Lindisfarne Priory

NORTHUMBERLAND BERWICK ON TWEED 5331 HOLY ISLAND

NU1241 HOLY ISLAND

12/17 Lindisfarne Priory 22/12/69

GV I

Ruined priory. Started c.1093. Church is dressed red sandstone, monastic buildings grey sandstone.

Church: Late C11 and early C12. West portal with 3 orders of columns, block capitals and round arches with chevron moulding. 2 bays on left, and 2 on right, of similar blank arcading. Round-arched windows above door, formerly shafted on upper level. 3-storey turret in south-west corner has slit windows. North-west turret has gone. 6-bay nave. North wall has blocked doorway with cable moulding in 4th bay. Left bay has remains of large C14 window. Other windows are narrow and round-headed with continuous sill band and hoodmould. Flat buttresses between.

North transept north-west corner stands to full height. Similar flat buttresses. Transept apse stands to c.10 ft with 4 shafts.

Chancel has one original window and one large C14 window on north side. C14 east window, the tracery gone. South side has 3 original windows and one C14 window.

South transept apse largely complete.

Interior has multi-moulded west portal and 5-bay gallery above with narrow arches and block capitals.

3 piers and 2 arches of north arcade stand. They are of Durham type with alternating incised round and composite piers. Similar responds in aisles.

2 composite crossing piers support famous' rainbow arch', a chevron moulded rib vault. The church was vaulted throughout, the springers rising from corbels like block capitals. Position of original apse revealed by excavation. Church lengthened and given straight east end 1140-50.

South of church extensive remains of monastic buildings, C13 and C14 including a barbican and gatehouse between inner and outer courts.

See LINDISFARNE PRIORY. HMSO. 1949. Guardianship Monument.

Listing NGR: NU1263141764