Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Walk Around the Grace Dieu Ruins

Among the events organised as part of the recent Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology was a walk around the ruins of Grace Dieu Priory.

Being free on that day, I decided to take part.

The walk started in the car park of the Bull`s Head at Thringstone, and was enthusiastically led by members of the Friends of Grace Dieu.

We walked through the woods, and under an impressive railway viaduct that is completely invisible from the road, before arriving at the fascinating ruins.

The priory was founded in the 13th century for Augustinian canonesses, and at Henry VIII`s Dissolution of the Monasteries was converted into a house by the Beaumont family. The whole site is now in ruins, but can be seen from the road.