Remains Of Norton Priory

The remains of Norton Priory are the remnants of an Augustinian Priory founded by the Baron of Halton around 1115. The Priory was elevated to abbey status in 1391 and was affected by the dissolution in 1536. In 1545, it became the site of a Tudor house built for Sir Richard Brooke, which was replaced by a Georgian house in 1730. This Georgian building was altered by James Wyatt in 1775, underwent further changes in the 19th century, and was demolished in 1928.

Today, sandstone walls and corework, along with some 19th-century ashlar work, remain, with important areas covered by an asbestos cement slate monopitch roof. A Norman vaulted undercroft is still present, featuring a high-quality doorway from 1180 and a Victorian copy, along with two blind arcades on slender shafts and well-preserved vaulted areas. Additionally, extensive monastic ruins, a few feet high, can be found. Of the houses, only the entrance porch from 1868 remains; it is a single-storey structure with rustications, keystones, and a cornice that provides access to the undercroft. These are considered the most important monastic remains in the county and are designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.