Norton Priory

Norton Priory was a priory established as an Augustinian foundation near Runcorn, Cheshire, England in the 12th century. In 1391 it was raised to the status of an abbey. The abbey was closed in 1536, as part of the dissolution of the monasteries. Nine years later it and the manor of Norton were purchased by Sir Richard Brooke, who built a Tudor house on the site, incorporating part of the abbey building. This was replaced in the 18th century by a Georgian house. The Brooke family left the house in 1921 and it was demolished in 1928. In 1966 the site was given in trust for the use of the general public.

Excavation of the site began in 1971 and the excavation became the largest to be carried out by modern methods on any monastic site in Europe. It revealed the foundations and lower parts of the walls of the monastery buildings and the abbey church. Important finds included: a Norman doorway; a finely carved arcade; a floor of mosaic tiles, the largest floor area of this type to be found in any modern excavation; the remains of the kiln where the tiles were fired; a bell pit used for casting the bell; and a large medieval statue of St Christopher.

In the 1970s, the site was opened to the public. It includes a museum, the archaeological findings and the surrounding garden and woodland. In 1984 the separate walled garden was redesigned and opened to the public. Norton Priory is now a major tourist attraction and the museum organises a programme of events, exhibitions and educational courses.

History

Priory

In 1115 a community of Augustinian canons was founded in Runcorn by William fitz Nigel, the second Baron of Halton, on the south bank of the River Mersey where it narrows to form Runcorn Gap.² This was only the second religious house to be founded in the earldom of Chester, the first being the Benedictine St Werburgh's Abbey at Chester, which had been founded in 1093 by Hugh Lupus, the first Earl of Chester.³ The priory at Runcorn had a double dedication to St Bertelin and to St Mary.⁴ It is thought that the dedication to St Bertelin was taken from the dedication of the Saxon church already existing on the site.³⁴ In 1134 William fitz William, the third Baron of Halton, moved the priory to a site in Norton, a village 3 miles (5 km) to the east of Runcorn. The reasons for the move are uncertain. It may have been that William fitz William wanted greater control of the strategic crossing of the Mersey at Runcorn Gap, or it may have been because the canons wanted a more secluded site.⁵⁴ Norton Priory was endowed by William fitz Nigel with properties in Cheshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire. These gifts included the churches of St Mary, Great Budworth and St Michael, Chester. By 1195 the priory owned eight churches, five houses, the tithe of at least eight mills, the rights of common in four townships, and one-tenth of the profits from the Runcorn ferry.⁶⁷⁴ The prior supplied the chaplain to the Constableship of Chester and to the Baron of Halton.⁶

During the 12th century the main benefactors of the priory were the barons of Halton, but after 1200 their gifts reduced, mainly because they transferred their interests to the Cistercian abbey at Stanlow, which had been founded in 1178 by John fitz Richard, the sixth baron. It is unlikely that any of the barons of Halton were buried in Norton Priory. The only members of the family definitely to be buried there were Richard, brother of Roger, the seventh baron, and Alice, niece of William, Earl Warenne, the 6th Earl of Surrey.⁸ As the role played by the barons of Halton declined, so the importance of members of the Dutton family increased. The Duttons had been benefactors since the priory's foundation, and from the 13th century they became the principal benefactors. There were two main branches of the family, one in Dutton and the other in Sutton Weaver. The Dutton family had their own burial chapel in the priory, and burial in the chapel is specified in three wills made by members of the family.⁹¹⁰ The Aston family of Aston were also important benefactors.¹¹¹² During the later 12th century and early 13th century the priory buildings, including the church, were expanded. By the end of the 12th century the church had been lengthened, a new and larger chapter house had been built and a large chapel had been added to the east end of the church. In about 1200 the west front of the church was enlarged, a bell tower was built and guest quarters were constructed.¹³ It is possible that the chapel at the east end was built to accommodate the "holy cross of Norton", a relic which was reputed to have miraculous healing powers.¹⁴ A serious fire in 1236 destroyed the church and the cloisters, but they were rapidly rebuilt.¹³⁴

