St Helen's Priory was founded in 1137 by a man named Towyne, who was a Burgess of Derby.

Dedicated to St Helen, the priory is described as being "an oratory or small religious house".

[1][2][3] When assessed for tax in 1291, St Helen's is recorded as having a total annual income of £4 17s.

In 1554 Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary), issued a Royal Charter granting several of Darley Abbey's properties and endowments to the Corporation of Derby for the establishment of: ""a Free Grammar School, for the instruction and education of boys and youths in the said town of Derby for ever to be maintained by the Bailiffs and Burgesses of the same town".

[3] Also at this time, part of the site was occupied by a Marble Factory, owned by a "Mr Brown".