📌 Priory & manor house near Longframlington, Northumberland
★★★
Peacefully set within the swan’s neck of a meander on the River Coquet, 12th century Brinkburn Priory was home to a community of Augustinian canons for 400 years, supported by wealthy local families. Prayers may sometimes have been interrupted by plundering border reivers, but monastic life continued until the beginning of the Reformation in 1536. The priory was then closed, with parts of the West Range converted into a house for Cuthbert Carnaby, then owner of the estate. The site increasingly fell into decay before various generations of the Hetherington family restored the manor house (1792-1837) and later the church (from 1858). The beautiful church is now open to the public, along with the adjacent residence – which though now bare and unfurnished, adds another dimension to a “typical” monastery visit.
🌍 Location
📌 Off the B6344 2 mi southwest of Longframlington
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NZ 116983
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.278928,-1.818989
❌ No public transport within 1 mi. Nearest bus stop is just off B6344 at New Houses (1.5 mi to west)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Wednesday to Sunday plus bank holidays, April to 3 November 2024
🎫 £7.20+ adult / £4+ depending on season / free for English Heritage members – discount for booking online
