Nunnery of North Berwick

Priory of St. Mary of North Berwick

Doocot in the grounds of the ruined abbey
Monastery information
Other names	North Berwick priory, North Berwick nunnery
Order	Benedictine (and possibly later Cistercian)
Established	c. 1150
Disestablished	1588 (last nominal prioress died 1596x1597)
Dedicated to	St Mary
Diocese	St Andrews
Controlled churches	Kilconquhar, Kirkbride (St Brigit's, Maybole), Largo, Largs, Logie-Atheron, Maybole (St Cuthbert's), North Berwick
People
Founder(s)	Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Site
Location	North Berwick, East Lothian

St. Mary's Priory, North Berwick, was a monastery of nuns in medieval East Lothian, Scotland. Founded by Donnchad I, Earl of Fife (owner of much of northern East Lothian) around 1150, the priory lasted for more than four centuries, declining and disappearing after the Scottish Reformation. It had been endowed by the Earls of Carrick as well as the Earls of Fife, but over time lost its dependence on these and came to be controlled by the more locally based Home (or Hume) family, who eventually acquired the priory's lands as a free barony.

Although later medieval sources, such as the Scotichronicon of Walter Bower allege that the founder of the house was Máel Coluim I, Earl of Fife (died ca. 1228), it is clear from Charter evidence that it was founded by his grandfather, Earl Donnchad I (died 1154). A Charter of Donnchad I's son and successor Earl Donnchad II mentions that Donnchad I had granted land to the priory. Máel Coluim I however confirmed all of North Berwick's possessions in a Charter of 1199. The date of the house's foundation is unclear. A date between 1147 and 1153 is probable, perhap 1150.

The Fife family's kinsman, Donnchad, Earl of Carrick, also patronised the house. He gave that house the Rectorship of the Church of St Cuthbert of Maybole sometime between 1189 and 1250. Donnchad of Carrick also gave the Church of St Brigit at Kirkbride to the nuns, as well as a grant of 3 marks from a place called Barrebeth.