- Newminster Abbey
-
Coordinates: 55°9′59″N 1°42′16″W / 55.16639°N 1.70444°W Newminster Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Northumberland in the north of England. The site is protected by Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument status[1]
Ranulph de Merlay, lord of Morpeth, founded the abbey in 1137 and Saint Robert of Newminster from the Cistercian Fountains Abbey was appointed as the first abbot; he governed from 1138 to 1159. The year after its foundation, the abbey was burned in an attack by Scottish raiders. It was rebuilt in 1180.
Although located near Morpeth, Northumberland, the abbey possessed lands extending to the Scottish border. After closure during the first wave of dissolution in 1537, the estate was leased by the Crown by the Grey family[2] who used many of the stones for their own buildings.
The estate including the site of the abbey was sold by the Crown to Robert Brandling in 1609, and was sold on by the Brandling family in 1709 to John Ord of Fenham.[2]
Today the ruins are open to the public.
References
- ^ English Heritage:Images of England, Newminster Abbey
- ^ a b Blackett-Ord Manuscripts Northumberland Record Office, (Newminster Abbey Estate, reference NRO324/M1)
External links
This article about a British Christian monastery, abbey, priory or other religious house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. This article about a Northumberland building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
