Editing Tynemouth Priory and Castle (section)

==Tynemouth Priory==
{{Infobox monastery
| name = Tynemouth Priory
| map_type = Tyne and Wear
| caption = The remains of Tynemouth Priory
| image = Tynemouth Castle and Priory.jpg
| coordinates = {{coord|55.0175|-1.4189|type:landmark_region:GB-NTY|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Tynemouth]], [[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]]
| map_size = 220
| map_caption = Shown within [[Tyne and Wear]]
| public_access = Yes
| order = [[Order of Saint Benedict]]
| dedication = [[St Oswine]] and [[the Virgin Mary]]
| mother = [[St Albans Abbey]]
| heritage_designation = [[Scheduled monument]]
| status = [[Priory]]
| functional_status = Ruined
}}

=== Early history ===
The earliest evidence for human habitation on the promontory are the trace remains of two circular wooden houses, the larger being typical of the [[Votadini]] tribe of the late [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]] two centuries before the [[Roman conquest of Britain|Roman invasion of AD 43]] and the smaller being of the [[Roman Britain|Roman period]] in the 2nd century.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

The monastery was probably founded by one of the [[Angles (tribe)|Anglian]] kings of [[Northumbria]]. Medieval traditions assert that it was founded in the mid 7th century when the [[Deira]]n king [[St Oswine]], the first king to be buried at Tynemouth, was interred at the site by his murderer [[Oswiu]], a [[Bernicia]]n king, who established the convent in penance. An [[abbey]] at the site is mentioned by [[Bede]] and by 792 it was of enough significance to be the burial place of the Northumbrian king [[Osred II of Northumbria|Osred II]], the second king to be buried at Tynemouth. The monastery was a target for [[Vikings|Viking]] raids throughout the 9th century until its destruction in 875. No building survives from this period of the site's history but several fragments of [[Anglo-Saxon art|Anglo-Saxon crosses]] have been found as well as trace remains of five rectangular wooden buildings.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

A towered parish church dedicated to [[St Mary]] is recorded as having stood at the site in the mid 11th century by a chaplain of [[Tostig Godwinson|Tostig]], [[Earl of Northumbria]]. The church was destroyed by [[William the Conqueror]] during the [[Harrying of the North]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1065 a corpse was exhumed at the ruined monastery thought to be that of St Oswine and in 1083 the monastery was refounded by a monk of the Benedictine [[Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey|Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey]], which was a daughter cell of [[Durham Priory]], named Turchil. However, in 1090 [[Robert de Mowbray]], Earl of Northumbria, granted his lands in and around Tynemouth to [[St Albans Cathedral|St Albans Abbey]] leading to a longstanding dispute of jurisdiction between the monks of Durham and St Albans. Shortly after the grant construction began on the new church which was dedicated to St Oswine, whose shrine became a place of pilgrimage, and the Virgin Mary.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

In 1093 [[Malcolm III of Scotland|Malcolm III]], King of Scotland, was killed at the [[Battle of Alnwick (1093)|Battle of Alnwick]] and became the third king to be buried at Tynemouth. [[Alexander I of Scotland|Alexander I]] later arranged for his father's body to be reburied at [[Dunfermline Abbey]].<ref name=":0" />

On 20 August 1110 the shrine of St Oswine was ceremoniously transferred to the new church at Tynemouth from Jarrow marking the completion of its east end, while work on the nave continued. There was a fire in 1150 which destroyed the thatched dormitory, refectory, and guesthouse.<ref name=":0" />

=== Height of power ===
[[File:Tynemoutharms.png|thumb|The arms of the priory|left]]
The dispute between the monks of Durham and St Albans was resolved in 1174 with Tynemouth Priory remaining a daughter cell of St Albans Abbey. It was at this time that the priory received rights, privileges, and extensive lands which were confirmed by [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] in 1189. The vast monastic estate became known as the [[Liberty (division)|Liberty]] of Tynemouth from which the prior and convent profited from rents, produce, and coal. This newfound wealth led to a period of renovation and construction from 1190 to 1260. The choir and presbytery were completely rebuilt, the shrine of St Oswine was gilded by Baldwin, a goldsmith from [[St Albans]], the nave was extended and given a new west front, windows in the refectory were repaired, and the chapter house was remodelled.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

In the early 13th century the prior developed [[North Shields]] to serve as the priory's port on the Tyne which caused tension with the [[Burgess (title)|burgesses]] of [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] who had previously held a monopoly on all coal, wool, and fish being transported and sold along the river. The [[List of mayors of Newcastle upon Tyne|mayor of Newcastle]] led a group of armed men and burnt the nascent fishing village to the ground in 1270. The priory was seeking independence from St Albans and so the abbot, together with the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle, convinced [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] to suspend Tynemouth's trade and revoke the Liberty in 1290. However, due to the fortifications erected during the [[English invasion of Scotland (1296)|invasion of Scotland in 1296]], Edward I and [[Margaret of France, Queen of England|Margaret of France]] visited the priory regularly and had a private oratory built for their use. As thanks for the hospitality of the monks the Liberty was restored and trade allowed to continue.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

