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Repairs at Tynemouth Priory

Tynemouth Priory, Northumberland

Set on steep headland, know as Pen Bal Crag, stands Tynemouth Priory, a 7th century Benedictine priory and the burial place of Northumbria’s first Kings.

The site was repeatedly attacked by the Danes during the early part of the 9th century and eventually destroyed in 875. The present priory was re-founded by Benedictine monks in 1090 with thick stone walls introduced in 1296 to form a formidable defence against invaders. In 1390 a gatehouse and barbican were added on the landward side of the castle.

The last Prior, Robert Blakeney, surrendered the priory to Henry VIII in 1539. The deed of surrender which bears the seal of the monastery and was signed by Blakeney, 15 monks and four novices, is still in existence today.

As one of the most heavily fortified areas in England, Henry VIII retained the site as a royal castle but the monastic buildings were later dismantled leaving only the church and the Prior’s house. As a result, most of the cloistral buildings and other domestic outbuildings are no longer in evidence but a fair amount of the church (including most of the East elevation), gatehouse and outer walls remain standing

Extent of Works

The works briefly consisted of repairs and stabilisation works to 42 no. gravestones and memorials which over the years had leaned to an extent at which they were considered unsafe. A detailed breakdown for the works was prepared and provided by English Heritage however as with all conservation projects the principle of minimum intervention was adopted. The aim was not therefore to re-erect the gravestones in a vertical and very regimental manner but to merely arrest and stabilize them in their current position.

In many instances the stones were carefully propped and the area at the base excavated to allow a concrete haunching to be formed to support the front and rear. A resident archaeologist from Tyne & Wear Museums was in attendance at all times during the excavation and reinstatement process to closely supervise the works and collect unearthed remains and subsequently return them to their original positions following a period of research and recording.

Other works included the re-setting of plinth stones to alter stones, minor re-pointing using lime mortar, formation of weep holes to allow water to drain from horizontally laid memorials and the infilling of small voids to prevent vermin infestation.

Posted on 8 October 2007 by Jim Croft and filed under .

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