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The
Priory is a Grade 2 listed building
dating from 1818 and has an interesting
history. It was built by Thomas Espin
FSA, who was a mathematician, artist of
some renown, and an architect. From his
childhood memories of the Gilbertine
Priory of Bullington, he was inspired to
build the Gothic Cottage now known as
The Priory. Thomas Espin also designed a
new Town Hall, which wasn’t built, but,
in lieu of payment for the design, he
was allowed to use the stone and other
materials removed from the former Town
Hall that had been demolished. The use
of these items along with artefacts from
the 13th Century Abbey that
was destroyed during the Dissolution,
show the success of recycling of the
period.
The result is a building with many fine
features incorporating intricate
plasterwork and delicate glass.
Sadly Mr Espin died in 1822 and is
buried, at his wish, in the former
summerhouse next to the lake in the
grounds of his beloved Priory. This
building contains his tombstone and is a
miniature version of the main house.
Although now derelict, it is the subject
of a current restoration project. The
gardens now maturing almost two hundred
years later are quite fittingly part of
his original dream of a “Gothic cottage”
in a country park setting.
The Priory was run as a boys’ school
known as ‘The Academy’ for several
decades and was then a private residence
for many notable citizens of Louth.
Prior to becoming a hotel in 1977 it was
a happy and special home to some of
Louth’s senior population.
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