Norton Priory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norton Priory was a priory, later an abbey, established as an Augustinian foundation near Runcorn, Cheshire, England. After the dissolution of the monastries, the abbey was largely demolished and a country house was built on the site. This was in turn demolished in the 20th century and the site is now a museum and tourist attraction.
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[edit] History
[edit] The priory and abbey
In 1115 an Augustinian priory was founded by William FitzNigel, the second Baron of Halton in Runcorn on the south bank of the River Mersey. In 1134 the canons moved to Norton, a village some 3 miles to the east of Runcorn. A fire in 1234 largely destroyed the priory and it had to be rebuilt. In 1391 the priory was elevated to the status of a mitred abbey. Around 1400 the abbey contained a fine statue of Saint Christopher. As a result of the dissolution of the monasteries the abbey was dissolved in 1536.
[edit] The country house
In 1545 the abbey and its estate were purchased by Sir Richard Brooke who used some of the fabric of the abbey to build a house in Tudor style. The house was re-built in Georgian style in 1750. In 1922 the Brooke family left the house and it was demolished in 1928. The site became overgrown.
[edit] Recent developments
Following the designation of Runcorn New Town, archeological excavations began at the site in 1970 and in 1975 the site was opened to the public. Subsequently in 1982 a purpose-built museum was opened.
[edit] Norton Priory today
The Museum and Gardens are now open to the public and are run by a charitable trust. The museum contains a history of the site and some of the artefacts discovered during the archeological excavations. Parts of the original buildings remain in the form of the undercroft (with a Victorian addition) and the foundations of the abbey and the monastery. The medieval statue of Saint Christopher has been restored and it forms the centrepiece of a display in the museum. A short distance away the walled garden of the Georgian house is well maintained and includes the national collection of tree quinces. A regular programme of events, both educational and events of a more enteraining type, is organised throughout the year. It is a Grade I listed building.
[edit] References
- Nickson, Charles History of Runcorn, Mackie & Co., London and Warrington, 1887.
- Greene, Patrick. Norton Priory: The archaeology of a medieval religious house, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989 ISBN 0-521-33054-8
- Starkey, H. F. Old Runcorn, Halton Borough Council, 1990.
