Lanercost Priory was founded by Robert de Vaux between 1165 and 1174, the most likely date being 1169, to house Augustinian canons. The priory is situated in the village of Lanercost, Cumbria, England, within sight of Naworth Castle, with which it had close connections. The medieval buildings used many convenient Roman stones from the nearby Hadrian's Wall.

Apart from the church, the priory buildings are now ruins, but parts of the church are intact and remain in use. It is now open to the public and in the guardianship of English Heritage.

The Lanercost Chronicle, a thirteenth-century history of England and the Wars of Scottish Independence, was compiled by the monks of the priory.

Early years

The foundation date was traditionally 1169, but can only be dated definitely between 1165 and 1174 on the evidence of charters. The dedication is to Mary Magdalene, unusual in the region.

It would seem the arrangements for founding the priory were well advanced by the time of the foundation charter, as opposed to the more gradual process at Wetheral and St Bees priories. Robert de Vaux gave the land of Lanercost "between the ancient wall and the Irthing and between Burth and Poltros, the vill of Walton by stated bounds, the church of that vill with the chapel of 'Treverman,' the churches of Irthington, Brampton, Carlaton and Farlam".

Visitors and raiders

The proximity to Scotland inevitably had an effect on the fortunes of the priory, and it was a target of Scots attacks in retaliation for English raids. This became acute after the outbreak of the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1296 the Scottish army encamped at Lanercost after burning Hexham priory and Lambley nunnery. The Scots were interrupted before the damage could become great, and they retreated through Nicolforest, having burnt some houses of the monastery but not the church. Similar depredations under Wallace continued the next year and led to calls for reprisals from the English.

thumb|right|Roman inscription, recording the presence of [[Legio VI Victrix on Hadrian's Wall nearby, now built into the priory wall.]]

Edward I made several visits to the priory in the latter part of his reign. In the autumn of 1280 he visited in the company of Queen Eleanor of Castile on his way to Newcastle. The canons met him at the gate in their copes, and although staying only a few days, he found time to take 200 stags and hinds while hunting in Inglewood forest. In 1300, on his way to the siege of Caerlaverock Castle, Edward stayed at Lanercost for a short while.

Edward's last visit was in 1306, travelling in a horse litter owing to age and illness, and accompanied by Queen Margaret of France, his second wife. He arrived at Michaelmas and his stay extended until the following Easter, a duration of 6 months which put a huge burden upon the resources of the priory. It was while Edward was at Lanercost that the brothers of Robert de Brus and other Scottish captives were sent to Carlisle for execution by his order.

This last royal visit depleted the reserves of the priory, and the canons begged him for recompense, but a deal to acquire the church of 'Hautwyselle,' worth about 100 marks a year, fell through. However the king granted the appropriation of the churches of Mitford in Northumberland and Carlatton in Cumberland, for the relief of the Priory. In a letter to the Pope, Edward gave his reasons for generosity being the special devotion he felt to St Mary Magdalene, his long stay due to illness, and making good the damage of the Scots. Edward died shortly afterwards at Burgh by Sands in July 1307, whilst still campaigning against the Scots.

thumb|upright=1.4|Lanercost Priory from the south. The foundations of the conventual buildings are in the foreground.|alt=

In August 1311, Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, came with his army and made it his headquarters for three days, "committing infinite evils"

Architecture

Church

thumb|upright=1.3|right|West front of Lanercost Priory, with the statue of [[Mary Magdalene at top]]

The nave has an aisle to the north but a blank wall with no aisle to the south, where it abuts the cloister. The statue of St Mary Magdalene, given by King Edward I, still survives in a niche high up on the west front.

The impressive ruined chancel and crossing of c.1220–1230 are in a good state of preservation; as high as the eaves, and would only require a roof and windows to be restored to the original condition. The chapels to the north of the chancel retain their stone vaults, which now cover the Dacre tombs. The vaults to the south were replaced by timber ceilings (now vanished) in the later Middle Ages. The oldest masonry is in the south transept, and dates from the late 12th century.

A dossal – an embroidered wall hanging – designed by William Morris in 1881, underwent restoration before being rehung behind the priory altar in 2013–14.

Other buildings

The cloister and monastic buildings have been largely dismantled, except for the west range, which was made into a house by Sir Thomas Dacre in the 16th century. As part of this conversion, the monastic kitchen was rebuilt and heightened into a pele tower. The undercroft of the south range also survives with its ribbed vault. This may have served as the canons' warming room.

Beyond the cloister, there is a so-called 'vicar's pele', which was greatly altered in the 19th century. The inner arch of the main gatehouse survives to the west of the church, with the stubs of the passage vault.

Memorials

The priory has an unusual medieval stone carving called the Lanercost Cross with an inscription dating back to 1214. Originally the cross was set just

outside the entrance to the church. Today, the stump of the cross remains, but the main shaft is housed inside the priory.

In the churchyard is the tomb of Thomas Addison, scientist and physician. In the nave is a memorial to the Reverend Henry Whitehead, former vicar of Lanercost, best known for his pioneering epidemiological work with John Snow on cholera.

Humphrey Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre, and his widow Mabel were both buried at the Priory in the 15th century, as is Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre.

Other burials

  • Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre
  • Hugh Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre
  • William Dacre, 5th Baron Dacre
  • Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre
  • Philippa de Neville
  • Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
  • George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle
  • Rosalind Howard, Countess of Carlisle
  • Charles Howard, 10th Earl of Carlisle

The church is also home to a large graveyard to the Northeast of the Priory, the first recorded burial being in 1665 however it was most likely used long before then, each row has the stones facing west with many dating pre 1800.

The final visit of Edward I and the daily life of the canons are contrasted in the 1985 song "Lanercost" by British folk rock band Steeleye Span.

See also

  • List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches
  • Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
  • Grade I listed churches in Cumbria
  • Listed buildings in Burtholme

References

  • Lanercost Priory official website
  • Lanercost Cross – medieval stone carving history, translation and photographs.
  • Lanercost website
  • Visit Cumbria web page
  • The Cumbria Directory – Lanercost Priory
  • Visitor information:English Heritage
  • Teachers' resource pack: English Heritage