Hexham Abbey

History & Heritage 

Centre

SERVING OUR HERITAGE
making the most of a unique historical resource

History helps us find our place in the world; it defines our relationships with our neighbours and provides us with the roots we need if we are to flourish.

Hexham Abbey is history. It is the story of over 1,300 years of cultural development written in stone and if we are to make the most of this unique historical resource, the treasures housed in Hexham Abbey need proper display and interpretation.

Cultural Heritage
Eddius, St Wilfrid’s chaplain and biographer, described the first Hexham Abbey as "being built so that none other this side of the Alps could be compared with it," whilst the 12th Century church we see today has been called "a text book of early English architecture," [Arthur Mee The King’s England].

The interior also preserves a number of rare cultural and historical artefacts of considerable importance. These include:

• Roman Stones - the stones used to build the crypt were taken from the Roman Fort at Corbridge along with several Roman tombstones and altars that still decorate the current church.
• Saxon Crypt - Nikolaus Pevsner describes Hexham’s Saxon Crypt as the most moving part of the church. Reached via the original stairs, it was here that pilgrims glimpsed the relics of saints through iron grilles.
• Dark Age Crosses -The remains of two 8th Century crosses, located by the south door, commemorate Acca, Hexham’s second Bishop.
• Early English Choir, dating from c.1200, has been described as "one of the architectural glories of England" [Arthur Mee The King’s England]
• Medieval Night Stair - the stairs from the Abbey’s dormitory allowed monks access to the church for their nightly prayers and is the only remaining Night Stair still in daily use.
• Pre- Renaissance Rood Screen - a rare 15th Century painted rood screen (most were destroyed in The Reformation) divides the chancel from the nave.
• First World War Font Canopy - the superb font canopy was carved by a Belgian refugee who had fled the horrors of the First World War.

These are the key architectural treasures housed inside Hexham Abbey. There are many more in inappropriate and inaccessible spaces and there are also smaller artefacts that are currently hidden from public view. The most important of these is The Hexham Chalice, a tiny copper goblet, less than 3 inches high (6.4cm), which was used by early Saxon missionaries (possibly Wilfrid himself) to celebrate mass as they wandered through the heathen tribes of Europe.

If the public are to be allowed to see the full collection of Abbey treasures then more exhibition space is urgently needed. The Hexham Abbey Centre will provide the proper interpretation of the Abbey’s history, heritage and significance as well as opening previously closed spaces to the public.

"FEW CHURCHES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND EQUAL THE SPECTACULAR INTERIOR AND MONASTIC RELICS OF HEXHAM"

Simon Jenkin, England’s Thousand Best Churches