White Ladies Priory Shropshire The ruins that keep their secrets well.
Part One:
White Ladies Priory: A Silent Witness of England’s Sacred and Secret Past
Nestled in the quiet Shropshire countryside near the village of Boscobel lies the evocative ruin of White Ladies Priory, a site that holds both spiritual and historical significance. Once a thriving medieval convent dedicated to religious devotion, it later became a place of refuge and secrecy in one of England’s most dramatic royal escapades. The blend of sacred serenity and royal intrigue makes White Ladies Priory an enduring symbol of England’s layered past.
For years now the priory has been owned and (very badly!) maintained by English Heritage. For years the building has been allowed to crumble with many of the original stoneworks being moved for use in local buildings. With numerous fires, vandalism and nature reclaiming the land the true history of the priory and surrounding land is difficult to piece together. This isn't helped by misinformation, half-truths and the weird loss of many archive pictures such as some on this page. This has fuelled conspiracy theories, ghost hunting and local historian interest to try and discover what actually has gone at the priory. In our three part series we wil try to explore and explain some of the history and paranormal activity that seems to be ever-present at White Ladies especially at night.
The Luna Coven has, over the last 18 years, visited the site many times, explored and witnessed strange occurancies that to this day we cannot explain.
As witches, the priory is of particular importance. It has a history of witch visits and it is a place many,like us, go to in order to experience the energy there, leave offerings and find peace in an ever-more hectic world. By day, White Ladies is calm, quiet and peaceful with a nourishing positive energy. By night, however, the priory becomes something very different - dark, scary even. It attracts people who want to work with this dark energy along with ghost hunters, paranormal investigators and just thrill seekers who want to be scared. They are seldom dissapointed!
Origins and Religious Life
White Ladies Priory, officially known as the Priory of St. Leonard at Brewood, was founded in the late 12th century, during a period of religious expansion across England. It was home to a community of Augustinian canonesses, sometimes referred to as “white ladies” because of their white habits—hence the priory’s enduring name. The order followed the Rule of St. Augustine, emphasising prayer, communal living, and acts of charity.
The priory would have served as both a spiritual retreat and a local centre of faith. As with many small religious houses, it likely supported itself through farming, donations, and the management of nearby lands. Although it never achieved great wealth or political influence, its peaceful seclusion and modest architecture reflected the contemplative life of its inhabitants.
One important issue here however is that such nuns would probably not wear white . White back then was expensive. Most monks and nuns of that era would have worn brown or black robes. This throws the white ladies name into question when considering the reason for the priory name.
The location of the priory is significant
The priory sits in a cluster of medieval and older sites in the area of Shropshire, close to the Welsh border. The area’s location made it an important trading and military strategic point which is why there were settlements in the area way back. White Ladies Priory therefore would be a later build on a pre existing structure, probably made of wood which has long since been lost to time. Shropshire is also on a key line and is littered with sites of archaeological importance. Could the priory land be on a smaller connected ley line?
A quiet spot in Shropshire. Architecture and Setting
The ruins that remain today give a glimpse of the priory’s former beauty. Built in local white sandstone, the surviving parts include sections of the church’s west front and nave, showing the elegance of early Gothic design. The stonework reveals delicate features typical of the 12th and 13th centuries, such as narrow lancet windows and rounded arches.
Surrounded by fields and woodland, the priory’s location enhances its atmosphere of isolation and peace. The setting feels almost untouched by time—an echo of the meditative rhythm of monastic life that once filled its cloisters with prayer and song.
The Dissolution and Decline
Like countless other monastic institutions, White Ladies Priory was dissolved in 1536 under King Henry VIII’s sweeping religious reforms. The suppression of monasteries ended centuries of religious tradition in England and scattered the communities that had inhabited them. The lands were sold to private owners, and the priory buildings were gradually abandoned or repurposed.
This statue of the Virgin Mary is reputed to be from the Priory. 
Over time, the site fell into ruin, with much of its stonework taken for local construction. Yet even in decay, the priory retained its sense of mystery and sanctity. Its name lived on, and its legend continued to grow—especially after one fateful event in the mid-17th century.
Charles II and the English Civil War
White Ladies Priory entered the pages of national history during the aftermath of the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the final confrontation of the English Civil War. Following his defeat by the forces of Oliver Cromwell, the young King Charles II fled for his life through the Midlands.
The king found brief refuge at White Ladies Priory, aided by the local Catholic Giffard family (more on them in other articles) the Penderel brothers, who were loyal subjects. Disguised as a common labourer, Charles hid within the ruins before escaping to nearby Boscobel House, where he famously concealed himself in the branches of the Royal Oak to avoid capture.
The oak tree (mm, not sure if it is really the oak tree) that Charles supposidly hit in.
Local trivia: The name Royal Oak features on several pubs in the Midlands.
This episode, forever entwined with the priory’s story, turned the site from a forgotten monastic ruin into a symbol of royal survival and loyalty. Even today, White Ladies Priory and the nearby Boscobel House are visited together as key sites in the dramatic tale of the king’s escape and eventual restoration to the throne in 1660.
We’ll also be looking at Boscobel House in a future article. It has its own dark side.
Legacy and Preservation
Today, White Ladies Priory is managed by English Heritage and stands as a Grade I listed building. Although only fragments of its structure remain, its tranquil beauty continues to draw visitors, historians, and spiritual seekers alike. The combination of religious devotion and royal adventure gives the site a unique dual identity—both sacred and heroic.
The surrounding landscape retains much of its historic charm, offering a sense of what life might have been like for the nuns who once prayed there and for the fugitive king who found safety among their ruins.
The Ghost of the White Lady
The most persistent tale is that of a spectral nun, often described as a “white lady,” said to wander the ruins at dusk. Locals claim to have seen her drifting silently among the crumbling walls, her pale form faintly glowing in the moonlight. Some say she was a canoness who remained loyal to her vows even after the priory’s dissolution, refusing to leave the sacred grounds. Others believe she is a restless spirit mourning the loss of her holy home when the convent was destroyed under Henry VIII.
Witnesses over the years have reported:
• A chill in the air that falls suddenly, even on warm evenings.
• The faint sound of chanting or whispered prayers, echoing across the empty site.
• A soft rustling of robes when no one is there.
Echoes of the Past?
Some paranormal enthusiasts believe the haunting energy of White Ladies Priory comes from its deep spiritual past. Centuries of prayer and ritual may have left what is sometimes called a “residual haunting”—a spiritual imprint of devotion and loss that lingers in the stone.
Another theory ties the haunting to the Civil War era, when King Charles II hid nearby after the Battle of Worcester. Some visitors claim to sense an uneasy presence connected to that desperate escape—perhaps echoes of soldiers searching for the fugitive king, or the tension of those who risked everything to protect him.
White Ladies Priory is more than a crumbling relic of medieval faith—it is a silent witness to centuries of English history. From its foundation as a humble convent to its role in one of the nation’s most romantic royal legends, the priory reflects the enduring interplay between faith, fate, and freedom. Amid the gentle fields of Shropshire, its weathered stones whisper stories of devotion, destruction, and daring escape—a reminder that even in ruin, the echoes of the past continue to shape the spirit of the land.
In part two we’ll delve deeper into the history and the paranormal events that have been claimed at the Priory.
White ladies & Boscobel
Free entry. Open any reasonable time during daylight hours
ADDRESS:
Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, WV8 1QZ
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/white-ladies-priory/
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