Abbey

During the first 60 years of the 14th century the priory suffered from financial mismanagement and from disputes with the Dutton family. In addition, a severe flood in 1331 reduced the income from the priory's lands.¹⁵⁴ Matters improved from 1366 with the appointment of Richard Wyche as prior. He was active both in the Augustinian chapter and elsewhere, and in 1391 was involved in raising the priory's status to that of a mitred abbey meaning that abbot was given permission to use pontifical insignia, including the mitre, ring and pontifical staff, and to give the solemn benediction provided a bishop was not present.¹⁶ It was rare for an Augustinian house to be elevated to this status. Out of about 200 Augustinian houses in England and Wales, 28 were abbeys and only seven of these became mitred. The only other mitred abbey in Cheshire was that of St Werburgh in Chester.¹⁷ In 1379 and in 1381 there were 15 canons at Norton and in 1401 there were 16, making it the largest Augustinian community in the northwest of England. Although the influence of the barons of Halton had decreased by this time, John of Gaunt, the 14th baron, agreed to become patron of the newly formed abbey. By this time the church was 287 feet (87 m) long, making it the second longest Augustinian church in northwest England, exceeded in length only by the church at Carlisle which was 328 feet (100 m) long.¹⁸ Towards the end of the 14th century the abbey acquired a giant statue of St Christopher.¹⁹ St Christopher was associated with the priory because of its proximity to the River Mersey and the dangers associated with crossing the river.⁴²⁰

Following the death of Richard Wyche in 1400 the fortunes of the abbey declined; frequent floods had reduced its income, and in 1429 the church and other abbey buildings were described as being "ruinous".²¹ Problems continued through the remainder of the 15th century. By 1496 the number of canons had reduced to nine and to seven in 1524. In 1522 there were reports of disputes between the abbot and the prior. The physical state of the buildings continued to deteriorate.²²⁴ The events in 1536 surrounding the fate of the abbey at the dissolution of the monasteries were complicated, and included a dispute between Sir Piers Dutton, Sheriff of Cheshire and Sir William Brereton, the deputy-chamberlain of Chester. Initially the abbey was undervalued so that it could classified as a minor monastery and dissolved in the first phase of the dissolution. In addition a campaign of vilification was directed at the canons, asserting that they were guilty of "debauched conduct".²³ Then Sir Piers Dutton falsely accused the abbot and Brereton of issuing counterfeit coins. This charge was dismissed mainly because one of Dutton's witnesses was considered to be "unconvincing".²³ Nevertheless it was decided that the abbey should be dissolved and commissioners arrived at the abbey in early October 1536. There was considerable opposition and the commissioners were menaced by around 300 local people. The commissioners barricaded themselves in a tower and managed to send a letter to Piers Dutton who arrived with a force of men in the middle of the night. Most of the rebels fled but Dutton arrested the abbot and four of the canons, who were sent to Halton Castle and then to prison in Chester. Dutton sent a report of the events to Henry VIII, who replied in letters to Dutton and Brereton that if the abbot and canons had behaved as Dutton reported, they should be executed as traitors. However following delaying tactics, including an intercession to Thomas Cromwell by Brereton, the abbot and canons were discharged and awarded pensions.⁴²⁴²⁵²⁶ The abbey was made inhospitable, the lead from the roof, the bell metal, and other valuable materials were confiscated for the king, and the building lay empty for nine years.²⁷

Country house

In 1545 the abbey and the manor of Norton were sold to Sir Richard Brooke for a little over £1,512. Most of the monastic buildings were demolished and Brooke built a Tudor house on the site of the former abbot's lodgings in the western range.⁴²⁷ During the Civil War the house was attacked by a force of Royalists. The Brookes were the first family in north Cheshire to declare allegiance to the Parliamentary side. Halton Castle was a short distance away, and was held by Earl Rivers for the Royalists. In February 1643 a large force from the castle armed with cannon attacked the house, which was defended by only 80 men. Brooke successfully defended the house, with only one man wounded, while the Royalists lost 16 men including their cannonier. They burnt two barns and plundered Brooke's tenants, but then "returned home with shame and the hatred of the country".²⁸²⁹

