Mount Grace priory - North Yorks

Mount Grace priory, Staddlebridge, North Yorkshire, is the best preserved Carthusian monastery in England, and is managed by English Heritage and the National Trust. It is accessed from the southbound A19 just prior to the Osmotherley / Northallerton exit and is located at the at the base of the the wooded Cleveland Hills, in the North York Moors National Park.

The Priory was founded in 1398 by Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey, and operated with a prior and twenty three monks until its dissolution under the reign of Henry VIII. The monks lived in individual cells, in a silent order and adhered to a vegetarian diet.

The present site has a very well preserved and maintained charter house, and the remains of the original priory, including a reconstructed monks cell which acts as a living museum. The site is reasonably flat with few stairs, but mainly grass covered. The design of the priory is obvious from the remaining stonework and many interesting and unique features remain. If you enjoy visiting heritage sites, this priory is certainly one not to miss, but certainly benefits from dry weather, as it is an open air site.

We were very lucky with some late October sunny, bright and dry autumnal weather, which showed the priory and woodland in all of its seasonal glory. The site is very quiet and peaceful and would certainly suit the contemplative vocation of its earlier occupants.