From the eastern end of the village, a rubble lane leads down to the sparse ruins of the romantically sited Mattersey Priory, founded in 1185 for the Gilbertine Order, the only monastic order to be established by an Englishman, Roger de Mattersy. When the priory was founded, it had six cannons. Though the number of priests fluctuated over the years, Mattersey was never a wealthy institution: at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries only five cannons had to be turned out in to the streets. The original Priory buildings at Mattersey were destroyed by fire in 1279 so the remains seen today are of the 14th century dormitory, refectory and the walls of the Chapel of St Helen. The site is rarely visited by tourists but, with the River Idle flowing nearby, it is a peaceful and picturesque hidden place, well worth seeking out.