In about 1730 the Tudor house was demolished and replaced by a new house in Georgian style.²⁷ Between 1757 and 1770 the Brooke family built a walled garden at a distance from the house to provide fruit, vegetables and flowers.³⁰ The family also developed the woodland surrounding the house, creating pathways, a stream-glade and a rock garden.³¹ The Georgian house was extensively remodelled in 1790,²⁷ incorporating the undercroft of the western range.⁴ In 1868 a new porch entrance was added to the west front, featuring a Norman doorway. This doorway had been moved from elsewhere in the monastery, probably from the entrance from the west cloister walk into the nave of the church.³² The Brooke family left the house in 1921 and it was demolished in 1928. Rubble from the house was used in the foundations of a new chemical works. During the demolition, the undercroft was retained and roofed with a cap of concrete. In 1966 the current Sir Richard Brooke gave Norton Priory in trust for the benefit of the public.³³

Archaeology

In 1971 J. Patrick Greene was given a contract to carry out a six-month excavation for Runcorn Development Corporation as part of a plan to develop a park in the centre of Runcorn New Town. The site consisted of a 500-acre (202 ha) area of fields and woods to the north of the Bridgewater Canal. Greene's initial findings led to him being employed for a further 12 years to supervise a major excavation of the site. The buildings found included a Norman doorway with Victorian additions and three medieval rooms. More specialists were employed and local volunteers were recruited. Teams of supervised prisoners were used to perform some of the heavier work. The excavation became the largest in area to be carried out by modern methods on any monastic site in Europe.³⁴ It was decided to create a museum on the site, and in 1975 Norton Priory Museum Trust was established.³⁵

The excavations have revealed information about the original priory buildings and how they were subsequently modified.³⁶ Evidence of the earliest temporary timber buildings in which the canons were originally housed was found in the form of 12th-century post pits. Norton Priory is one of very few monastic sites to have produced evidence of temporary quarters.³⁷ The earliest masonry building was the church, which was constructed on shallow foundations of sandstone rubble and pebbles on boulder clay. The walls were built in local red sandstone with ashlar faces and a rubble and mortar core.³⁸ The ground plan of the original church was cruciform, and consisted of a nave without aisles, a choir at the crossing with a tower above it, a square-ended chancel and north and south transepts.³⁹ The other early buildings around the cloister to the south of the church included a chapter house and residential buildings for the prior and canons.⁴⁰ A few moulded stones from this early period were found, including nine blocks that probably formed part of a corbel table and two beak-head voussoirs. This type of voussoir is rare in Cheshire, and has been found in only one other church in the county.⁴¹

Following the completion of the first phase of building, there was considerable expansion in the last two decades of the 12th century and the first two or three decades of the 13th century. This included the demolition and rebuilding on a larger scale of the south and west ranges, the extension of the church to the east and the west, enlargement of the transept chapels, a new chapter house and a new rere-dorter.⁴² The excavation revealed evidence of the fire of 1236, including ash, charcoal, burnt planks and a burnt wooden bowl. The fire led to considerable rebuilding of the priory including a new cloister arcade, part of which has survived to the present. Evidence was also found of a large bell pit which was probably used to cast a new bell after the fire.⁴³ The north transept had been extended to form a northeast chapel in the second half of the 12th century and this was extended in two further phases to give a relatively large area of 182 square metres (1,960 sq ft). The south transept was also extended, but to a lesser degree. The purpose of these extensions was to provide places for burials of the local gentry.⁴⁴ Another major find during the excavation was the remains of a mosaic-tiled floor, which had been laid in the church and the chapter house in the early 14th century. This covered an area of about 80 square metres (860 sq ft), the largest floor area of this type to be found in any modern excavation. Originally the tiled floor would have covered some 500 square metres (5,400 sq ft), requiring about 40,000 tiles. The tiles were glazed and coloured, and were of various shapes which were laid to make patterns. Some of the tiles were embellished by wooden stamps impressed into the wet clay. The remains of the kiln in which the tiles had been fired was also found on the site.⁴⁵

