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Lanercost Priory
Cumbria, England

Consecrated in 1169 and constructed of stones from nearby Hadrian's Wall, this monastery which housed monks of the Augustinian order was completed around 1200. Lanercost is a ruin of vast proportions, but there were only about a dozen Canons who lived here. King Edward I was a visitor on three separate occasions: first in 1280, then in 1300 and again in 1306 when he fell ill and remained over the winter with an entourage of about 200 persons, depleting the Canons' resources.

The priory was attacked by William Wallace in 1296 and 1297, and by Robert the Bruce in 1315. It was raided again and extensively damaged in 1346 by King David of Scotland. These frequent attacks impoverished the Priory; much of its land had to be sold off to pay for repairs. One of Lanercost's most lasting and notable features is the Lanercost Chronicles, written by the resident Canons, which was translated by Sir Herbert Maxwell and is frequently quoted in historical analyses of the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

At the Dissolution in 1536, the Canons were ejected and everything of value was seized by the Crown. The building was bought from the Crown by Sir Thomas Dacre, illegitimate son of a member of the Dacre family of nearby Naworth Castle. Dacre turned Lanercost into a private house.

The present day parish church was created by blocking up a portion of the Priory nave, but the rest of the building fell into decay and stone was taken from it for use on other buildings. In 1716 this branch of the Dacre family died out and Lanercost reverted to the Crown.

View more images of Lanercost Priory at Travels in the UK: Lanercost Priory Photo Gallery.

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