Hulne Friary (Denwick)
(NU 16361581) Hulne Priory (Carmelite) Founded AD 1240. (Ruins of). Tower. (1)
It is a matter of dispute, whether Hulne was the first Carmelite house to be established in England. Founded c1240, and built for some twenty four friars, little is known of its history beyond the endowments, the chief of these coming from John de Vescy between 1252-89. (2)
Following dissolution in 1539 the church was destroyed, and the other buildings are now in ruins. The Priory was also used as a dwelling house. Excavation in 1888-9 revealed the remainder of the ground plan (see copy), and at that time part of an Anglo-Saxon cross shaft was found. It is now in Alnwick Castle Museum. (3)(4)
The ruins vary in condition from the full height of the tower, precinct wall, and parts of the church and main claustral buildings to the foundation walls at ground level of the lesser buildings. A modern house intrudes on the east side of the cloister, and the farmery and chapel (see plan) have been modernised to provide a further residence. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (5)
Lower part of a cross shaft, found in 1889. Now in the Duke of Northumberland's collection, Alnwick Castle. Measures 0.38m x 0.215m-0.205m x 0.155m-0.15m. Incomplete and broken on one side. The base is tapered and is roughly dressed below the lowest moulding. Faint traces of paint base. Decorated with spiral plant scroll and interlace. Date, first half of 9th century. (6)
Carmelite house founded 1240-2. Dissolved 1538. Enclosed in a fortified curtain wall. (7)
Hulne Abbey Tower. 15th century tower stands in grounds of the Abbey. Good condition. Vaulted basement. Some rooms and windows above gothicized by the First Duke of Northumberland. The tower and wall around the site were given by the Earl in 1488 for the defence of the church. (8)
Strong wall built around friary for defence, supplemented by a tower house in late 15th century. Additions in 1770s for the dukes of Northumberland, eg Gothick summer house. (9)
The ruins of the church and claustral buildings are Grade I listed buildings. The claustral buildings were converted into a house in the 16th century and some alterations made in the late 18th/early 19th century. The buildings include an aisleless church with south-east sacristy, cloister on the south, cloister walk with chapter house and warming house/reredorter block. This is one of the best preserved and probably the earliest Carmelite friary in England.
The summerhouse and tower are Grade I listed buildings. The tower was built in 1488 by Sir Henry Percy. The summerhouse was built and the interior of the tower was remodelled in 1778-9 by Robert Adam and Capability Brown for the first Duke of Northumberland. The summerhouse stands two storeys high and is linked to the tower by a bridge.
The infirmary is a Grade II* listed building. Now a private house. Mid-13th century in date, altered in the late 18th century. This is a unique survival of a Carmelite informary and follows the typical medieval hospital plan.
The curtain wall and attached structures are Grade I listed buildings. It comprises gateways, wall and gatehouse, the latter probably 15th century in date. The east and south gates are probably 18th century. The wall stands about 4m high. The gatehouse is two storeys. Inside the curtain wall are the remains of a brewhouse, barn and byre.
The outer precinct wall is medieval with later repairs. It stands 2.8m high and measures 0.65m thick. (10)
A friary is an institution housing a community of friars. The friars were a novel religious movement which began in Italy in the late 12th century and which advocated a "mendicant" life-style. Unlike the older monastic orders, who were dedicated to a continuous round of prayerwithin a single monastry, the friars main concern were preaching, evangelism and learning as they moved from friary to friary. Friaries were established in England from the early 13th century onwards, the first houses being founded in Canterbury, London and Oxford during 1224. By the time of the dissolution of the religious orders in the 1530s approximately 189 friaries had been founded for a number of different groups of friars, each with their individual missions. Amongst the most important groups were the Carmelites (the Whitefriar) who founded 41 houses. The sites chosen by or for friaries were usually within towns, often in the less valuable , marginal areas. Here the friars liad out groups of buildings with many compunents found on older monastic sites, though the restricted sites sometimes necesstated uncoventional building plans. The buildings were centred on a church and a cloister and usually constained a refectory (dining hall), a chapter house and an infermary (for the care of the sick). The buildings were set within a precinct defined by other properties or by its own purpose built wall, but the public were not totally excluded. The naves if the friasr churches, in particular, were designed to accommodate lare public gatherings assembled to hear the friars preach. Friaries made a great contribution to later medieval life, in the towns particularly, and their remains add greatly to our understanding of the close interrealtionship between social and religious aspects of life in the high Middle Ages. All examples which exhibit significant surviving archaeogical remains are worthy of protection.
