Crossraguel Abbey © David Gill
A series of five houses are located in the south court of Crossraguel Abbey. They probably date to the 15th century.
The 1589 quotation is from John Vaus, who was appointed commendator (in the period following the Reformation). ‘Pur men’ are ‘poor men’.
Crossraguel Abbey © David Gill
Bury St Edmunds Abbey © David Gill
Battle Abbey, Sussex. The Abbey was founded on the site of William I’s victory at the battle of Hastings. It seems likely that it was founded at some point after 1070, and the choir of the new abbey was consecrated in 1076. The completed abbey was consecrated in February 1094. The first four monks came from the abbey of Marmoutier Abbey in the Loire. [EH]
Canterbury, St Augustine’s Abbey, Kent. The first abbey was established in 598 as part of Augustine’s mission to England. Abbot Scotland, a monk from Mont St Michel, was appointed in 1070. [EH]
Boxgrove Priory, West Sussex. Founded c. 1117 from abbey of Lessay in Normandy. [EH]
Westminster Abbey. The Pyx Chamber is in State Guardianship. [EH]
1955 (12th impression 1977)
East Anglia
Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Suffolk. The monastery was the resting place of the body of king Edmund killed in 903. The Benedictine abbey was found in 1020. [EH]
Colchester, St John’s Abbey, Essex. The abbey was founded in 1095 to the south of the town. The 15th century gatehouse is in State Guardianship. [EH]
Isleham Priory, Cambridgeshire. The priory was founded c. 1100. The priory church is in State Guardianship. [EH]
Denny Abbey, Cambridgeshire. Founded in 1159, and passed to the Knights Templars in 1170. [EH]
Binham Priory, Norfolk. The priory was founded in 1091 from St Alban’s Abbey in Hertfordshire. [EH]
Binham Priory, undercroft (with dorter above) and warming room beyond © David Gill
The South-West
Muchelney Abbey, Somerset. [EH] [Historic England]
Abbotsbury Abbey, Dorset. The abbey was founded in 1044. [EH]
Wales
Ewenny Priory, Glamorgan. The Benedictine priory was founded by Maurice de Londres in 1141. It was founded from the abbey of St Peter in Gloucester that had links with the earlier church at Ewenny established 1116-26. [Cadw]
The North-East and Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey © David Gill
Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire. The first monastery at Whitby was established by Abbess Hild in 657 at the prompting of king Oswy of Northumbria. The Synod of Whitby was held in 664. The monastery was probably destroyed during the Viking raids c. 867. In the years after the Norman conquest the monastery was established, probably c. 1078, by Reinfrid, from the Benedictine monastery of Evesham. The church was constructed c. 1090. [EH]
Jarrow Priory, Tyne and Wear. Founded from Durham between 1075-83. [EH]
Finchale Priory © David Gill
Finchale Priory, Durham. The origins lie in the hermitage of St Godric that continued until 1196 when it became a priory linked to Durham Cathedral. [EH]
Lindisfarne © David Gill
Lindisfarne Priory, Northumberland. The first monastery was founded in 635. It was destroyed by a Viking raid in 793. In 1069 St Cuthbert’s remains were brought to the island from Durham to protect them during the Norman raids of the north. After 1083 Benedictine monks linked to Durham arrived at the older monastery site on Holy Island. The church was probably constructed from the 1120s. [EH]
Tynemouth Priory © David Gill
Tynemouth Priory, Tyne and Wear. The first monastery at Tynemouth was probably established in the late 8th century, part of the kingdom of Northumbria. It was important as the burial site of king Osred II of Northumbria. The monastery was probably destroyed in 875. A church on the site was destroyed during the early years of the Norman conquest, and the location given to the monks of Jarrow some time after 1074. A new church was built in 1083. Some after 1090 the monastery was given to the Benedictine abbey of St Albans in Hertfordshire by Robert de Mowbray, earl of Northumberland. [EH]
North-West
Wetheral Priory, Cumbria. founded in the early 12th century. [EH]
Scotland
Dunfermline Abbey, Fife. Founded c. 1070, perhaps as the earliest Benedictine community in Scotland. The abbey was established in 1128. [HES]
Iona © David Gill
Iona Abbey. The Benedictine community was established in 1200. [HES]
St Martin’s Kirk, Haddington © David Gill
St Martin’s Kirk is on the eastern edge of Haddington and dates to the 12th century. It is possible that the kirk was attended by the reformer John Knox who was born in the town.
The Kirk is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
St Martin’s Kirk, Haddington © David Gill
Dirleton Castle, the Ruthven Lodging © David Gill
The Ruthven Lodging is located on the south side of the main courtyard, and to the west of the main gatehouse. It was constructed by the Ruthven family after they acquired the castle in the early 16th century.
Dirleton Castle, the Ruthven Lodging © David Gill
Dirleton Castle © David Gill
Dirleton Castle © David Gill
Dirleton Castle © David Gill
As you approach Dirleton Castle from either the west (Edinburgh) or the east (North Berwick) you will be greeted by Ministry signs directing you to the site.
Hailes Castle, Mid Tower © David Gill
Hailes Castle stands on the banks of the River Tyne (in Scotland). There are two pit prisons in the castle. One stands in the Mid Tower. The second is in the West Tower.
Hailes Castle, West Tower © David Gill
Tantallon Castle © David Gill
The inside of the curtain-wall at Tantallon Castle has a series of horizontal sockets. The Ministry sign helpfully explains them as the traces of likely lean-to buildings. The Historic Scotland guidebook by Chris Tabraham suggests the possibility that they are the remains of the ‘munition houss’ mentioned in 1566.
Tantallon Castle © David Gill