[[Adam FitzRoy]], an illegitimate son of [[Edward II of England|Edward II]], died on 18 September 1322 whilst accompanying his father to Scotland and was buried at Tynemouth on 30 September 1322.<ref name=":0" /><ref>F.D. Blackley, 'Adam, the bastard son of Edward II', ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'', xxxvii (1964), pp. 76–77.</ref>

From the 13th century onwards it was common for St Albans to send recalcitrant monks to Tynemouth as punishment. One such monk wrote a letter in the mid 14th century giving the first known written description of the priory: <blockquote>Our house is confined to the top of a high rock and is surrounded by sea on every side but one. Here is the approach to the monastery through a gate cut out of the rock so narrow that a cart can hardly pass through. Day and night the waves break and roar and undermine the cliff. Thick sea frets roll in wrapping everything in a gloom. Dim eyes, hoarse voices, sore throats are the consequence... Shipwrecks are frequent. It is a great pity to see the numbed crew, whom no power on earth can save, whose vessel, mast swaying and timbers parted, rushes upon the [[Black Middens|rock or reef]]. No ringdove or nightingale is here, only grey birds which nest in rocks and greedily prey upon the drowned, whose screaming cry is a token of a coming storm... In the Spring the sea air blights the blossoms of the stunted fruit trees, so that you are lucky to find a wizened apple, though it will set your teeth on edge if you try to eat it.  See to it, dear brother, that you do not come to this comfortless place. But the church is of wondrous beauty. It has been lately completed. Within it rests the body of the blessed martyr, Oswine, in a silver shrine, magnificently decorated with gold and jewels. He protects the murderers, thieves and seditious persons who fly to him and commutes their punishment to exile. He heals those whom no doctor can cure. The martyr's protection and the church's beauty furnish us with a bond of unity. We are well off for food, thanks to the abundant supply of fish of which we tire.</blockquote>[[File:PercyChantryHDR.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The Percy chapel]]The church housing the shrine mentioned here refers to the [[Lady chapel]] which was built before 1336. The [[Percy family|Percy]] chapel was added in the mid [[15th century]].<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

=== Dissolution of the monasteries ===

In the early 16th century Tynemouth finally gained independence from St Albans, granted by [[Thomas Wolsey]]. However, shortly after in January 1539 the priory was [[Dissolution of the monasteries|suppressed]] by [[Henry VIII]] who took possession of all of the monastic lands and destroyed the shrine of St Oswine, bringing the priory to an end.<ref name="auto" />

=== List of priors ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" border="1" cellpadding="2"
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" |Priors of Tynemouth
|-
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 8%;" |From
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 8%;" |Until
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 25%;" |Incumbent
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 54%;" |Notes
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1129
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Remigius
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1148
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Germanus
|Elected abbot of [[Selby Abbey|Selby]] in 1153. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |11...
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Ruelendus
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Geoffrey
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Henry
|Henry and Robert are listed in the Belvoir Obituary as priors of Tynemouth but without date. Their lack of surnames makes an early date probable. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Robert
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Gilbert
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |Before 1189
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Akarius
|Later he was prior of St Albans and was elected abbot of [[Peterborough Abbey|Peterborough]] in 1200. He died in 1210. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |{{circa}} 1200
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Hugh Gubiun
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1208
| style="text-align: center;" |{{circa}} 1217
|Ralph Gubiun
|Previously prior of [[Binham Priory|Binham]]. Resigned {{circa}} 1217 and retired to St Albans. He died on 4 May 1223. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |1224
|William de Bedford
|Elected prior of [[Worcester Abbey|Worcester]] and admitted on 21 November 1224. He died on 29 October 1242. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1227
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Germanus
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1233
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Walter de Bolum
|He died on 2 January 1244. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1244
| style="text-align: center;" |1252
|Richard de Parco
|Also known as Rufus, of Winchelcombe. Previously prior of Binham from 1226. He died on 25 April 1252. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1252
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Ralph de Dunham
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |{{circa}} 1265
| style="text-align: center;" |
|William de Horton
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1273
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Adam de Maperteshall
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1279
| style="text-align: center;" |
|William Bernard
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1280
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Simon de Walden
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1295
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Adam de Tewing
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1305
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Simon de Walden
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1311
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Simon de Taunton
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1315
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Richard de Tewing
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1340
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Thomas de la Mare
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1349
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Clement de Whethamstede
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1393
| style="text-align: center;" |
|John Macrell of Whethamstede
|Buried at Tynemouth. 
|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1419
| style="text-align: center;" |
|Thomas Barton
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1450
| style="text-align: center;" |
|John Langton
|
|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| colspan="4" align="center" |Source(s):<ref>{{Cite book |last=Craster |first=H. H. E. |title=A History of Northumberland: Volume VIII |publisher=Andrew Reid & Company |year=1907 |location=Newcastle}}</ref>
|}