Gisborough Priory : In-depth Information

In 1985 and 1986, Cleveland County Archaeology Section (now Tees Archaeology) excavated the west end of the nave as part of a programme of consolidation and repair of the whole monument funded by English Heritage.

The excavation revealed the remains of Saxon structures beneath the Priory. Accompanying these buildings were fragments of pottery, a coin and a glass bead. The buildings had been abandoned and the land was ploughed.

Several burials were discovered which included at least two priests, buried in stone coffins with carved lids and accompanied by a chalice and paten. At the west end of the nave a bell-founding pit was discovered and this would allow the bell to be cast on site and hoisted out of the mould directly into the belfry.

A stone lined well, seven metres deep may have been built to safeguard the water supply during the Scottish Wars when the Priory was given permission to build a defensive wall around the monastery. The Priory was also acting as a safe house for Augustinians at this time.

The church was completely destroyed by fire in 1286 AD, which was caused by a workman who was repairing the roof lead. The fire consumed all of the Priory’s books, plate and vestments. Red scorch marks can still be seen on the paving between the pillars.

The fortunes of the Priory recovered enough to rebuild the church on an even grander scale. The final structure was complete by the end of the fourteenth century and measured 111 metres long and was over 30 metres tall. The east end, which still stands today, dates to this period but the west end was less severely burnt and shows a different architectural style.

The cloister was also rebuilt around this time but the costs involved exhausted the Priory and no further reconstructions were attempted.

Gisborough Priory

In-depth Information

Further information