File:The counties of England, their story and antiquities (1912) (14578149250).jpg

Identifier: countiesofenglan01ditc (find matches)
Title: The counties of England, their story and antiquities
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson), 1854-1930
Subjects: Great Britain -- History England -- Antiquities
Publisher: London : G. Allen
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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te for the present. Yet onething of large importance was carried out under theCouncils authority, when the great Abbey of Durhamwas dissolved in 1539. The monastery had stoodunassailed for 450 years, but Henry set going the processof destruction which ended in the total suppression ofevery religious house in the land. It had been a wealthyfoundation, a kindly landlord, an influence for good inthe district, with its library, and its schools, and itsvaried means of usefulness. Yet every good object thatit had served was eventually carried on. Prior andconvent became Dean and Canons; monastic lands werenow capitular estates; its chief school and library weremaintained with greater efficiency; its solemn offices soonbecame the familiar vernacular service of the Church ofEngland. Otherwise there was little monastic destructionin the county of Durham, for the great monastery hadbrooked no rivals; and a friary or two with a singlenunnery were scarcely rivals. The dependent cells of Durham 33
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Jarrow, Wearmouth, Finchale, however, shared in the fallof Durham Abbey. Three or four years before the surrender of themonastery the people of Durham had taken part in theVol. I. D 34 Durham Pilgrimage of Grace—that exciting demonstration inwhich popular resentment against the fall of the smallerhouses was exhibited. When Durham Abbey fell therewas no repetition of that rising, for severe punishmenthad been meted out in 1537; whilst in 1540 pestilence wasdesolating the district, and the gloom in consequence wasdepressing. But there was no sympathy with the changeswhich soon began to hurry on, and Durham was probablymore opposed to the Reformation than any other district.Under Edward VI. the Bishopric became the object ofthe ambitious designs of Northumberland—one of thenoblemen whom the rapid religious and politicalrevolution of the time placed in power. He cast a longingeye on the Patrimony of St. Cuthbert; and in building upthe fortunes of his upstart family (he was a Dudley, n

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