History
1100 The Hospital of the Holy Sepulchre was founded around this time outside
the walls of the city of Lincoln.
1131 Gilbert founded the Gilbertines at Sempringham
1147 Pope Eugenius III made Gilbert Master of Sempringham
1148 The Gilbertine Priory of St Katherine’s without Bargate Lincoln was
founded by Robert de Chesney, the third Bishop of Lincoln. It became the custom
for Bishops of Lincoln to spend the night at St Katherine’s Priory before their
installation at Lincoln Cathedral.
1189 Gilbert of Sempringham, who founded the Gilbertine Order, died on the
7th February aged 106
1199 On the 17th November, King John of England, and King William
of Scotland with three Archbishops and a procession of thirteen Bishops carried
the coffin of St Hugh of Lincoln from St Katherine’s Priory to Lincoln Cathedral
1202 Gilbert was canonised and admitted to the calendar of saints
1238 The Prior and Convent received a licence to build a windmill to the
south of the priory gate
1290 From the 30th November until the 4th December,
the body of Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I lay in state at the Priory. The first
Eleanor cross was erected opposite the priory gates.
1291 St Katherine’s Priory received a papal indulgence to for visitors on
the feast days of St Katherine, St Gilbert and St James.
1301 Edward I lodged at St Katherine’s in 1301 when he came to Lincoln to
present his son to as the first Prince of Wales.
1306 The Priory was granted permission to install an aqueduct.
1538 The Prior, William Griffiths surrendered St Katherine’s Priory to the
crown.
1539 The Priory was granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and brother
in law to King Henry VIII
1540 The property was sold to The Grantham family who built a magnificent
mansion on the site.
1617 King James I stayed at St Katherine’s as the guest of Sir Thomas Grantham
at St Katherine’s Hall.
1734 The foundations of the priory church were dug up and many headstones
broken.
1763 St Katherine’s Hall was in the hands of the Manby family. The building
was in a poor state of repair and subsequently pulled down.
1819 William Manby changed his name to William Colegrave.
1854 The nine acre site was still known as St Katherine’s and was owned jointly
and severally by William Colegrave, John Carline, Thomas Winn and Thomas Pears.