Hulne Priory

Hulne Priory is a ruined medieval Carmelite friary in Denwick, Northumberland, close to the town of Alnwick. Walls, a fortified tower and carved stone friars stand inside Hulne Park, giving a rare look at monastic life on the Scottish border.

What was Hulne Priory?

It was a friary founded around 1240 by the Carmelites, also known as the Whitefriars, and counts among the order's earliest houses in England. Tradition says the site was picked because it faintly recalled Mount Carmel, where the order began. You will also see it called Hulne Friary or Hulne Abbey, although it was never an abbey in the strict sense.

Why does a friary have walls and a tower?

The area lay near the Scottish frontier and was often unsettled. The friars therefore enclosed the site with a defensive wall, and in the 15th century a pele tower was added, a small fortified refuge for use in a raid. Sources give slightly different dates, all in the late 1480s. It is an unusual case of a religious house that had to plan for defence as much as for prayer.

What happened after the Dissolution?

When the monasteries were dissolved in the 16th century, the property passed to the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, who also own Alnwick Castle. The priory church was destroyed and part of the surrounding buildings was turned into a dwelling. In the 18th century the first Duke had the tower interior remodelled and a summerhouse built, with Robert Adam and Lancelot "Capability" Brown involved. The stone figures of friars that still watch over the ruins date from the same era.

What to look for

• extensive surviving stretches of the friary walls,
• the 15th-century tower with its later alterations,
• the 18th-century carved stone friars,
• the quiet parkland setting of Hulne Park.

Visiting tips

The ruins lie within Hulne Park, reached on foot from the Alnwick side. The park is not run as a typical visitor attraction and has no facilities, so bring sturdy shoes and water. Access rules and hours can change, so check current details before you go. Nearby Brizlee Tower is not open to the public.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Hulne Priory? The Carmelites, around 1240.

Where is Hulne Priory? In Denwick, Northumberland, near Alnwick in north-east England.

Are the ruins well preserved? Yes, substantial remains survive, including the wall and the tower.

Who owns the land? Since the Dissolution it has belonged to the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland.

Can I climb Brizlee Tower? No, it is closed to visitors, but the priory ruins can be viewed.