described Littlemore's conditions in the early 16th century as making it "one of the worst nunneries for which records survive". She suggests it illustrates that although Thomas Cromwell exaggerated the case, there was clearly some basis in recent history for the allegations of decadent institutions and scurrilous behaviour that he used as justification for the wholesale dissolution of the monasteries of 1536–1539. As for Bishop Atwater, Bowker has suggested that, although he made conscientious efforts to reform recalcitrant houses within his jurisdiction, Littlemore Priory is merely one example of his failure to come to grips with the problem throughout his career. She does argue, though, that Atwater's efforts in this direction anticipated, in a small way, Martin Luther's attempted reforms of the church. The few buildings that made up the priory were soon turned into farmsteads. Only the east range of the Littlemore Priory's cloister survived into the 21st century, and it became a Grade II* listed building in July 1963, when it was being used as a country club. Described by Nikolaus Pevsner's Buildings of England as "a rectangular building with a small gabled block", this had originally housed the nuns' dormitory on the first floor and the chapter house and prioress's parlour on the ground. It was converted into a pub in the late 20th century, although this was closed in June 2013. The pub's closure presented the opportunity for an archaeological survey of the site. A number of "very unusual burials" were discovered within the priory's precincts, including one who had likely been a prioress, a body which had received a blunt-force trauma to its head, and a woman who was buried with a baby. Notes References Bibliography Diocese of Lincoln Order of Saint Benedict 1525 disestablishments in England Monasticism Religious scandals 1517 in England 1518 in England Monasteries in Oxford