Lindisfarne Priory
Lindisfarne Priory
Originally home to the Lindisfarne Gospels and the site of grisly Viking attacks, a visit to Lindisfarne Priory is a great day out in Northumberland. Sitting offshore on Holy Island and reached by a causeway at low tide, the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views from the priory make a visit here well worth the effort.
Cut off from the mainland by twice-daily high tides, Lindisfarne Island feels remote today. Yet its semi-detached character made the island an ideal base for the Irish missionaries who in AD 635 founded the monastery that became one of the most important centres of early Christianity in England.
It was here that the masterpiece now known as the Lindisfarne Gospels was created in the early 8th century. The ruins now visible are those of a small priory established in the 12th century by monks from Durham, which claimed direct descent from the early monastery.
Lindisfarne Priory was an important centre of early Christianity, and the home of St Cuthbert. Today you can marvel at the ornate carvings on the extensive ruins of the monastic buildings and enjoy the serenity that first drew the monks here. One of the most famous visitor attractions in North East England, Lindisfarne Priory will stay in your memory forever.
Don't Miss
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Spectacular views of Holy Island
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The famous 'rainbow arch' of the priory
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The Viking Raider Stone on display in our exhibition