Brinkburn Priory

Brinkburn Priory and Manor House is situated at a peaceful, picturesque spot on the River Coquet not too far from Rothbury.

The Priory was founded by William Bertram, Baron of Mitford in the reign of Henry I, no later than 1135. Little is known about it's early history, but the Priory was dissolved during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. It was one of the first monasteries to be closed, as it was considered a 'lesser monastery', with it's annual income being less than £200.

After the dissolution, the estate was owned by the Fenwick family who built the Manor House adjacent to the Priory.

The Priory inside is beautiful. There are 9 stained glass windows in the south transept which are not original, but incorporate fragments of medieval glass found during restoration and are based on medieval designs. Some of the windows were added in the 1860s by William Wailes, the owner of one of England's largest and most prolific stained glass workshops and are stunning.

As well as the striking architecture, the acoustics in the Priory are apparently amazing and appreciated by wedding singers who perform here. We were invited to try out the acoustics and have a sing by one of the guides, however, we declined.

As mentioned, there are weddings held here and on our latest visit on a Saturday, a wedding was being held at 12.30pm so we were obviously unable to go into the Priory during this time. Something to bear in mind when planning a visit, as the site is quite small and aside from the Manor House there is not much else to see.

The site is managed by English Heritage and there is a small entrance fee for non members.

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