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Conishead Priory, Ulverston
Conishead Priory
Paradise of Furness
civil parish:-   Ulverston (formerly Lancashire)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   religious house
locality type:-   temple
locality type:-   garden
locality type:-   hospital (once) 
coordinates:-   SD30407582
1Km square:-   SD3075
10Km square:-   SD37

photograph
BNW52.jpg (taken 6.7.2007)  
photograph
BNW53.jpg (taken 6.7.2007)  
evidence:-   map:- 
source data:-   : 1954: Monastic Britain: Ordnance Survey
evidence:-   probably old map:- Lloyd 1573
placename:-  Conyside
source data:-   Map, hand coloured copper plate engraving, Angliae Regni, Kingdom of England, with Wales, scale about 24 miles to 1 inch, authored by Humphrey Lloyd, Denbigh, Clwyd, drawn and engraved by Abraham Ortelius, Netherlands, 1573.
image  click to enlarge
Lld1Cm.jpg
"Conyside"
item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA1998.69
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.
image WS21P042, button  goto source
Page 42:-  "... to the priory of Conishead, the paradise of Furness; a Mount Edgecomb in miniature, which well deserves a visit from the curious traveller. The house stands on the site of the priory of Conishead, at the foot of a fine eminence, and the ground falls gently from it on all"
image WS21P043, button  goto source
Page 43:-  "sides. The slopes are planted with shrubs and trees in such a manner to improve the elevation; and the waving woods that fly from it on each wing give it an airy and noble appearance. The south front is in the modern taste, extended by an arcade. The north is in the Gothic style, with a piazza and wings. The apartments are elegantly furnished, and the house is good and convenient. But, what recommends itself most to the curious, is a plan of pleasure ground, on a small scale, containing beauties equal in number to gardens of the greatest extent in England. The variety of culminated grounds, and winding slopes, comprehended within this sweet spot, furnish all the advantage of mountains and vales, woods and water. By the judicious management of these assemblages, the late owner performed wonders. Consulting the genius of the place, he called in, to aid his plan, and harmonized to this little spot, the features of a country vast in extent, and by nature highly picturesque [1], whose distant parts agreeing with what was immediately near him, form a most magnificent whole. For, besides the ornamental grounds, the views from the house are both pleasing and surprising."
"[1] The note intended for this place proving too long, it is inserted in the Addenda, and makes Article VIII. X."
evidence:-   old map:- West 1784 map
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A Map of the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Paas, 53 Holborn, London, about 1784.
image
Ws02SD27.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : A1221.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) 
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
image CAM2P143, button  goto source
Page 143:-  "Conishead, a priory of black canons, founded by Gabriel Pennington t. Henry II. valued at £.97. It was first an hospital founded by William de Lancaster baron of Kendal, the seat of the Sandys, the Doddings, and Braddylls."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Baker 1802
placename:-  Conished Priory
source data:-   Perspective road map with sections in Lancashire, Westmorland, and Cumberland, by J Baker, London 1802.
pp.25-26:-  "... the priory of Conished, ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.
image OT01P096, button  goto source
Page 96:-  "... Two miles from Ulverston is Conishead, generally called the Priory, a place highly extolled by Mr. West, who says, 'it is a great omission in the curious traveller, to be in Furness and not to see so wonderfully pretty a place.' The mansion has been several years in rebuilding, and when finished will be a splendid residence. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01P005, button  goto source
Page 5:-  "... [Ulverston]"
"On the site of the ancient priory, Mr. Braddyll has raised a magnificent edifice, in a style of English architecture, tastefully agreeable to its locality and name. The gardens are extensive and beautiful, and the walks through the park are finely shaded with trees, and command beautiful views of the bay and the mountains."
image FD01P156, button  goto source
Page 156:-  "..."
"[Ulverston] ... In this neighbourhood ... Conishead Priory, the modern mansion of Colonel Braddyll, ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843.
image
FD02SD37.jpg
"Conishead Priory"
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2SD27.jpg
"Conishead Priory"
block, building 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old advertisement:- Black 1856 (16th edn 1884) 
source data:-   Guide book, Black's Guide to the English Lakes, published by Adam and Charles Black, Edimnburgh, Lothian, 16th edn 1884.
image
BC10Ad02.jpg
item:-  JandMN : 59
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bemrose 1881
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, uncoloured, Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, published by Bemrose and Sons, 23 Old Bailey, London and Derby, by A B Moss, Carlisle, Cumberland, and by T Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, about 1881.
image  click to enlarge
BEM104.jpg
On p.11 of a Handy Guide to the English Lakes and Shap Spa. 
printed at bottom:-  "CONISHEAD PRIORY."
