List of monastic houses in Northumberland

Bamburgh Friary
Alnwick Abbey
Bamburgh Priory
Blanchland Abbey
Brinkburn Priory
Carham Priory
Chibburn Preceptory
Coquet Island Priory
Corbridge Monastery
Farne Island Cell
Farne Island Priory
Guyzance Priory
Hexham Priory
Holystone Priory
Hulne Friary
Lambley Priory
Lindisfarne Priory
Merchingley Priory
Newminster Abbey
Ovingham Priory
Temple Thornton Camera
Warkworth Priory
Yeavering Monastery(?)
Locations of monastic houses in Northumberland

The following is a list of monastic houses in Northumberland, England.

In this article alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Templars and Hospitallers). The numerous monastic hospitals per se are not included here unless at some time the foundation had, or was purported to have the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary or preceptory/commandery.

The name of the county is given where there is reference to an establishment in another county. Where the county has changed since the foundation's dissolution the modern county is given in parentheses, and in instances where the referenced foundation ceased to exist before the unification of England, the kingdom is given, followed by the modern county in parentheses.

The geographical co-ordinates provided are sourced from the details provided by English Heritage Pastscape and Ordnance Survey publications.

A Monastic Glossary follows the listing, which provides links to articles on the particular monastic orders as well as other terms which appear in the listing.

Abbreviations and key

The sites listed are ruins unless indicated thus:
* indicates current monastic function
+ indicates current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^ indicates current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
$ indicates remains limited to earthworks etc.
# indicates no identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
~ indicates exact site of monastic foundation unknown
identification ambiguous or confused

Locations with names in italics indicate probable duplication (misidentification with another location)
or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented)
or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic appellation but lacking monastic connection.

Trusteeship denoted as follows:
EH English Heritage
LT Landmark Trust
NT National Trust

Alphabetical listing of establishments

Foundation Image Communities & Provenance Formal Name or Dedication
& Alternative Names
OnLine References & Location
Alnwick Abbey Premonstratensian Canons — from Newhouse
daughter of Newsham;
founded 1147 by Eustace FitzJohn;
dissolved 1536-22 December 1539; granted to Ralph Sadler and Laurence Winnington 1550/1
The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Alnwick [1]

55°25′11″N 1°43′09″W / 55.41985°N 1.71914°W
Bamburgh Friary Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of York)
founded before 1265;
dissolved 1539
[2]

55°36′24″N 1°43′29″W / 55.6067729°N 1.7246068°W
Bamburgh Monastery Saxon monastery
founded 8th century;
abandoned c.875: destroyed in raids by the Danes;
site now occupied by St Aidan's parish church
Bamburgh Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
cell dependent on Nostell, Yorkshire;
founded 1121: granted to Nostell by Henry I, confirmed 1121; effective c.1228;
dissolved c.1537
St Aidan
____________________
Hamburgh Priory[note 1]
[3]

55°36′29″N 1°43′06″W / 55.6079903°N 1.7183626°W
Berwick Austin Friars Augustinian Friars
founded before 1299
possibly one of the houses in Berwick which survived suppression until after 10 March 1539/40
Berwick Blackfriars, earlier site Dominican Friars
founded before 1240/1 by Alexander II;
mandate by the Pope to the Bishop of St Andrews 17 June 1285, for the sale of the former house of the Friars of the Sack to the Dominicans, (see immediately below)
St Peter Martyr, of Milan
Berwick Blackfriars Friars of the Sack
founded 1267;
dissolved between 1274 and 1285;
Dominican Friars
(community founded at earlier site (see immediately above) before 1240/1);
transferred here 1285;
dissolved or secularised 1539(?)
St Peter Martyr, of Milan
Berwick Greyfriars Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual
founded 1231;
dissolved or secularised between 10 March 1538/9 and Michaelmas 1539
Berwick Priory Cistercian nuns
founded before 1153;
sometimes confused with Holystone;
dissolved or secularised 1390/1
The Blessed Virgin Mary and St Leonard of South Berwick
____________________
Nunnery of South Berwick
Berwick Red Friars Trinitarians
founded before 1240-80, possibly at the hospital of St Edward or Bridge House;
given as non-conventual 1447;
given as ruinous 1456, revenues united with Peebles and declared uninhabitable by 2 March 1476, union confirmed by James III
Berwick Whitefriars Carmelite Friars
purportedly founded 1270 by Sir John Gray (details possibly confused with Berwick Greyfriars);
dissolved between 10 March and Michaelmas 1539
Blanchland Abbey + Premonstratensian Canons
daughter of Croxden, Staffordshire;
founded 1165 by Walter de Bolbec II;
dissolved 18 December 1539; granted to John Bellow and John Broxholm 1545/6;
part of church now in parochial use, other monastic buildings in current use in ownership of the Lord Crewe Trust
The Blessed Virgin Mary
____________________
Blanca Landa
[4][5]

