In 1165, Blanchland Abbey was founded as a Premonstratensian priory by Walter de Bolbec. The Lord Crewe was built as the Abbot’s lodge, guest house, kitchens and the Abbot’s dining room and its gardens served as cloisters for the monks. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539.

 

Unsurprisingly, the building is haunted by a monk dressed in white habit and kneeling in prayer, that has been sighted in the Radcliffe Room. Also sighted is the apparition of Dorothy Foster, who was the sister of Tom Foster, the commander of the Jacobite forces during the 1715 uprising.

According to sources such as Jones below, the area was susceptible to raids from outlaws from across the border. The monks received information that such a party was heading in their direction. However, a sudden fog settled over the village, disorientating the raisers. Believing that there was some sort of divine intervention, the monks rang the bells as a showing of thanks. Unfortunately, this provided the attackers with a signal as to the location of the Abbey, where they duly headed and killed all the monks in cold blood.

 

It is said that on certain days, the bells will ring of their own accord and the ghosts of the murdered monks walk the churchyard.