Cartmel Priory
Encyclopedia
Cartmel Priory is the parish church
of Cartmel
, Cumbria
(formerly in Lancashire
). The priory
was founded in 1190 by William Marshal
, later 1st Earl of Pembroke
for the Augustinian Canons and dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Michael. It was first colonised by a Prior
and twelve monks from Bradenstoke Priory in Wiltshire
. Of the monastic buildings the priory church and a gatehouse survive. It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
. Its benefice is united with those of St Mary, Allithwiate
, St Peter, Field Broughton
, St John the Baptist, Flookburgh, St Paul, Grange-over-Sands
, Grange Fell Church, Grange-over-Sands
, and St Paul, Lindale. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building.
windows was provided by Lord Harrington
in the south choir aisle, and in fact his tomb
is still in the building. The gatehouse, which apart from the church itself is the only surviving structure of the priory, was built between 1330 and 1340.
s were replaced by one huge window of stained glass, misericord
s were installed in the choir, and the tower was extended. Unusually, the extension to the tower sits at a 45-degree angle on top of the base, a feature believed to be unique in England. Work continued on the building intermittently into the 16th century, when the choir screen was constructed.
s date from 1440, and are of an exceptional quality, they also include a representation of the Green man
which may follow the legend of the priory's foundation.
in 1536, and four of the monks were hanged, along with ten villagers who had supported them.
In normal circumstances, the church would have been demolished along with the rest of the buildings associated with the priory, however, the founder William Marshal
had given an altar
within the church to the village, and provided a priest along with it. The villagers petitioned to be allowed to keep the church as it was their only place of worship, and this was granted.
, provided considerable finances to allow the roof to be reinstated, the villagers actually worshipped in the choir
, rather than the nave
of the church. In 1643 some Roundhead
troops stayed in the village, stabling their horses in the church. Bullet holes from this time are still visible in the southwest door of the nave.
It was used after the dissolution as a prison and later between 1624 and 1790 as a grammar school
.
, which by some has been described as "more enthusiastic than sympathetic".
In 1923 the gatehouse became a museum
, and was used for exhibitions, and meetings, before being presented in 1946 to the National Trust
who continue to operate it as the "Cartmel Priory Gatehouse
".
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Cartmel
Cartmel
Cartmel is a village in Cumbria, England, situated north-west of Grange-over-Sands and close to the River Eea. Historically it was in Lancashire; boundary changes brought it into the newly created county of Cumbria in 1974, yet keeping it within the boundaries of the traditional County Palatine...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
(formerly in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
). The priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
was founded in 1190 by William Marshal
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke
Sir William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke , also called William the Marshal , was an Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman. He was described as the "greatest knight that ever lived" by Stephen Langton...
, later 1st Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke is a title created ten times, all in the Peerage of England. It was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, which is the site of Earldom's original seat Pembroke Castle...
for the Augustinian Canons and dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Michael. It was first colonised by a Prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
and twelve monks from Bradenstoke Priory in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. Of the monastic buildings the priory church and a gatehouse survive. It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
. Its benefice is united with those of St Mary, Allithwiate
St Mary's Church, Allithwaite
St Mary's Church, Allithwaite, is in the village of Allithwaite, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmoreland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle...
, St Peter, Field Broughton
St Peter's Church, Field Broughton
St Peter's Church, Field Broughton, is located in the village of Field Broughton, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle...
, St John the Baptist, Flookburgh, St Paul, Grange-over-Sands
St Paul Parish Church, Grange-over-Sands
St Paul Church is a Church of England church in Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria, England. It was built in 1907. Its benefice is united with those of St Mary, Allithwiate, St Mary and St Michael, Cartmel, St Peter, Field Broughton, St John the Baptist, Flookburgh, Grange Fell...
, Grange Fell Church, Grange-over-Sands
Grange Fell Church, Grange-Over-Sands
Grange Fell Church commonly referred to by locals as The Fell Church is a Church of England church in the Grange Fell area of Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria, England. It was built in 1907...
, and St Paul, Lindale. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building.
14th century
Between 1327 and 1347 a chapel with four traceriedTracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
windows was provided by Lord Harrington
Muchland
Muchland is a medieval manor in Low Furness in the county of Cumbria in northern England. The manor was the seat of the Lords of Aldingham, and included at its peak the villages of Bardsea, Urswick, Scales, Stainton, Sunbrick, Baycliff, Gleaston, Aldingham, Dendron, Leece and Newbiggin...
in the south choir aisle, and in fact his tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
is still in the building. The gatehouse, which apart from the church itself is the only surviving structure of the priory, was built between 1330 and 1340.
15th and 16th centuries
In the 15th century extensive work was undertaken in part, due to damage (believed to be from natural causes) in the northern part of the church. In the east end of the church, the early lancet windowLancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s were replaced by one huge window of stained glass, misericord
Misericord
A misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.-Origins:...
s were installed in the choir, and the tower was extended. Unusually, the extension to the tower sits at a 45-degree angle on top of the base, a feature believed to be unique in England. Work continued on the building intermittently into the 16th century, when the choir screen was constructed.
Misericords
The 25 misericordMisericord
A misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.-Origins:...
s date from 1440, and are of an exceptional quality, they also include a representation of the Green man
Green Man
A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit...
which may follow the legend of the priory's foundation.
Dissolution
The priory was dissolvedDissolution 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 1536, and four of the monks were hanged, along with ten villagers who had supported them.
In normal circumstances, the church would have been demolished along with the rest of the buildings associated with the priory, however, the founder William Marshal
William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a medieval English nobleman, and the son of the famous William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.-Early life:William was born in Normandy probably during the spring of 1190...
had given an altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
within the church to the village, and provided a priest along with it. The villagers petitioned to be allowed to keep the church as it was their only place of worship, and this was granted.
17th century
However, despite the villagers' being allowed to keep the church, the lead was stripped from the nave, and until 1618 when George Preston, a landowner at nearby Holker HallHolker Hall
Holker Hall is a country house with a celebrated garden situated on the Cartmel Peninsula, which was historically part of the county of Lancashire, but is now part of the county of Cumbria....
, provided considerable finances to allow the roof to be reinstated, the villagers actually worshipped in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, rather than the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of the church. In 1643 some Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
troops stayed in the village, stabling their horses in the church. Bullet holes from this time are still visible in the southwest door of the nave.
It was used after the dissolution as a prison and later between 1624 and 1790 as a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
.
19th and 20th centuries
By 1830 the church was in need of repair again, and underwent a restorationVictorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
, which by some has been described as "more enthusiastic than sympathetic".
In 1923 the gatehouse became a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, and was used for exhibitions, and meetings, before being presented in 1946 to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
who continue to operate it as the "Cartmel Priory Gatehouse
Cartmel Priory Gatehouse
Cartmel Priory Gatehouse is a National Trust property located at Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, England.thumb|The gatehouse seen from the village square...
".