54°50′54″N 2°03′15″W / 54.8484245°N 2.0541698°W
Brinkburn Priory Augustinian Canons Regular — from Pentney, Norfolk
dependent on Pentney
founded before/c.1135 (during the reign of Henry I) by William Bertram I, of Mitford (or Osebertus Colunarius);
independent from before 1188(?);
dissolved 1536; granted to John, Earl of Warwick 1550/1; (EH)
The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Brinkburn
____________________
Berkenburne Priory
[6]

55°16′44″N 1°49′08″W / 55.2789175°N 1.8188998°W
Bywell Monastery records suggest existence of a Saxon monastery Biguell Monastery
Carham Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
cell dependent on Kirkham, Yorkshire;
founded 1131 church of St Cuthbert and lands granted to Kirkham by Walter Espec;
dissolved 1539
[7]

55°38′20″N 2°19′27″W / 55.6389003°N 2.3241663°W
Chibburn Preceptory Knights Hospitaller
founded before 1313;
became a member of Mount St John 1358
[8]

55°15′44″N 1°34′59″W / 55.2622685°N 1.5830344°W
Coquet Island Priory Benedictine monks
founded before 684;
abandoned c.800: destroyed in raids by the Danes;
cell dependent on Tynemouth
refounded before 1125: granted to Tynemouth by Robert Mowbray
[9]

55°20′03″N 1°32′18″W / 55.334167°N 1.5384507°W
Corbridge Monastery Saxon monks — probably from Hexham;
founded before 786[note 2] possibly founded before 709 by St Wilfrid[note 3];
abandoned before 877?: ?destroyed in raids by the Danes
St Andrew [10]

54°58′28″N 2°01′11″W / 54.9745472°N 2.0197463°W
Farne Island Cell Anchorites
hermitage
cell before 651;
abandoned c.800: destroyed in raids by the Danes;
last anchorite died 1246, subsequently became Benedictine cell (see immediately below)
[11]

55°37′01″N 1°39′20″W / 55.6169493°N 1.6554487°W
Farne Island Priory Benedictine monks
cell dependent on Durham;
founded c.1193 on location of extinct anchorite cell (see immediately above);
rebuilt 14th century;
dissolved c.1538
restored 1840-50
St Cuthbert [12]

55°36′59″N 1°39′20″W / 55.6163903°N 1.6554473°W
Guyzance Priory Premonstratensian Canonesses
founded c.1147-52 by Richard Tison; granted to Alnwick, confirmed by William, Bishop of Durham;
ceased 1349-50(?) when the community probably perished in the Black Death;
Premonstratensian Canons — from Alnwick
cell dependent on Alnwick;
refounded after 1350;
dissolved
The Prioy Church of Saint Wilfrid
____________________
Brainshaugh Priory
[13]

55°19′18″N 1°40′24″W / 55.3218038°N 1.6733135°W
Hexham Priory + Saxon monastery and cathedral
founded 674 by St Wilfred and St Etheldreda, begun by St Wilfrid;
diocese merged with Lindisfarne 821, cathedral status revoked;
abandoned 875: destroyed in raids by the Danes;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1113;
dissolved 28 September 1536–26 February 1537; granted to Sir Reginald Carnaby 1538/9;
now called 'Hexham Abbey'; church in parochial use
The Priory Church of Saint Andrew, Hexham

Priory and Parish Church of Saint Andrew, Hexham
____________________
Hexham Abbey
[14][15]

54°58′18″N 2°06′10″W / 54.9715406°N 2.1027446°W
Holystone Priory Benedictine nuns
founded before 1124 by Robert de Umfravillle I;
Augustinian canonesses
transferred 13th century;
with regular priests or brethren after 1291
dissolved 1539
St Mary
____________________
Haylston Priory
[16]

