History of Finchale Priory
The Caravan Park is dominated by the impressive and picturesque remains of Finchale Priory. This once important daughter house of Durham Cathedral is now an extensive and highly atmospheric ruin, its ancient monastic precincts still excluding an air of tranquility across this very special place.

A view of the priory from the North

It was here that St. Godric settled in the 12th century, building a hermitage on a site which was to become his home for many years. After Godric's  death in 1170 at the age of 105, the Durham Monks set about building a shrine to the saint, the results of which can still be seen today in the substantial surviving priory buildings. St Godric's tomb still lies beneath the priory church and is marked by a simple stone cross. Today however, the tomb lies empty, his remains having mysteriously vanished many centuries ago since when there has been much speculation about his final resting place. 

The cross that marks St Godric's tomb

Do his bones lie in some far off place, taken for safety by the monks at the time of the reformation or does he still lie hidden somewhere in some secret place at Finchale, undisturbed by time and still keeping a watchful eye over his old home and its modern day visitors? 

The Priory Church

During the later stages of the Priory's working life it served as a holiday  retreat for the monks from Durham Cathedral, a tradition  which persists to this day with modern visitors to the campsite (situated in the old priory gardens)  enjoying the opportunity to relax and recharge their batteries in the peaceful riverside setting.

Finchale Priory is now in the care of English Heritage and a small admission fee is payable for day visitors and site residents alike. This money goes towards the upkeep and conservation of the priory and the other 400 English Heritage sites in the care of English Heritage, the governments leading advisor on all aspects of our historic environment.

An artists impression of what the priory would have looked like complete.