Lindisfarne Priory

LINDISFARNE PRIORY

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1042304
Date first listed:
22-Dec-1969
List Entry Name:
Lindisfarne Priory
Statutory Address:
LINDISFARNE PRIORY
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Location

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Date:
2006-02-15
Reference:
IOE01/15205/03
Rights:
© Mr John Murdoch. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1042304
Date first listed:
22-Dec-1969
List Entry Name:
Lindisfarne Priory
Statutory Address 1:
LINDISFARNE PRIORY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
LINDISFARNE PRIORY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Holy Island
National Grid Reference:
NU 12617 41732

Details

NORTHUMBERLAND BERWICK ON TWEED 5331 HOLY ISLAND

NU1241 HOLY ISLAND

12/17 Lindisfarne Priory 22/12/69

GV I

Ruined priory. Started c.1093. Church is dressed red sandstone, monastic buildings grey sandstone.

Church: Late C11 and early C12. West portal with 3 orders of columns, block capitals and round arches with chevron moulding. 2 bays on left, and 2 on right, of similar blank arcading. Round-arched windows above door, formerly shafted on upper level. 3-storey turret in south-west corner has slit windows. North-west turret has gone. 6-bay nave. North wall has blocked doorway with cable moulding in 4th bay. Left bay has remains of large C14 window. Other windows are narrow and round-headed with continuous sill band and hoodmould. Flat buttresses between.

North transept north-west corner stands to full height. Similar flat buttresses. Transept apse stands to c.10 ft with 4 shafts.

Chancel has one original window and one large C14 window on north side. C14 east window, the tracery gone. South side has 3 original windows and one C14 window.

South transept apse largely complete.

Interior has multi-moulded west portal and 5-bay gallery above with narrow arches and block capitals.

3 piers and 2 arches of north arcade stand. They are of Durham type with alternating incised round and composite piers. Similar responds in aisles.

2 composite crossing piers support famous' rainbow arch', a chevron moulded rib vault. The church was vaulted throughout, the springers rising from corbels like block capitals. Position of original apse revealed by excavation. Church lengthened and given straight east end 1140-50.

South of church extensive remains of monastic buildings, C13 and C14 including a barbican and gatehouse between inner and outer courts.

See LINDISFARNE PRIORY. HMSO. 1949. Guardianship Monument.

Listing NGR: NU1263141764

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
237726
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Hamilton Thompson, A, Lindisfarne Priory, (1949)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Lindisfarne Priory

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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