The nunnery was founded in the 12th century by Robert de Verli, under Fountains Abbey, initially with 14 nuns and a prioress, and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.[2] In 1177 a papal bull from Pope Alexander III confirmed the Cistercian rights of the house.[3] By 1181 when Henry II confirmed the house it included a master, canons, brothers and nuns. In subsequent years the separation of men and women within the institution was criticised as not being as good as it should be.[3] In 1404 Walter Skirlaw, who was Bishop of Durham from 1388 to 1406, bequeathed £100 to the nuns of Swine.[4] There were several disputes with the nearby Meaux Abbey.[3] The nunnery was closed as part of the dissolution of the monasteries 1539.[1] When the priory surrendered on 9 September 1539 there was a prioress and 19 nuns.[4]
The Church of St Mary, which was built around 1180, was the conventual church of the Priory.[5][6] The current building contains parts of the nunnery church which was 25 metres (82 ft) long.[7]
The remains contain earthworks which show where the previous buildings used to be. These included a four-sided cloister surrounded by a moat which was up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) deep and 5 metres (16 ft) to 10 metres (33 ft) wide and a series of drains. There were also a series of fishponds and there is evidence of ridge and furrow.[1][7]