This monument includes the remains of a Carmelite Friary of medieval date, situated close to the River Aln. The remains of the friary include the ruins of the church and claustral buildings and the standing buildings of the summerhouse and tower, curtain wall and attached structures. Hulne Priory was one of the first Carmelite houses to be established in England. Founded in approximately 1240, it was built for 24 friars. The chief endowment for the friary came from John de Vescy. During the 15th century a curtain wall with gateways and other structures was built. After dissolution in 1539 the church was destroyed. During the 16th century parts of the claustral buildings were converted into a house and in 1488 a tower was built by Sir Henry Percy. Between 1779-89 the interior of the tower was remodelled and a summerhouse was built by Robert Adam and Lancelot Brown for the 1st Duke of Northumberland. The monument is within the Alnwick Castle Grade I Registered Park and Garden. (11)
NU 164 158. Hulne Priory. Scheduled No ND/63. (12a)
The Priory was enclosed in an irregular walled ward with a strong tower built in 1488. (12b)
General association with HER 2842 and HER 5401. (12)
It is a matter of dispute, whether Hulne was the first Carmelite house to be established in England. Founded c1240, and built for some twenty four friars, little is known of its history beyond the endowments, the chief of these coming from John de Vescy between 1252-89. (2)
Following dissolution in 1539 the church was destroyed, and the other buildings are now in ruins. The Priory was also used as a dwelling house. Excavation in 1888-9 revealed the remainder of the ground plan (see copy), and at that time part of an Anglo-Saxon cross shaft was found. It is now in Alnwick Castle Museum. (3)(4)
The ruins vary in condition from the full height of the tower, precinct wall, and parts of the church and main claustral buildings to the foundation walls at ground level of the lesser buildings. A modern house intrudes on the east side of the cloister, and the farmery and chapel (see plan) have been modernised to provide a further residence. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (5)
Lower part of a cross shaft, found in 1889. Now in the Duke of Northumberland's collection, Alnwick Castle. Measures 0.38m x 0.215m-0.205m x 0.155m-0.15m. Incomplete and broken on one side. The base is tapered and is roughly dressed below the lowest moulding. Faint traces of paint base. Decorated with spiral plant scroll and interlace. Date, first half of 9th century. (6)
Carmelite house founded 1240-2. Dissolved 1538. Enclosed in a fortified curtain wall. (7)
Hulne Abbey Tower. 15th century tower stands in grounds of the Abbey. Good condition. Vaulted basement. Some rooms and windows above gothicized by the First Duke of Northumberland. The tower and wall around the site were given by the Earl in 1488 for the defence of the church. (8)
Strong wall built around friary for defence, supplemented by a tower house in late 15th century. Additions in 1770s for the dukes of Northumberland, eg Gothick summer house. (9)
The ruins of the church and claustral buildings are Grade I listed buildings. The claustral buildings were converted into a house in the 16th century and some alterations made in the late 18th/early 19th century. The buildings include an aisleless church with south-east sacristy, cloister on the south, cloister walk with chapter house and warming house/reredorter block. This is one of the best preserved and probably the earliest Carmelite friary in England.
The summerhouse and tower are Grade I listed buildings. The tower was built in 1488 by Sir Henry Percy. The summerhouse was built and the interior of the tower was remodelled in 1778-9 by Robert Adam and Capability Brown for the first Duke of Northumberland. The summerhouse stands two storeys high and is linked to the tower by a bridge.
The infirmary is a Grade II* listed building. Now a private house. Mid-13th century in date, altered in the late 18th century. This is a unique survival of a Carmelite informary and follows the typical medieval hospital plan.
The curtain wall and attached structures are Grade I listed buildings. It comprises gateways, wall and gatehouse, the latter probably 15th century in date. The east and south gates are probably 18th century. The wall stands about 4m high. The gatehouse is two storeys. Inside the curtain wall are the remains of a brewhouse, barn and byre.
The outer precinct wall is medieval with later repairs. It stands 2.8m high and measures 0.65m thick. (10)
A friary is an institution housing a community of friars. The friars were a novel religious movement which began in Italy in the late 12th century and which advocated a "mendicant" life-style. Unlike the older monastic orders, who were dedicated to a continuous round of prayerwithin a single monastry, the friars main concern were preaching, evangelism and learning as they moved from friary to friary. Friaries were established in England from the early 13th century onwards, the first houses being founded in Canterbury, London and Oxford during 1224. By the time of the dissolution of the religious orders in the 1530s approximately 189 friaries had been founded for a number of different groups of friars, each with their individual missions. Amongst the most important groups were the Carmelites (the Whitefriar) who founded 41 houses. The sites chosen by or for friaries were usually within towns, often in the less valuable , marginal areas. Here the friars liad out groups of buildings with many compunents found on older monastic sites, though the restricted sites sometimes necesstated uncoventional building plans. The buildings were centred on a church and a cloister and usually constained a refectory (dining hall), a chapter house and an infermary (for the care of the sick). The buildings were set within a precinct defined by other properties or by its own purpose built wall, but the public were not totally excluded. The naves if the friasr churches, in particular, were designed to accommodate lare public gatherings assembled to hear the friars preach. Friaries made a great contribution to later medieval life, in the towns particularly, and their remains add greatly to our understanding of the close interrealtionship between social and religious aspects of life in the high Middle Ages. All examples which exhibit significant surviving archaeogical remains are worthy of protection.
This monument includes the remains of a Carmelite Friary of medieval date, situated close to the River Aln. The remains of the friary include the ruins of the church and claustral buildings and the standing buildings of the summerhouse and tower, curtain wall and attached structures. Hulne Priory was one of the first Carmelite houses to be established in England. Founded in approximately 1240, it was built for 24 friars. The chief endowment for the friary came from John de Vescy. During the 15th century a curtain wall with gateways and other structures was built. After dissolution in 1539 the church was destroyed. During the 16th century parts of the claustral buildings were converted into a house and in 1488 a tower was built by Sir Henry Percy. Between 1779-89 the interior of the tower was remodelled and a summerhouse was built by Robert Adam and Lancelot Brown for the 1st Duke of Northumberland. The monument is within the Alnwick Castle Grade I Registered Park and Garden. (11)
NU 164 158. Hulne Priory. Scheduled No ND/63. (12a)
The Priory was enclosed in an irregular walled ward with a strong tower built in 1488. (12b)
General association with HER 2842 and HER 5401. (12)
N4426
Early Medieval (410 to 1066)
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
Mid 20th Century (1933 to 1966)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
Mid 20th Century (1933 to 1966)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Hulne Priory 1889; HOPE, W H ST J
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; B H Pritchard
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