item:-  JandMN : 455.6
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"CONISHEAD PRIORY / / PRIORY ROAD / ULVERSTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 460003 / SD3040375826"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Country house, now Buddhist monastery, on site of Augustinian Priory. 1821-36, extended 1853. To design by Philip Wyatt and completed by George Webster. For Colonel Braddyll. Rendered brick, limestone, and sandstone, with slate roofs. Built on a vast scale in a hybrid Gothic style with an irregular plan, with many pointed arches and traceried windows, pierced battlemented parapets, steep gables, and panelled octagonal chimneys. The entrance front is very asymmetrical, but has a centre 3-storeyed gatehouse-type porch with gable and spired turrets, an ogee-headed doorway with flanking niches, a large 4-light traceried window on the 1st floor and a rose window above. To the left are 2 (unequal) gabled wings, one with a large pointed arched window, the other with a 2-storeyed bay window and a pointed light on the 3rd storey. To the right of the entrance (west) is a long single-storey wing with 4 large 2-light pointed arched windows, and clerestorey lights behind a parapet. A large wing at the west end projecting northwards ends in a gatehouse tower dated 1853, in the same style, of 4 storeys, and contains service quarters, stables, etc. The south front is symmetrical, with 3 gables."
"INTERIOR: a plaster-vaulted corridor runs from the east entrance towards the west. On the north side a screen of 3 arches opens into a stair hall with an imperial staircase with alternate turned and barleysugar balusters, lit by a stained glass window by Wailes. Also opening off the north side of the corridor is the double-height entrance hall (under repair at time of survey in November 1991), entered from the north doorway. It is said to have a west window by Willement, and, on the 1st floor, a wooden screen with Perpendicular tracery, taken from the chapel at Samlesbury Hall. The corridor continues towards the west, where it has cloister windows on the north side with Perpendicular tracery. To the south of the corridor the dining room is lined with panelling and has a Gothic fireplace in brown marble with a carved oak overmantel. A room at the north-east end of the corridor also has an elaborate marble Gothic fireplace and has an oak overmantel. On the 1st floor the Oak Room is lined with woodwork taken from Samlesbury Hall (near Preston) in 1834, including a chimneypiece dated 1623. A previous house on this site was demolished in 1821."
evidence:-   old print:- Philip/Wilson 1890s
source data:-   Print, engraving, Conishead Priory, published by George Philip and Son, London, Philip, Son and Nephew, Liverpool, Lancashire, and Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, about 1895.
image  click to enlarge
PW1E05.jpg
"CONISHEAD PRIORY."
item:-  JandMN : 58.6
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Philip/Wilson 1890s
source data:-   Print, engraving, entrance hall of Conishead Priory, published by George Philip and Son, London, Philip, Son and Nephew, Liverpool, Lancashire, and Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, about 1895.
image  click to enlarge
PW1E06.jpg
"ENTRANCE HALL."
item:-  JandMN : 58.7
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Waugh 1860
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, engraving, Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, published by Alexander Ireland and Co, 22 Market Street, Manchester, 1860.
image  click to enlarge
WU0111.jpg
On p.37 of Over Sands to the Lakes, by Edwin Waugh. 
printed at bottom left, centre:-  "CONISHEAD PRIORY."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1082.11
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, engraving, Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.
image  click to enlarge
SYL132.jpg
On p.113 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "CONISHEAD PRIORY."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1201.32
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Jopling 1843
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, South and East Fronts of Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, by Mr Tuer, Kendal, published by Whittaker and Co, Ave Maria Lane, London and by Stephen Soulby, Ulverston, Cumberland, 1843.
image  click to enlarge
JP1E22.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.145 of a Sketch of Furness and Cartmel, by Charles M Jopling. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A1636.22
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Jopling 1843
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, The North Front, Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, by Charles M Jopling, published by Whittaker and Co, Ave Maria Lane, London and by Stephen Soulby, Ulverston, Cumberland, 1843.
image  click to enlarge
JP1E23.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.147 of a Sketch of Furness and Cartmel, by Charles M Jopling. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A1636.23
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Jopling 1843
placename:-  Conishead Priory
source data:-   Print, The Hall, Conishead Priory, Ulverston, Lancashire, by Mr Tuer, Kendal, published by Whittaker and Co, Ave Maria Lane, London and by Stephen Soulby, Ulverston, Cumberland, 1843.
image  click to enlarge
JP1E24.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.148 of a Sketch of Furness and Cartmel, by Charles M Jopling. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A1636.24
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BNW54.jpg  Coat of arms.
(taken 6.7.2007)  
photograph
BNW55.jpg  Coat of arms.
(taken 6.7.2007)  
photograph
BNW56.jpg  Coat of arms.
(taken 6.7.2007)  
hearsay:-  
 The priory was begun by Augustinian friars as a hospital for the poor, 1160, and became a priory 1188. After the Dissolution, 1540, it was granted to William Stanley. It was bought by Col Thomas Braddyll, 1818, who made it his family home, completely rebuilt, 1820, the architect being Thomas Wyatt. Col Braddyll was bankrupted; and the house has had various owners. It has been a hotel, military hospital, miners' convalescent home. It was at one time a hydropathic hotel known as the Paradise of Furness. It is now a residential buddhist centre, the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, with the Kadampa World Peace Temple, 2005.
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