Lanercost Priory, Lanercost, Cumbria

Photograph taken 22 March 2006 © Historic England Archive Photo Library ref: N060138

This is a reconstruction drawing of the presbytery at Lanercost Priory. It was an Augustinian monastery founded in 1166. The beautiful and now tranquil setting of the priory belies an often troubled history. Standing close to Hadrian's Wall, it suffered frequent attacks during the long Anglo-Scottish wars, once by Robert Bruce in person. The mortally sick King Edward I rested here for five months in 1306-7, shortly before his death on his final campaign. It was closed in 1537 as part of Henry VIII Dissolution of the monasteries. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2010). Read detailed archaeological description.

Location

Cumbria Lanercost

Period

Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)

Themes

A nunnery was first documented here in 603. A monastery was founded during the abbacy of Aldhelm (c675-705). It became Benedictine in the reign of Edgar (959–975) and remained so until dissolved in 1539. The final Abbey Church was built circa 1160-70 and had 13th/14th and 15th century additions. The 431 feet (131 m) tall spire, collapsed in a storm around 1500. The west tower fell around 1550. As a result of these two collapses, less than half of the original building stands today. The abbey was closed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII. It was sold, with all its lands, to William Stumpe, a rich merchant. He gave the abbey church to the town for continuing use as a parish church, and filled the abbey buildings with twenty looms for his cloth-weaving enterprise.
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Lanercost Priory, Lanercost, Cumbria

Location

Period

Themes

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