Richmond Castle and Mount Grace Priory

I am making the most of my English Heritage membership this week

Richmond Castle was begun by Alan Rufus in 1070. Rufus thought at Hastings with William. Alan ended up living  with Gunhild daughter of Harald and Edith Swanneck. Gunhild gave up her vocation as a nun to live with Alan and on his death lived with his brother Alan Niger. Surely that is a story some historical fiction writer has written?

English Heritage claim Richmond as the best preserved Early Norman castle in England. Although it was derelict by the early 16th century

Mount Grace Priory (founded in 1398) was only one of 9 Carthusian monasteries in England and is the best preserved.

The Carthusians lived solitary lives living as hermits (and still do), each occupying his own cell.  

The monks’ lives were ordered by a strict timetable. They followed the same daily round of eight offices (or prayers) as monks of other religious orders. But uniquely, they only celebrated the night offices and the afternoon office of Vespers together regularly in the church, and Mass less frequently. Otherwise they said their offices and celebrated Mass alone in their cells.

Only on Sundays and feast days was the monastic day different. On these days, the monks dined together, met to discuss business and discipline, and celebrated all offices in the church.

The priory guest houses were incorporated into 2 later houses.

This is not your typical cloister note the doors at regular intervals.

These are the doors to each monks cells. One cell was rebuilt in the early 20th century by Sir Lowthian Bell and English Heritage has refurbished it with replica furniture and replanted the garden.

There is a small garden attached to the property.

Its probably my favourite monastic site in England.