Finchale Priory, 1892

Photo ref: 30725

More about this scene

Following Godric's death, Finchale passed into the hands of the priors of Durham Cathedral. A Benedictine priory was built here around 1196 by Henry Pudsey, son of Hugh, Bishop of Durham. From the 14th century the priory had four resident monks, but monks from Durham Cathedral made regular visits to Finchale, which they used as a kind of holiday retreat. It is most likely that the monks travelled to Finchale above ground, but there is a legend that a secret passage runs underground from Durham Castle to Finchale.