There is no evidence of any further building work during the rest of the 14th century. Following the priory's elevation to the status of an abbey in 1391, the abbot's quarters were extended by the addition of a tower house to the west range, and the building of a gatehouse at the entry to the outer courtyard. An aisle was added to the north of the nave, the southern part of the dormitory range was contracted and a new cloister was constructed, demolishing the 13th-century arcade in the process.⁴⁶ During the excavation some 140 burials were found,⁴⁷ many of the coffins having elaborately carved lids.⁴⁸ Some of the coffins contained skeletons, one which was a man who had suffered from Paget's disease.⁴⁹

Norton Priory today

The site is now open to the public and is run by a charitable trust. It consists of the archaeological remains, a museum, an area of garden and woodland, and the walled garden of the former house.

Archaeological remains

The archaeological remains constitute a Grade I listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. They are considered to be the most important monastic remains in Cheshire.⁵⁰ The walls of the church and the monastic buildings remain up to a height of a few feet in places. The former undercroft contains a Norman doorway with a Victorian replica to its north, three vaulted rooms and two blind arcades.⁵⁰ The older doorway dates from the late 12th century and the newer doorway from 1886. Both doorways have round arches with three decorated orders.⁵¹ The older doorway has been described as "the finest decorated Norman doorway in Cheshire".⁵² It is in good condition with little evidence of erosion and Greene considers that this is because it has always been protected from the weather.³² The medieval undercroft is seven bays long and two bays wide. It contains a transverse wall and brick wine bins, which are later additions.⁵¹ The southern four bays have ribbed vaults while the three northern bays have groined vaults.⁵³ At the northern end of the undercroft is a passage with stone benches on each side and blind arcades above them. The arcades each consist of two groups of four round-headed arches with capitals, free-standing columns and bases which are set on the benches. The capitals and mouldings of the arches are decorated with a variety of carvings, the capitals being predominantly late Romanesque in style and the arches early Gothic.⁵⁴ The carvings include human heads, stiff-leaf foliage and animals.⁵⁵

Museum

The museum contains descriptions of the history of the site and some of the artefacts discovered during the archaeological excavations. These include a model of the monastery as it might have been, carved coffin lids, some of the mosaic tiles and a skeleton showing signs of Paget's disease of bone. In a separate gallery stands a major item in the museum, the medieval sandstone statue of St Christopher, once painted in bright colours, which has been dated to about 1390.⁵⁶ It is 11 feet (3 m) high and is the largest medieval stone figure in Britain.⁵⁷

Awards given for projects carried out by the museum include the Best Practice in Tourism Training prize given by the Cheshire Awards for Tourism Skills, the national Sanford Award for excellence in education, and the North West Tourist Board Award 2002 for Tourism for All.⁵⁸ The museum organises a programme of events, activities, educational courses and exhibitions.⁵⁹⁶⁰⁶¹

Grounds

The grounds surrounding the house cover an area of 38 acres (15 ha),⁶² which have been largely restored to include the eighteenth-century pathways, the stream-glade and the nineteenth-century rock garden.³¹ A garden loggia in the grounds was possibly designed by James Wyatt, who remodelled the house in the 1770s for Sir Richard Brooke, Bt.⁶³ It is built in yellow sandstone with some brickwork. At its front are two Doric columns and two antae. Above these is a cornice with a fluted frieze. The side walls are of stone and the back wall is internally of stone and externally of brickwork. It is a Grade II listed building.⁶⁴ Also in the grounds are a number of modern sculptures.⁶⁵ In the 1970s the fragments of the bell mould found in the bell pit were re-assembled and used to create a replica of the bell, which was cast in Widnes and now stands in a frame in the grounds. It was opened at a ceremony performed by Sir Bernard Lovell in 1977.⁶⁶

