Hexham Abbey- Medieval Abbey England
On the site of a Saxon monastic church dating from around 674, Hexham Abbey is a mixture of several different periods of architecture. The Saxon church was founded by St Wilfrid, and was apparently inspired by his visit to Rome and the architecture he saw there. The church was constructed almost entirely of Roman stone taken from nearby Hadrian’s Wall.
Of this Saxon church, only the crypt (below left) and the apse remain, as well as the frith stool, a seventh century ceremonial throne presumably used by St Wilfrid, but the purpose of which is still unknown. (Photo below right - click photos to enlarge))
The Benedictine abbey and monastic church were, for a while, the centre of a bishopric, St Cuthbert among the bishops. It was downgraded from a Cathedral in 821 due to the danger of Viking raids. The place was severely sacked by the Danes in 875 and burned down. It lay in ruin for many years, but was rebuilt in the eleventh century and then re-founded as an Augustinian Priory in 1113. Most of the medieval stonework of the priory dates from the late twelfth to the mid thirteenth century, a period of relative peace for the priory compared to the turmoil of previous centuries. It was not to last, however, and with the outbreak of war between England and Scotland in the late thirteenth century, Hexham found itself on the frontline once more.
Between 1296 and 1346, Hexham was sacked several times, by such notable figures as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and later his son David. For a while William Wallace used the priory as a headquarters and base for his widespread pillaging. The church suffered greatly, and still bears some of the scars. Burn marks are still visible on the floor and on the night stairs (these steps from the Canon’s dormitories to the church are the only ones in daily use in the country).
Hexham then enjoyed a relative period of calm until the reformation. Having been implicated in the northern uprising against the reformation, the pilgrimage of grace, the last prior of Hexham was hung from the monastery’s gateway. The monks were executed. The priory and its estates were granted to a Sir Richard Carnaby, while the church became the new parish church for Hexham. Carnaby made some alterations to the prior’s house and it served as a residence for several families until a fire in 1818. (Above left: High Alter with Sanctuary and great east window - restoration work completed in 1908 - click to enlarge)
Parts of the church were re-modelled in the nineteenth century, and the nave was rebuilt along its medieval foundations in 1908. The church is still in use and forms the focal point of Hexham’s skyline. It also boasts several medieval tombs (above right - click to enlarge) with effigies dating back to the late thirteenth century, and one of the very few medieval rood screens (the wooden screen that separated the Canons from the lay people) to survive the reformation. A fine stained glass window dating from 1917 depicts Northumbrian saints.