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Hexham Abbey

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

In the year 674AD Queen Etheldreda granted land in Hexham to Wilfrid, Bishop of York. Wilfrid established a Benedictine abbey at Hexham that became one of the most prosperous abbeys in the north of England. In the 11th century that Benedictine abbey was superseded by an Augustinian priory. The priory church was built from 1170-1250 and it is that building which we can see today. The priory was dissolved by Henry VIII but the church survived as the parish church of Hexham.

Hexham Abbbey is predominantly Early English in style. The choir, north and south transepts and the cloisters all date from this period. The most easily noticed feature is the night stairs, a flight of 35 stone steps rising from the south transept to a broad gallery above the west door. It originally led to a dormitory for the canons of the priory, allowing them to access the church for night services.

The Saxon Crypt - Remarkably, the crypt of Wilfrid's Saxon church is still intact, beneath the floor of the nave. A steep stair leads down into a dimly lit chamber that is as it was in Wilfrid's time. Many of the stones used to build the crypt came from the old Roman fort at Corbridge, 3 miles away. There is a Roman altar stone, and two carved Roman stones set into the ceiling of the north passage of the crypt. The crypt can be visited during abbey opening hours.

Acca's Cross - In the south transept stands the fragmentary remains of a beautifully carved Saxon cross shaft. The inscription on the cross reads 'THE CROSS WHICH STOOD AT THE HEAD OF THE GRAVE OF ACCA BISHOP OF HEXHAM AD 709-732 WHO DIED AD 740'. Acca was an 8th century abbot of Hexham, who was buried near the eastern end of the church. His tomb was discovered in the early 11th century and moved to a location near the high altar in 1155. Whether the cross that we see today actually stood at Aca's tomb or not is open to debate. Beside Acca's Cross is the Spittal Cross, a section of a smaller cross that once stood near the medieval hospital of St Giles.

Flavinus Stone - Near the bottom of the night stairs is an enormous block of sandstone, fully nine feet high, on which is carved a figure of a Roman soldier on horseback. The inscription tells us that this is Flavinus, a 1st century standard-bearer in the Roman army stationed at Corbridge. It is not clear when - or why - the stoe was brought from Corbridge to Hexham Abbey, but we know that the 11th century Augustinian canons laid it face up in the cloisters. It was discovered there in 1881 and moved to its present location.

The Frith Stool - One of the prizes of Hexham is the frith, or frid stool, a solid block of sandstone carved in the shape of a low seat. The stool may date to the 7th century, and may, indeed, have been made by Wilfrid himself. The stone may come from the Roman fort at Corbridge, where Wilfrid obtained many of his building materials. The stool may have served as an early cathedra, or bishop's seat. Frith stools were used as a place of sanctuary; anyone who managed to reach the frith, such as a criminal fleeing justice, could not be touched until they were granted assurance of justice and fair treatment. Sanctuary was used frequently, particularly during the lawless period of the Border wars, until it was finally outlawed in the Tudor period.

Separatig the nave and choir is a gloriously carved and painted screen, or pulpitum. This dates from the late 14th or early 15tyh century and was order to be made by Thomas Smythson, prior from 1491 to 1524

The town of Hexham has a lot to offer visitors, and there are several historic attractions within a short stroll of the abbey.
Abbey Cottage, Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, England, NE46 3NB

About Hexham Abbey
Attraction Type: Church
Location: At the junction of Beaumont and Market Streets. Well-signposted paid parking nearby.
Website: Hexham Abbey
Phone: 01434 602031
Location map
OS NY934640
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Northumberland National Park - 0.4 miles (Countryside) Corbridge Roman Site - 2.8 miles (Roman) Planetrees Roman Wall (Hadrian's Wall) - 3.4 miles (Roman) Brunton Turret (Hadrian's Wall) - 3.7 miles (Roman) Chesters Bridge Abutment (Hadrian's Wall) - 3.9 miles (Roman) Chesters Roman Fort - 4.1 miles (Roman) Chesters Walled Garden - 4.6 miles (Garden) Aydon Castle - 4.6 miles (Castle)

Nearest Towns and Villages Hexham - 0.4 miles away Wall - 2.3 miles away Chollerford - 3.2 miles away Corbridge - 3.4 miles away Haydon Bridge - 5.2 miles away Bywell - 7.1 miles away Blanchland - 8.6 miles away Ovingham - 9.4 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to Hexham Abbey

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Gate House - 5.1 miles from Hexham Abbey Allendale Town, Northumberland Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £164

Braemar - 5.6 miles from Hexham Abbey Haydon Bridge, Northumberland Sleeps: 5 Stay from: £200

Dairy Cottage - 12.3 miles from Hexham Abbey Castleside, County Durham Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £334.

More Self Catering near Hexham Abbey

Nearest Hotels

The Hexham Royal - 0.2 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland Stay from: £100.00

The County Hotel - 0.3 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland Stay from: £100.00

Hadrian Hotel - 3.3 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland Stay from: £45.00

More Hotels near Hexham Abbey

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Station Inn - 0.4 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland From: £39.00

The Sun Inn - 1.5 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland

Fairshaw Rigg - 2.5 miles from Hexham Abbey Hexham, Northumberland From: £40.00

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Hexham
Tourist Information Centre
Wentworth Car Park
Hexham
Northumberland
England
NE46 1QE
Tel: 01434 652220
Fax: 01434 652393
Email: hexham.tic@tynedale.gov.uk
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