Kirkstead Abbey [SEP] religious order
Kirkstead Abbey
Kirkstead Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Kirkstead, Lincolnshire, England.
The monastery was founded in 1139 by Hugh Brito, (or Hugh son of Eudo), lord of Tattershall, and was originally colonised by an abbot and twelve monks from Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire. The original site was not large enough however, and Robert, son of Hugh, found a better site a short distance away in 1187. The 1187 date is probably "completion" of the Abbey, as the architecture dates it
to St. Mary. It was dissolved in 1536. Almost immediately after its founding it was redounded in the Benedictine order and by 1537 was of the Premonstratensian, before being finally suppressed in 1539.
After the Dissolution in 1540 the property was given to Robert Dighton. 
The earthwork remains of the nunnery and associated fishponds are still visible.
It was one of a number of monastic buildings along the sides of the Witham valley south of Lincoln. To its north is Tuphome Abbey and to the south is Kirkstead Abbey.