ALNWICK CASTLE.
One of the finest examples of a feudal fortress in England.]
LANERCOST PRIORY, CUMBERLAND
=How to get there.=—Train from Euston via Carlisle. L. and N.W.
Railway.
=Nearest Station.=—Brampton (Lanercost Abbey is situated 2 miles
north of Brampton).
=Distance from London.=—317 miles.
=Average Time.=—Varies between 6 to 9 hours.
1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—Single 40s. 10d. … 24s. 4d.
Return 81s. 8d. … 48s. 8d.
=Accommodation Obtainable.=—At Brampton—"Howard Arms,"
"White Lion Hotel."
=Alternative Route.=—Train from St. Pancras. Midland Railway.
Lanercost Priory is situated in a singularly beautiful sylvan valley watered by the river Irthing. Only the shell of the chancel remains, but the nave has been restored, and is now used as the church of the parish. The walls of the roofless transepts as well as the central tower are still standing. The pillars on the south side support a much decayed clerestory, but on the opposite side both the triforium and clerestory are in a fairly good state of preservation.
A side chapel in the choir contains some very finely carved but battered altar-tombs belonging to the Dacre family—one of them is believed to be that of Lord William Howard. Under what was the refectory of the conventual buildings, one may find the crypt in a very good state of preservation. In it are preserved some Roman altars and carvings discovered at various times in the locality. A number of Roman inscriptions having been discovered on the walls of the Priory Church; it is generally supposed that much of the building material was obtained from the Roman wall. The Rev. J. Maughan has argued for the existence of a Roman station at this point, and its name is believed to have been Petriana.
The monastery adjoining the Priory Church belonged to the order of St. Augustine, and its endowments consisted of all the land lying between the Picts' wall and the river Irthing, upon which the buildings stood, and between Burgh and Poltross.
After the dissolution the monastic buildings were put into a proper state of repair, and were converted into a private residence by Lord Thomas Dacre, who built the castellated portion towards the south, which of course did not belong to the original structure. Half a mile distant from the priory is Naworth Castle, the historic seat of the Earl of Carlisle, and Brampton is famous for its mote, which was possibly a Danish fort.