Hexham - Priory

The Hexham priory church stands in the market place. It is also known as the Abbey or St Andrew's Church and is a classic example of Early English architecture (ca. 1180-1250). The original church on this site was founded by St Wilfrid of York in 674 as a Benedictine monastery and partly built of stone from Hadrian's Wall. The crypt of this first church has been preserved. Over this crypt the present church, which originally belonged to an Augustinian priory, was built between 1180 and 1250. The nave is modern (1907-1909 and the east end of the church was rebuilt in 1858-1860 by John Dobson.

The basin of the font in the interior is of Roman origin. In the south transept is a massive "night stair" which led up to the monk's dormitory, now destroyed. At the foot of the stairs are the Acca Cross (about 740) and the tombstone of a Roman cavalryman named Flavinus. In the choir the triforium is particularly notable. The church contains many portraits of bishops of c. 1500 on the old rood-screen and pulpit. The Saxon bishop's chair probably belonged to St Wilfrid. On the south side of the choir is the chantry of Prior Ogle (d. 1410), on the north side the chantry of Prior Leschman (d. 1491).