Blanchland
Title
Blanchland
Also Known As
Alba landa, Blancaland, Blancheland, Blankaland, Blaunchlaund, S. Maria de Blancalanda
Dates
Founded 1165; dissolved 1539
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Founded in 1165 as a priory by Walter de Bolebec, Blanchland became an abbey in the 13th century. It was never a very large house, and suffered damage during the Anglo-Scottish Wars in the 14th century.
After the Dissolution, the site passed into private hands. Part of the abbey church was retained and became the local parish church, which contains some surviving medieval glass. Part of the cloister was incorporated into a later hotel on the site.
(Not to be confused with Blanchelande (France))
After the Dissolution, the site passed into private hands. Part of the abbey church was retained and became the local parish church, which contains some surviving medieval glass. Part of the cloister was incorporated into a later hotel on the site.
(Not to be confused with Blanchelande (France))
Heads of Community
Abbots
Alanus, fl. 1165
Adam
William I
Inieramus (or Ingram), fl. 1274
William II of Norton, 1315-ca. 1320
John I of Stanton (or Staynton), 1342-?
William III of Brampton, fl. 1379
Hugh, fl. 1416
John II Yonge, ?-1433
William IV Stockton, 1433-?
John III, 1458-ca. 1475
John IV, Hesilden, ?-bef. 1488
John V Hugh, 1488-97
William V Vayne, 1530
William VI Spragen, 1530-39
Alanus, fl. 1165
Adam
William I
Inieramus (or Ingram), fl. 1274
William II of Norton, 1315-ca. 1320
John I of Stanton (or Staynton), 1342-?
William III of Brampton, fl. 1379
Hugh, fl. 1416
John II Yonge, ?-1433
William IV Stockton, 1433-?
John III, 1458-ca. 1475
John IV, Hesilden, ?-bef. 1488
John V Hugh, 1488-97
William V Vayne, 1530
William VI Spragen, 1530-39
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Kew, The National Archives
E 314/39/89
E 321/18/49 (1536-1554)
E 321/37/22 (1538-1552)
E 321/46/115 (1540-1553)
SC 8/34/1682 (1327)
SC-8/34/1683 (1331)
Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Archives
DT.CC/236 (ca. 1950; photographs)
Swindon, Historic England Archive
AL0264/012/01 (1924; ground plan)
MF99/00352/13 (1975; photograph)
E 314/39/89
E 321/18/49 (1536-1554)
E 321/37/22 (1538-1552)
E 321/46/115 (1540-1553)
SC 8/34/1682 (1327)
SC-8/34/1683 (1331)
Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Archives
DT.CC/236 (ca. 1950; photographs)
Swindon, Historic England Archive
AL0264/012/01 (1924; ground plan)
MF99/00352/13 (1975; photograph)
Reference
Cottineau, I: col. 388
Dugdale, 886-887
HE: Blanchland Premonstratensian Abbey; Church of St Mary; The Square; Churchyard wall; Gowland's Cottage; The Angel; The Square; The Lord Crewe Arms; The Lord Crewe Arms; Gatehouse with Post Office; House adjacent to gatehouse
Hugo, I: 349-352
MP, II: 41-42; III: 616
NCT: Blanchland Abbey
PAS: Aerial view
VW, 37
Dugdale, 886-887
HE: Blanchland Premonstratensian Abbey; Church of St Mary; The Square; Churchyard wall; Gowland's Cottage; The Angel; The Square; The Lord Crewe Arms; The Lord Crewe Arms; Gatehouse with Post Office; House adjacent to gatehouse
Hugo, I: 349-352
MP, II: 41-42; III: 616
NCT: Blanchland Abbey
PAS: Aerial view
VW, 37
Bibliography
Addleshaw, G. W. O. Blanchland, a Short History. Blanchland: Blanchland Church & Post Office, 1951.
Bindel, Robert. “L’abbaye Sainte-Marie de Blanchland.” In Actes Officiels du 18e Colloque du C.E.R.P., 93–100. Laon: C.E.R.P., 1993.
Featherstonehaugh, Walker. “Blanchland.” Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 6, no. 6 (1893): 37–40. https://books.google.com/books?id=X-kRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA37.
———. “Blanchland.” Transactions of the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland 1 (1868): 136–40. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044100064252?urlappend=%3Bseq=266%3Bownerid=27021597765555641-268.
Johnson, Anthony. “Blanchland.” Archaeologia Aeliana, Second Series, vol. 16 (1894): 295–312. https://doi.org/10.5284/1059658.
Knowles, W. H. “Blanchland Abbey, Northumberland.” The Antiquary 39 (1903): 25–26. https://books.google.com/books?id=68sCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA25.
———. “The Premonstratensian Abbey of St. Mary, Blanchland, Northumberland.” The Archaeological Journal 59, no. 1 (1902): 328–41. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-1132-1/dissemination/pdf/059/059_328_341.pdf.
Ryder, Peter F. St Mary the Virgin, Blanchland: An Archaeological Assessment. 2017. https://www.blanchland.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2017-archaeological-assessment-peter-Ryder.pdf.
The Glasgow Herald. “Historical Tour: Scottish Society’s Excursion at Blanchland and Hexham.” June 15, 1929. https://books.google.com/books?id=CQA-AAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA11.
Young, Robert. Conservation Management Plan: The Abbey Church of God and St Mary the Virgin, Blanchland, Northumberland. 2023. https://www.blanchland.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CONSERVATION-MANAGEMENT-PLAN-final-draft.pdf.
Image Credit
Exterior of St Mary's Church, Blanchland, 2020. Wikimedia.
Last Updated
Oct. 2026.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Blanchland,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/162.