Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Priory is a ruined priory located on Holy Island in Northumberland, which began construction around 1093. The church is built of dressed red sandstone, while the monastic buildings are made of grey sandstone.

The church dates from the late 11th century and early 12th century. It features a west portal with three orders of columns, block capitals, and round arches adorned with chevron moulding. There are two bays on the left and two on the right, displaying similar blank arcading. Above the door, there are round-arched windows that were formerly shafted on the upper level. A three-storey turret in the south-west corner has slit windows, while the north-west turret is no longer present. The church has a six-bay nave, with the north wall containing a blocked doorway featuring cable moulding in the fourth bay. The left bay retains the remains of a large 14th-century window, while other windows are narrow and round-headed, equipped with a continuous sill band and hoodmould. Flat buttresses are positioned between the bays.

The north transept's north-west corner remains intact, supported by similar flat buttresses. The transept apse stands approximately 10 feet tall and features four shafts. The chancel includes one original window and one large 14th-century window on the north side, along with a 14th-century east window that has lost its tracery. The south side of the chancel has three original windows and one 14th-century window. The south transept apse is largely complete.

Inside, the church has a multi-moulded west portal and a five-bay gallery above, with narrow arches and block capitals. Three piers and two arches of the north arcade are present, characterized by Durham-type construction with alternating incised round and composite piers, along with similar responds in the aisles. Two composite crossing piers support the notable 'rainbow arch', which features a chevron moulded rib vault. The church was originally vaulted throughout, with springers rising from corbels resembling block capitals. Excavation has revealed the position of the original apse, indicating that the church was lengthened and given a straight east end between 1140 and 1150.

To the south of the church, extensive remains of monastic buildings from the 13th and 14th centuries can be found, including a barbican and gatehouse situated between the inner and outer courts.