An Augustinian priory was created in Kenilworth in 1124 by Geoffrey de Clinton who also built the nearby Kenilworth castle. The parish church of St Nicholas was built next to the priory in about 1291. The priory was promoted to an abbey by the Pope in 1447, by then it had been considerably built up and included an infirmary, gatehouse and a barn.
The abbey was dismantled following dissolution, only the barn and parts of the gatehouse remain today though the remains of the other buildings have been excavated.
