The priory was founded by Roger FitzRalph (son of Ranulph de Mattersey[2]) in around 1185, and was dedicated to St Helen.

It was constructed on a gravel island in the River Idle, and the area surrounding would have been mostly marshland at the time.

Unlike many other Gilbertine priories, Mattersey was not a "mixed-house"; it was home to only canons (male), and not to canonesses (female).

In 1403, King Henry IV granted the priory permission to hold a weekly Monday market at Mattersey.

[2] Around the year 1605, Mrs Margaret Nevill wrote to Lady Ann Holles at Haughton, inviting her to come and "visit the poor old Abbey of Mattersley".

[3] To the south of the church was the cloisters: a covered passageway around a courtyard, which was in turn surrounded by ranges of buildings on three sides.

[3] The west range was originally the lay-brothers accommodation (refectory on the ground-floor, sleeping quarters above).

[3] In 1914, a partial excavation located the buried foundations of the cloister's east and south ranges.