Lanercost Priory

This looks amazing 😃

This was an amazing event last year 😀

A few tickets still left for Enchanted Belsay - it was a great event last year!

From today, our opening hours change. We will now be closed at 5pm. We are still open daily until 31 October. We hope to see you this weekend! http://tinyurl.com/lfwl7k2

Don't miss Hadrian's Wall Live this weekend!

Got plans this week? Join us for some Outdoor Theatre! 👍🏼
https://www.facebook.com/events/642082492 635362/?ti=icl

Lovely review!

Windows of the week: Here we have another wonderful photograph of the ruined east windows at Lanercost Priory. The priory has suffered a great deal during its 850 year history: raided by the Scots, threatened by Border Reivers, partially demolished by Henry VIII's officials... but, happily, it is now a place of peace and tranquility. While many lament the losses caused by the English Reformation, the surviving ruins can often still be uniquely beautiful.

Don't miss Hadrian's Wall Live this year at our sister sites Birdoswald Roman Fort (Hadrian's Wall) and Housesteads Roman Fort (Hadrian's Wall) on 3/4 Sept. One weekend of live Roman action. Book tickets now: www.english-heritage.org.uk/HWL

This is going to be fantastic! Booking essential:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/…/wu thering-heights-out…/

Window of the week: This is one of the first floor windows in Dacre Tower, added by the Dacre family when they acquired Lanercost Priory. Dacre Tower is a typical 16th century pele tower, and visitors can still see where the various windows, fireplaces and corridors would have been in the floors above. The Dacre family included a number of ruthless border officials who carried out raids into Scotland, but they were obviously less concerned about being raided themselves, as these windows are purely decorative.

Get the camera out at our sites this summer and join in with one of our hashtags for a chance to win some PhotoBox goodies! Share your summer with us on Instagram or Twitter by tagging your pictures @englishheritage and joining in with this week’s theme. There’s a different theme each week so keep your eyes peeled and get snapping! http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/share- your-summer/

Windows of the week: These are the ruined clerestory windows of what was originally the chancel of Lanercost Priory. A clerestory (‘clear storey’) rises above the height of a church's aisles, and windows are often added in order to allow more light in. The decoration of these arches is fairly plain, but inside the church of St Mary Magdalen, where Lanercost Priory’s clerestory windows continue, the arches become more elaborate three windows down – the medieval masons obviously chose a more complicated design, or were ordered to!

Window of the week: This beautiful 16th century window looks in on Dacre Hall, the Dacre family's home developed from the west side of Lanercost Priory's cloister after Henry VIII gave them the property. It is now the village hall, and they are currently holding their annual craft fair, which lasts until 1st August!

Windows of the week: These windows are at the far end of the ruined chancel of Lanercost Priory. Originally they would have been the most easterly windows in the priory church, until the roof was removed and a new wall put between the parish church and the ruins. Now you can get a dramatic view of them through the glass of the parish church east windows.

Windows of the week: This week we have some slightly different windows. These windows are on the south side of the undercroft, the only surviving monastic building at Lanercost Priory. The undercroft was originally below the refectory, where the monks ate. These windows have holes cut for bars to be put across, which was possibly a precaution against Border Reiver attacks! The round shapes above the two left-hand windows and damage around them show that originally there were shafts projecting out from this wall which may have supported a floor jutting out above.

Purchase tickets in advance.
Chapterhouse Theatre Company is proud to present Emily Bronte’s classic love story set on the beautiful, mysterious wilderness of Hadrian's Wall Country. This treasured story of enduring love and passion has thrilled and entranced for generations and is now brought alive on stage in an adaptation by award winning writer Laura Turner and presented at some of the most beautiful open-air venues across the UK and Ireland.

Wonderful place to visit. Great staff in the little shop and a well maintained attraction.

Who thought history could be so exciting

I felt just like Robert the Bruce invading the priory

We were walking Hadrian's Wall and came a little off the route to visit this amazing place......As we stepped into the restaurant the heavens opened and we had torrential rain - a good excuse to stay for lunch! Very good (though not run by English Heritage). When the rain stopped we walked across to the Priory and were greeted by a lovely lady who really is an excellent ambassador for the Priory and English Heritage. Thank you! We then visited the part of the Priory that is the Parish church and, again, were welcomed warmly and given lots of interesting information.

We visited October 2015, our second visit. We were greeted in reception by an amazing lady who gave us a brief history of the building, and some lighthearted fun facts. Be aware that stepping into the Priory will take your breath away. The walls, arches, carvings.You will ask yourself how this was possible without machinery. If you are very quiet you can imagine life here, now gone but not quite removed. We will visit again.

We loved looking around. Such beautiful architecture and staff where very helpful and friendly xx

Very interesting - Hadrian's Wall recycled! (and an excellent tearoom with wonderful cream teas and free wifi)

This remarkable almost isolated abbey is well worth a visit for its historical interest and a great afternoon tea

Lovely staff great home made meals, plenty on the plate and reasonably priced. The gift shop is lovely, we bought a few Xmas gifts. Lovely day out.

Lovely place first time here the lady on the desk was very knowledgeable and friendly will return

Loved the priory, loved the history and the wander around the ruins that are fairly intact compared to other ruins we have visited. Met a lovely lady outside the church which we went into with the dog as she was welcome everywhere.

Loved the history of the Priory and seeing the inside was not as ruined as other priorys. Fantastic lady from English heritage giving tips to look out for and encouraging us to visit the attached church, even with the dog

Hidden gem! The site manager (Angie I think) lured us in with her enthusiasm. She is a mine of information and made our visit all the more special! Do not miss this place. The building is amazing.

Great place to visit.... we were travelling along Hadrians wall and wanted to stop at Birdoswold but building work was going on and no disabled parking available so headed to Lanercost instead for impromptu picnic in priory grounds with our 3 dogs..... lady in entrance kiosk very welcoming..... credit to herself and your organisation..... unfortunately weather wasn't as welcoming and blustery showers drove us back to the car before we could see everything...

Beautiful setting despite inclement weather and we look forward to a return visit at some point in future to see more of this spectacular site

Fabulous to be back here. The most amaIng setting and such a beautiful building. Breaks your heart when you see the damage Henry V111 did to our sacred sites. But he didn't manage to destroy their soul. A very special place

Beautiful building, lovely lady who gave us lots of information on the Priory and its history which was fantastic. Well worth a visit will definitely return if in the area.

Beautiful and tranquil, prepare to be transported back in time as you walk through the cloisters of this lovely priory.

Thank you Josie for your wealth of information at the kiosk!

The swifts and oystercatchers have made this ruin their home, we spent a while in quiet contemplation watching them darting about.

Altogether beautiful and well worth a visit.

A walk in the cemetery and you'll see a huge headstone, lovely peaceful place

Very well kept seeped in history, a lot of the old buildings built out of stone taken from Hadrians wall. Includes a church that is still in use!

Really enjoyed walking around the ruins, coffee and cake to finish, fantastic location