England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Lanercost St Mary Magdalene

The Parish

The parish of Lanercost lies in the extreme north of Cumberland, forming an extensive part of the border with neighbouring Northumberland and also being not far from Scotland. Lanercost is located roughly 11 miles northeast of the city of Carlisle and sits just over 2 miles north of the A69 road which connects Carlisle with Newcastle upon Tyne. Present day Lanercost is little more than a hamlet sitting on the northern banks of the River Irthing but this was not always so. Lanercost sits less than a half mile south of Hadrian's Wall and it was founded as a Roman garrison supporting that great boundary. In later times, whilst the area was very much on the edge of Norman influence an Augustinian priory was established here controlling vast estates dominated by pastoral farming together with some extractive industries. The parish was very much dispersed with its, quite large, population spread across a wide area. Following the Dissolution and closure of the priory Lanercost became merely a farming community and today Hardrian's Wall tourism provides a variety of income with the National hiking Trail proving a popular hike. The Irthing drains the parish southwestwards to join the Eden and reach the Irish Sea through the Solway Firth. Lanercost priory site sits at around 50 metres above the sea but the parish is largely upland its eastern areas rising to 300 metres close to the county boundary. Lanercost parish is one of the most extensive in England, covering 30,000 acres it would have supported its dispersed population of almost 1,600 parishioners across its vast extent. Domesday Book records little north of Furness and consequently Lanercost is not mentioned in that tome. 

The Church

St Mary Magdalene's church is the former priory church left behind when the priory was closed down in the late 1530s. The priory had been founded in the late 12th century and the church was probably commenced in 1175, the area was newly released from Scottish control and the de Vaux family dispatched to hold the territory. Most building work ceased by 1307 when repeated raids by the Scots prevented further expansion, indeed at one point the priory was held for ransom . After dissolution the former nave became the parish church but fell into disrepair and in the 17th century the church transferred into what had previously been simply the northern aisle.The church has had some modifications over the centuries, windows of the Perpendicular style have replaced former lancets and early drawings show a spire above the crossing tower, perhaps removed in changes of the 16th century. In the 18th century a partition wall was inserted whilst in the 1870s the roofing that remains was replaced by a barrel-roof. The site sits immediately north of the Irthing's crossing, at the edge of the flood-plain, parking is available for the tea room, gift shop and other tourist facilities. The better views of the building are from the north where it portrays an almost complete profile but the site has few obstacles to the photographer beyond the prolific tourists around the site.