Saint Wilfrid was a dood !!! That is with a double o . Hexham Abbey is cool with a double o as well . I am so pleased to have got here the staff are very nice welcoming and friendly . When you first enter you come across Accas Cross . This Acca was not only the successor to Saint Wilfred the Dood but also a friend of the Venerable Bede . Which in my view makes him pretty cool himself . The night stair are strangely beautiful old staircase used by many a pair of holy feet I should imagine . There is also a Roman tombstone and an Anglo-Saxon Chalice . The medieval panel paintings here are quite fantastic the Dance of Death series I loved . Death dancing with people of high status showing how nobody can escape the inevitable . Saint Wilfrid Chapel was unfortunately closed when I visited due to renovation work but the Saxon Crypt wasn't . Hooray . It was this I personally most wanted to see . This is the only part of Wilfrids original church and is 1300 years old . How cool is that I could actually be standing where the man himself once stood ! It's an age thing at my age things like that excite you . The Rood Screen is spectacular and thankfully survived the Wrath of the Puritans I think someone upstairs played a part in this miracle . There is also a fantastic Frith Stool here I can only remember seeing one other like it at Beverley . A Frith stool or Freedom stool is a place where you could claim sanctuary and freedom from persecution . I often wonder if this actually worked somehow I doubt it . If their going to get ya they will get ya ! There was also some great modern paintings on display . All in all a great trip thanks again to the wonderful staff . I travelled all the way from Suffolk and was so pleased to have...
Read moreHexham Abbey has been a place of worship since the seventh century and is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in England. It was founded in 1072 by Saint Wilfrid, and it's where he established Hexham as a bishopric with his seat at the monastery. The abbey was restored during Victorian times and now welcomes visitors from all over the world to explore its beauty.
There's so much to see and do at Hexham Abbey, from admiring the architecture to taking a stroll in the Sele Park. You can also learn about the abbey's history and its connection to Saint Wilfrid on one of the informative guided tours. So if you're looking for an interesting and beautiful place to visit in Northumberland, Hexham Abbey is definitely worth a visit!
We were lucky enough to get married there (many moons ago), The Hexham Abbey Festival is still running this year, there are several other festivals throughout the summer months too. I still remember seeing the wonderful Tibetan monks performing at the Abbey with their amazing costumes and music.
Hexham Abbey Gift shop and tea room is a lovely place to have a cup of tea and a piece of cake. The gift shop has some really nice things in it.
There is also a children's play area which my little ones always enjoy when we visit. Hexham Abbey is definitely one of the treasures of the northeast that's worth visiting.
Please note: The abbey is closed every day from...
Read moreA beautiful 12th century abbey church located right in the centre of Hexham. I came here on a day excursion and spent just over an hour here. Admission was £3, and I also bought a handy visitor guide and map for £3. The abbey, which stands on the site of a Saxon church, is steeped in history and very atmospheric. There's much of interest to see from different periods of history including a Roman tombstone, an Anglo-Saxon cross, 15th century painted wooden panels and a frith stool used by medieval fugitives seeking sanctuary. There are also some lovely stained glass windows. The exhibition about the moon was an unexpected bonus, with a fantastic replica of the moon suspended from the ceiling. You get a great view of it from the top of the night stairs close to the entrance. The Saxon crypt is definitely not to be missed! It was locked up when I was there, but for £3 a very friendly lady steward unlocked the gate so that I could take a look inside. The steps leading down to it are steep and uneven (there is a handrail), but the narrow passages and the shrine, built by the Saxons with Roman stones, are well worth seeing. There's a café with outside tables where you can get light meals, a nice gift shop, and an interactive exhibition about the abbey's history that I did not get time to visit but would love to see if I...
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