Newminster Abbey
Encyclopedia
Newminster Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Northumberland
in the north of England
. The site is protected by Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument
status
Ranulph de Merlay, lord of Morpeth
, founded the abbey in 1137 and Saint Robert of Newminster
from the Cistercian Fountains Abbey
was appointed as the first abbot
; he governed from 1138 to 1159. The year after its foundation, the abbey was burned in an attack by Scottish raiders. It was rebuilt in 1180.
Although located near Morpeth, Northumberland, the abbey possessed lands extending to the Scottish
border. After closure during the first wave of dissolution
in 1537, the estate was leased by the Crown by the Grey family who used many of the stones for their own buildings.
The estate including the site of the abbey was sold by the Crown to Robert Brandling in 1609, and was sold on by the Brandling family
in 1709 to John Ord of Fenham.
Today the ruins are open to the public.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The site is protected by Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
status
Ranulph de Merlay, lord of Morpeth
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...
, founded the abbey in 1137 and Saint Robert of Newminster
Robert of Newminster
Saint Robert of Newminster was a Priest, Abbot, and a canonized saint of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:Saint Robert was born in the district of Craven, near Skipton in North Yorkshire, probably in the village of Gargrave. He studied at the University of Paris, where he is said to have...
from the Cistercian Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey is near to Aldfield, approximately two miles southwest of Ripon in North Yorkshire, England. It is a ruined Cistercian monastery, founded in 1132. Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian houses in England. It is a Grade I listed building and owned by the...
was appointed as the first abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
; he governed from 1138 to 1159. The year after its foundation, the abbey was burned in an attack by Scottish raiders. It was rebuilt in 1180.
Although located near Morpeth, Northumberland, the abbey possessed lands extending to the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
border. After closure during the first wave of dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1537, the estate was leased by the Crown by the Grey family who used many of the stones for their own buildings.
The estate including the site of the abbey was sold by the Crown to Robert Brandling in 1609, and was sold on by the Brandling family
Brandling of Newcastle
The Brandlings of Newcastle were a wealthy family of merchants and land and coal owners in Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.-Early Brandlings:...
in 1709 to John Ord of Fenham.
Today the ruins are open to the public.