Brinkburn Priory

Brinkburn Priory lies on a bend of the River Coquet, some four miles east of Rothbury, Northumberland.

[Priory Church: [http://www.nashfordpublishing.co.uk/churches/images/brinkburn_priory.jpg] , [http://www.britannia.com/tours/coquetdale/images/brinkburn.jpg]

Early history

It was founded by William Bertram, Baron of Mitford, in the reign of Henry I as an Augustinian priory. The exact date is not known but cannot have been later than 1135 as Henry died that year.About 1180 or so, Brinkburn became an independent house, and the building of the monastic church was commenced. Although the Priory acquired lands in Northumberland and Durham over the years it was never particularly wealthy. Little is known of the early history of the priory, although it is know that it survived some difficult times. In fact, as late as 1419 it was raided and robbed.

Dissolution

In 1535 the value was recorded as £69 and the priory, having an income of less than £200 per annum, was finally dissolved in 1536.Services continued to be held at Brinkburn and the church was retained in a fair state of repair till the end of the 16th century. In 1602 it was reported to be in a state of decay, and before 1700, the roof had collapsed, regular services were abandoned, and the site was deserted.The estate was purchased by the Fenwick family and in the late 16th century they built a manor house on the runs of the Priory buildings and adjacent to the ruins of the Priory Church

Modern history

In the 1750s Dr Sharpe, Archdeacon of Northumberland tried to effect repairs to the ruin. However, despite there being considerable support for the project, work was not able to commence due to a dispute between the owner, William Fenwick, and the Vicar of Felton.In the 19th century the Cadogan family, owners of Brinkburn revived the restoration of the church and work began in 1858. The roof was completed in the space of a year, and the stained glass windows had been inserted by 1864. The church, however, was not furnished until 1868.The tombstone of Prior William, Bishop of Durham (died 1484) was found during the reconstruction, as was the original altar stone with five crosses. The latter is still preserved along with an ancient font. In 1834 a bronze pot containing 300 Rose Nobles of Edward III, Richard II, and Henry IV was also discovered.Brinkburn Priory today, is a very sympathetic 19th-century restoration of the medieval original. On the site of the west range, is an early-19th-century manor house which utilizes part of the vaulted undercroft to the monks dining hall.Church services and concerts are still occasionally held here, but mostly, Brinkburn Priory today is a peaceful and tranquil place.

References

* [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=236739 English Heritage: Images of England, Detailed architectural description of Priory Church]
* [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=236741&mode=quick English Heritage: Images of England, Detailed architectural description of Manor House]

External links