Lindisfarne Priory

A tidal island just off the north-east coast of England, Lindisfarne is also known as Holy Island in recognition of its important religious heritage. Lindisfarne's first religious building was its monastery, which was founded by St Aidan in about 635AD. His successor was St Cuthbert, who became the head of the Priory as well as Northumberland's patron saint. Shortly after this time, the Lindisfarne Gospels - an illustrated copy of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are believed to have been created here. In the next century these gospels were glossed with Old English at Lindisfarne, making them the oldest surviving Old English biblical texts - cementing Lindisfarne's position as an important religious centre.

The Priory continued successfully for many years, before being raided by Vikings in the 9th century AD. Yet the Priory was re-established as a Benedictine house shortly after the Norman Conquest, and resumed its prominent position on the Christian landscape until Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. The buildings were decimated and they now stand as ruins preserved from any further damage. The site has remained ever popular with visitors and as a place of pilgrimage, due to its significance in Christian history.