55°19′06″N 2°04′21″W / 55.318365°N 2.072457°W
Hulne Friary Carmelite Friars
founded 1242 (c.1240) by John de Vesci;
dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas Reve and William Ryvet 1563/4; church demolished/ruined; part converted into a house and summerhouse 18th century; now called 'Hulne Priory'
Holm Friary;
Hulne Whitefriars
[17]

55°26′06″N 1°44′35″W / 55.4350886°N 1.7429316°W
Lambley Priory Benedictine nuns
founded before 1190 probably by Adam de Tindale and his wife Helwise (who granted land) (or by King John);
referred to as an abbey in King John's charter (granted mistakenly);
also suggested as Augustinian;
burned by the Scots 1297;
dissolved 1537; granted to John, Duke of Northumberland 1553
St Mary and St Patrick
____________________
Lambley upon the Tyne Priory
[18]

54°55′40″N 2°30′35″W / 54.9277676°N 2.5095901°W
Lindisfarne Priory,
Holy Island
Celtic monks
monastic cathedral founded 635 (634) by St Aidan: granted to Aidan by King Oswald;
Saxon (Benedictine?) monks
refounded c.668;
destroyed in raids by the Danes 793;
abandoned 875: destroyed in raids by the Danes;
Benedictine monks — from Durham
cell dependent on Durham;
founded 1083 (1082 or 1073);
dissolved 1537; granted to the Dean and Chapter of Durham 1541/2; (EH)
St Cuthbert [19]

55°40′09″N 1°48′04″W / 55.6691869°N 1.8010068°W
Merchingley Priory Tironensian monks
cell (possible grange), dependent on Kelso;
founded c.1168: hermitage and chapel granted to Kelso by Walter de Bolbec;
sequestered by Edward I 1296
St Mary
____________________
Marchingley Priory;
Mercheley Priory
[20]

54°56′05″N 2°01′02″W / 54.9346825°N 2.0172143°W
Nesseham Priory erroneous reference to Benedictine nunnery. See Neasham Priory in List of monastic houses in County Durham
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Austin Friars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Blackfriars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Friars of the Sack Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Greyfriars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Monastery (?) Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne — St Bartholomew's Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Trinitarians Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Whitefriars, earlier site Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Whitefriars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Newminster Abbey Cistercian monks — from Fountains Abbey
daughter of Fountains
founded 5 January 1138 by Ranulph de Merlay;
dissolved 20 August 1537; granted to Robert Brandling 1609/10;
Abbey Farmhouse built on site, public access with permission
Novum Monasterium [21]

55°09′59″N 1°42′16″W / 55.1665135°N 1.7045385°W
Ovingham Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
cell dependent on Hexham;
founded 1378 by Mr Ufranvile: church of St Mary granted to Hexham;
dissolved 1537
[22]

54°58′03″N 1°52′07″W / 54.9674037°N 1.8687326°W
Temple Thornton Camera Knights Templar
camera (sometimes considered a preceptory)
founded before 1205 (during the tenure of Walter de Bolbeck), granted by William de Lisle;
dissolved 1308-12;
passed to Knights Hospitaller after 1308; dissolved after 1338
[23]

55°09′33″N 1°50′40″W / 55.1592264°N 1.8445686°W
Tynemouth Monastery Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Tynemouth Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Tyne and Wear
Warkworth Priory Benedictine monks
cell dependent on Durham;
founded before 1241-9 (or between 1332 and 1353 by Henry, second Lord Percy of Alnwick, who was granted Warkworth Castle in 1332; or founded, possibly as a chantry, c.1400 by the first Earl of Northumbria);
dissolved 15th century(?); ruinous and disused before 1567 (EH)
chapel of St Mary Magdalene
____________________
Warkworth Hermitage;
Warkworth Castle Hermitage
[24]

55°20′47″N 1°37′13″W / 55.3464707°N 1.6202205°W
Warmington Cell (?) Benedictine monks
cell dependent on St Mary, York;
cited, but no cell of this name has been identified in Northumberland
Yeavering Monastery (?) extensive buildings revealed by crop markings suggest monastic settlement 55°34′02″N 2°07′07″W / 55.567118°N 2.118610°W

Glossary


Map link to lists of monastic houses in England by county

See also

Notes

  1. Bamburgh: 'Hamburgh' — sic. Cobbett
  2. Corbridge: Adulf (Ealdwulf) was consecrated Bishop of Mayo here in 786
  3. Corbridge: St Wilfred died 709

References