Tynemouth - Priory

The ruins of Tynemoth Priory towers on the cliff overlooking beach and sea. The priory was founded at the beginning of the 7th century, probably by Edwin of Northumbria. In 651, Oswine, King of Deira, was murdered and his body was brought to Tynemouth for burial. He was honoured as a saint soon after his death and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage.

In 800, the Danes plundered the priory. The monks then strengthened the fortifications sufficiently to repel another attack by the Danes in 832. In 865, however, the church and monastery were destroyed in another attack by the Danes. The priory was again plundered by the Danes in 870 and finally completely destroyed in 875.

Toste Godwinson made Tynemouth his fortress in the reign of Edward the Confessor. At that time, the priory had already been abandoned and the grave of St Oswin had been forgotten. According to legend, St Oswin appeared to a hermit, who was living there. The saint showed him where his body lay and the grave was rediscovered in 1065.