Canons Regular in Yorkshire: Kirkham, Old Malton, and Bridlington Priories
Thursday 10 July
Depart: Parkinson Steps: 09.30
Arrive: Parkinson Steps: 19.00
Price: £64.50
Though perhaps overshadowed by the Cistercians, the canons arrived before them, and Yorkshire had some of the most important canons’ houses in England. The canons regular were not monks but priests living a communal life. They followed a simpler rule based on the writings of St Augustine of Hippo and often served churches appropriated to the monastery. Despite their different status, their monasteries included very similar buildings to those of the Benedictine and Cistercian monks.
The tour will look at three examples of priories used by canons: the Augustinian priories of Kirkham and Bridlington and the Gilbertine priory of Old Malton. Parts of the churches of Bridlington and Old Malton remain in use as parish churches; Kirkham was one of the earliest monastic ruins to be taken into state care. All three have benefited from recent and on-going research.
Kirkham Priory was established by Walter Espec, lord of Helmsley, in about 1122, and is significant for the excavation of its early unaisled church. In 1139, the house nearly transferred to the Cistercians, resulting in a valuable record of the state of its buildings and estate in that year. But the transfer never happened and, in the 13th century, Kirkham was adopted as a mausoleum by the de Roos lords of Helmsley. That occasioned a massive rebuilding project that stopped abruptly when they later transferred their loyalty to Rievaulx Abbey. Virtually the full monastic plan is visible together with the great gatehouse, which displays the arms of prominent patrons of the priory.
Old Malton Priory was established by Eustace fitz John in 1150 in parallel with his and his wife’s foundation of their Gilbertine double house of Watton in Holderness, the first monastery established for Gilbertine canons alone, as a rest-home for canons worn out by their spiritual ministrations to the nuns of the order. What survives today is a large part of the nave, shorn of its aisles, and the west front with a large south-west tower, originally one of a pair.
Bridlington Priory was one of the first Augustinian houses established in the north of England in 1113. What survives today is the very large 13th-century nave and impressive twin western towers of a substantial rebuilding which remained parochial until the suppression. The remainder of the church, its cloister, and inner and outer courts can be reconstructed from a detailed survey of its buildings made in 1537, though only a single monastic building has survived, the great gate to the inner court. Inside the church, parts of the very fine and elaborate 12th-century cloister arcade have been re-erected. Additionally, we will have a chance to look at the late Norman manor house, actually an impressive chamber block, at Burton Agnes, built by an early patron of Bridlington Priory.
The guides for this excursion are Glyn Coppack (Archaeological and Historical Research) and Caroline den Hartog (Bouwhistorie, Archeologie, Architectuurhistorie & Cultuurhistorie, B.V.). A packed lunch will be included.
For more information on the sites, please visit
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kirkham-priory
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/burton-agnes-manor-house