Lanercost Priory — Attraction in Burtholme

We came to visit Lanercost after spending a morning at Birdoswald Roman Fort. We found a beautiful ruined priory with a cafe and galley attached (although these are not operated by English Heritage I don't think).

On arrival there is ample free parking, which is clearly sign-posted. The staff member at the ticket desk was friendly and helpful and took time to answer the questions we had. We purchased a guide book for £3.50 that is well produced and provides a guided tour and history of the priory.

The ruins themselves are interesting. The old presbytery has tombs from the Dacre family who owned the prior after the dissolution and the grounds have lots of nooks and crannies to explore. I would have liked to able to go into Dacre Hall without paying extra (this is used as a Gallery and not owned by English Heritage I believe). It would have been nice if there were some displays which told the history of the priory and a few more signs around the ruins showing what the space was used for.

The only other quibble we had was that it would be great if an activity book could be made for children who are visiting.

Overall, we'd highly recommend a visit especially if you've already been over to...

Great to get here early before it gets busy so you can enjoy the peace & quiet of this place with just the background sound of birdsong. Founded as an Augustinian Priory there are still some largely complete 13th Century parts remaining like the Refectory building. Additional structures like the tower were added by the Dacre family who became the owners in the 1550s and used the priory as their residence. Interesting arrange regarding the Church which is divided into two. The Knave after restoration now serves as a modern day operating Church, but is closed off from the Presbytery a well preserved and substantially intact ruin. Within the Presbytery there are also 21 grave monuments of the former occupants and owners of the converted Priory. The large Priory Graveyard is well worth seeing, a haven of tranquilty; what stories of lives must lie beneath the ground in here. The writing on the bench succinctly captures the mood "Stay awhile and...

Maybe this is harsh, but the best thing about this place is the history which you could soon read on Google as its in line with every other ruin in the uk, the only difference is where as, say for eg FURNESS Abbey, after visiting that, you could walk forever around it's lovely paths and streams etc, at Lanercost the only additional walk is a grave yard or main road or a tea room (that could I review separately I would give the honor of ZERO stars as the service was VERY bad. The facilities were VERY bad (toilet-the ONLY one open - stank), I had to go and ask for my food (a simple sausage roll) after 25 mins of waiting) and lastly at £2.50 for a disgusting sausage roll, I was pretty mortified to pay another £7.40 on top for a coffee with no sugar and a 330ml bottle of lemonade)... So yeah. Disappointed, ripped off and unimpressed. Oh and was charged £6 (or summat like that) to get in the...