The Church of Our Lady
Religious Place In Seaton Valley, Northumberland
A delightful 12th-century church tucked away beside the magnificent Seaton Delaval Hall.
Sitauted right next door to Seaton Delaval Hall, The Church Of Our Lady is one of the oldest in Northumberland retaining its original Norman features. The chapel was a private family chapel for over 700 years to the Delavals before passing to the Norfolk family. It was orignally attached to Tynemouth Priory, but is now the church to the parish of Seaton Delaval.
It was built around the end of the 11th century, consecrated by the bishop of Durham in 1102, and remains as the only existing portion of the old castle which stood south west of the chapel.
Inside are two Norman arches and the north wall of the nave has Anglo-Saxon origins with its small window only seen on the outside. Two effigies lay either side of the altar, being Sir Hugh Delaval who died in 1302 and the lady is unknown but experts think 14th century dress.
Below the chapel is the Delaval family vault with Sir Francis Blake Delaval (you remember him from Starlight Castle) being the last buried there in 1771. In total there are six coffins in there. The hatchments on the walls are those of the Delaval family and the Astley family.
One interesting fact is the cemetery contains graves that were removed from St Mary's Island before the lighthouse was built.
Get 1 point if you have visited this place. Already visited by 104 VIPs.
Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.
How To Find The Church of Our Lady
Where Is The Church of Our Lady?
Lat / Long
55.081191, -1.497246
What three words
Where To Park For The Church of Our Lady?
Lat / Long
55.081622, -1.500071
What three words
If you're going to visit Seaton Delaval Hall, then park there and walk. Alternatively there is a little grass verge right outside the church.
Contributed by Ashley Lightfoot
I love history, exploring churches, castles and ruins with my camera in tow. I am a member of English Heritage. Northumberland is my second home and any chance I get, I'm up there with my Dad, who volunteers with the national park, discovering a little something with a story behind it. The rest of my time, I'm just a simple greenkeeper!
More Places from Ashley
More Places In Seaton Valley
Find more fabulous places in Seaton Valley, Northumberland and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
Seaton Sluice
Landscape Seaton Valley NorthumberlandA small and picturesque harbour which used to export salt, coal and bottles.
Seaton Delaval Hall
Estate Seaton Valley NorthumberlandA beautiful grade I listed country house a mile from the coast, packed with glorious history!
Starlight Castle
Tower Seaton Valley NorthumberlandA tiny ruined castle just inland from Seaton Sluice.
More Religious Places
So this religious place wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
St Thomas the Apostle Church
Religious Place Stanhope County DurhamA Grade II* listed Church, dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle, in Stanhope.
St Bartholomew's Church Kirkwhelpington
Religious Place Kirkwhelpington NorthumberlandA fascinating jigsaw of a church built in the 12th & 13th centuries, restored in the 15th century and again in the 19th century.
Brainshaugh Priory
Religious Place Guyzance NorthumberlandOriginally St Wilfrid's Premonstratensian nunnery, this ruined priority sits by a tight bend in the River Coquet.
Never Miss A Fabulous Place
If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.
Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.
Sign Up To Alerts
Find Us On Facebook
We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.
Join Our Facebook GroupThe Church of Our Lady was listed in Religious Place // Northumberland // Seaton Valley