Its foundation was confirmed in charters by King Henry I of England[2][3] The site had formerly been a Saxon church and nunnery.

[2] During the conflict between Stephen and Matilda, William le Gros, Earl of Albemarle (a Manor in Holderness which is now ‘lost’) advanced on the priory and expelled the canons in his campaign against Gilbert de Gant of Hunmanby.

11½d; it owned land stretching from Blubberhouses in the north, and Askham Richard, down to the Spurn Point.

[2] The condition of the priory at the dissolution can be gathered from the report of Richard Pollard, a surveyor of Henry VIII.

[5] The Church was more than 390 feet in length, surrounded by the Chapter House, Treasury, Cloister, Prior's Hall, Infirmary.

All the priory buildings were destroyed except the nave, which became the parish church, and the gatehouse, which is now the Bayle Museum.

[2] From 1846 the parish began to raise funds to restore the church and it was partially re-roofed; the west window was opened out and filled with stained glass; the interior was white-washed; and the east window also was filled with stained glass.