bibliography of the area are available at their website ">http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/understanding/historyarchae... Northumberland National Park
The priory was reduced to poverty through Scottish raids in 1312 and 1320.
[V0434]
name field: OSBQ--Order S. Benedict??
NX AB , 1437 ??
\ foundation date : 1124 (before) , 1235 (before) , (needs verification)
