ANCIENT PRIORY RUINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 8

ANCIENT PRIORY RUINS.

.TWELFTH CENTURY RELICPRESERVATION MEASURES.

Iho Office of Works at Edinburgh has announced that, work to explore and preserve the ruins of Lanercost Abbey—or L'riory, as it should more strictly be called —in North Cumberland will bo started shortly. Photographs and measurements have already been taken. Lapercost Priory was presented by Lady Cecilia J-ioberts to the nation.

Tho priorv, which was founded in tho twelfth century, belonged (o (he Black Eriars of tho Angustinian Order —Austin Friars, as tho English name generally ran —and is situated near Na worth Castle, tho Cumberland seat, of tho Earl of Carlisle.

Both before and after the Dissolution of tho monasteries, tho building was a refuge from Scotsmen raiding over tho Border, though or oiio occasion Robert/ the -Bluco stormed the place and carried away somo of tho treasures and sculptures.

It is believed that tho excavations will reveal the foundations of an ancient Saxon church existing 011 the same site before tho erection of the monastery, as in tho case of Hexham Abbey, thirty miles away. Both Hexham and Lanercost lie in tho lino of the Emperor Hadrian's Wall across Northern Britain from tho Solway to tho Tyno. The Saxon church would probably bo built from stones taken from tho Wall, as has been proved to be 1 lio case at llexham, and also at Kiikbrido (huich, which lies on tho Solway coast near tho western extremity of tho Wall. Tho vicar of Lanercost, tho Bcv. A. J . JJurrant, has expressed some anxiety .est (ho ruins should bo merely tidied up ami their character destroyed by such nicthot s as scrubbing tho masonry with steel brushes, but the Oflice ot Works, it is understood, strictly forbids tho use 0 steel brushes and takes meticulous care of ancient stones committed to its charge. Tho department works in harmony wit 11 tho Society for tho Preservation 0 Ancient Buildings.