Ruins Of Church Or Chapel

The ruins of a church or chapel, likely dating from the late 11th or 12th century for the nave and the 13th or 14th century for the chancel, are located in Acklington Brainsaugh. The nave is constructed of squared stone with some long blocks in the lower courses and features irregular alternate quoins. The chancel has slightly poorer masonry and cut dressings. Originally, the nave included a two-bay south aisle, and the chancel. The west end has the lower jambs of a narrow central window, while the north wall is full height but lacks features. The west part of the chancel's north wall was rebuilt in the 19th century, and there is a blocked doorway in the east part with a pointed head made from two large blocks, similar to those found at Bothal. The east end has a graveyard wall from the 18th century, which appears to be on old foundations.

The south chancel wall features a priest's door with a double-chamfered depressed arch, alongside the jambs of a large 14th-century window to the east and a smaller, possibly low-side, window immediately to the west.

Inside, the nave measures 9.1 by 4.8 metres, while the chancel is 8.7 by 4.8 metres. The walls are approximately 0.8 metres thick, except for the west end, which is 0.95 metres thick. There is a moulded corbel at the north-west corner and sockets for braces to the roof trusses in the nave's north wall, along with the bases of a semicircular east respond and a circular central pier of the south arcade. The chancel has a tall rear arch leading to a blocked north door, with a semicircular arch above the lintel. An apparent keystone suggests post-medieval alterations, and there is an aumbry to the west. The south wall displays a trefoiled piscina with remains of twin bowls and shouldered inner jambs for the 14th-century windows.

The flooring throughout is made of 19th-century concrete paving, with an 1864 ledger slab for the Tate family located at the west end.

Historically, a Premonstratensian nunnery was founded at 'Gysnes' (Guyzance) in the early 12th century by Richard Tison and was later converted to a parochial curacy before the Dissolution. Early documents refer to both the 'capella monialum' (monastery church) and the 'ecclesia de Gisyng' (church of Guyzance), making it difficult to determine which the current ruins represent. Foundations to the south and south-east indicate the presence of a small religious house. The site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.