Morpeth Chantry also known as All Saints Chantry is a Grade I listed building situated adjacent to the site of the ancient bridge across the River Wansbeck

River Wansbeck

The River Wansbeck runs through the county of Northumberland, England. It rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Forelaws Forest in the area known locally as The Wanneys ; runs through the town of Ashington before discharging into the North Sea at Sandy Bay near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.The River...

 at Morpeth, Northumberland

Morpeth, Northumberland

Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...

.

It was built in about 1296 and served both as a chapel dedicated to All Saints

All Saints

All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...

 and as a Toll House for the river crossing. The duties of the appointed chaplain also included those of schoolmaster.

The suppression of the monasteries by Henry VIII was followed in 1547 by the suppression of chantries by Edward VI and the building was deconsecrated. In 1552 a Royal Charter

Royal Charter

A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...

 was granted for the establishment of a Free Grammar School. The school now known as King Edward VI School occupied the site until a new school was built elsewhere in the Borough in 1859.

Thereafter the building was occupied for a variety of commercial purposes including a mineral water factory. In 1974 the neglected and deteriorating property was acquired by the local authority and after restoration and refurbishment was opened for community use in 1984. Tenants occupying the building include Northumbria Craft Centre, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum

The Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum is located in Morpeth Chantry, Morpeth, Northumberland, England.The museum, founded in 1987, contains a large collection of historic bagpipes, especially, but not exclusively, historic Northumbrian smallpipes and Border pipes, mainly based on the collection of...

, and the Tourist Information Office

External links

• Keys to the Past