Walled gardens

The walled garden, which covers 3 acres (1 ha), was redesigned in 1984.⁶⁷ It includes an orchard, a fruit garden, a vegetable garden, ornamental borders and a rose walk. It also contains the national collection of tree quince (Cydonia oblonga), with 20 different varieties.³⁰ Close to the walled garden is an ice house, which is listed Grade II. This is constructed in brick covered with a mound of earth, and probably dates from the 18th century. Stone walls surround its entrance, from where a tunnel leads to a circular domed chamber.⁶⁸

References

Notes

^ Greene, pp. 3–5.
^ Starkey, p. 9.
^ ^a ^b Greene, p. 1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Elrington, C. R.; B. E. Harris (eds.) (1980). "House of Augustinian canons: The abbey of Norton" 165–171. Victoria County History. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
^ Greene, pp. 2–3.
^ ^a ^b Starkey, p. 35.
^ Greene, pp. 3–6.
^ Greene, pp. 7–8.
^ Greene, pp. 9–15.
^ Starkey, pp. 35–36.
^ Greene, pp. 15–16.
^ Starkey, p. 36.
^ ^a ^b Starkey, p. 37.
^ Greene, p. 21.
^ Greene, pp. 64–65.
^ Greene, p. 65.
^ Greene, pp. 65–66.
^ Greene, p. 66.
^ Greene, pp.&nbsp.66–67.
^ Nickson, pp. 5–26. The legend of St Christopher tells the story of his carrying a child across the river who turned out to be the Christ child.
^ Greene, p. 67.
^ Greene, pp. 67–69.
^ ^a ^b Starkey p. 38.
^ Greene, pp. 69–72.
^ Starkey, pp. 38–39.
^ Nickson, pp. 32–38.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Starkey, p. 39.
^ Ormerod, Vol 1: lxii.
^ Starkey, p. 57.
^ ^a ^b "Walled Garden". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ ^a ^b "Norton Priory". Web Publications. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ ^a ^b Greene, pp. 102–105.
^ Starkey, pp. 39–40.
^ Greene, p. ix.
^ Greene, p. x.
^ Greene, p. 73.
^ Greene. pp. 73–79.
^ Greene, p. 80.
^ Greene, pp. 81–87.
^ Greene, pp. 87–89.
^ Greene, pp. 90–93.
^ Greene, pp. 94–109.
^ Greene, pp. 110–122.
^ Greene, pp. 123–129.
^ Greene, pp. 132–144.
^ Greene, pp. 144–151.
^ Greene, p. 12.
^ Greene, pp. 127–128.
^ Greene, p. 7.
^ ^a ^b "Images of England: Remains of Norton Priory". English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
^ ^a ^b "Norton Priory, Cheshire". The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ Thompson, F. H. (1966). "Norton Priory, near Runcorn, Cheshire". Archaeological Journal 123: 62–66.
^ Greene, p. 94.
^ Greene, pp. 94–100.
^ Greene, pp. 111–114.
^ "St Christopher". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Norton Priory Museum and Gardens". Excelsior Information Systems. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Norton Priory Museum". Halton Borough Council. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "What's On". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Talks & Courses". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Exhibitions". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Norton Priory Museum & Gardens". Crawbar. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840 3rd ed. (Yale University Press) 1995, s.v. "James Wyatt".
^ "Images of England: Garden loggia in grounds of Norton Priory". English Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Woodland & Sculpture Trail". Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ Greene, pp. 120–122.
^ "Norton Priory Walled Garden and Museum". Garden Visit. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
^ "Images of England: Ice House in grounds of Norton Priory". English Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.

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