Hexham - Abbey

Hexham is a town, that developed around a monastery. Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria, made a grant of lands to St Wilfrid, Bishop of York, in 674. The abbey was constructed almost entirely of material salvaged from nearby Roman ruins. In the year 875 Halfdan Ragnarsson the Dane, one of the commanders of the Great Heathen Army, ravaged the whole area. Hexham Church was plundered and burnt to the ground.

About 1050, Eilaf, treasurer of Durham, was instructed to rebuild Hexham Church, which then lay in utter ruin. His son Eilaf II completed the work.

In Norman times, the Benedictine abbey was replaced by an Augustinian priory. The current church largely dates from 1170–1250, built in the Early English style of architecture.
It is possible that Wilfrid had this solid block of sandstone fashioned into a seat when he first founded the monastery in 674. It is likely Wilfrid took inspiration from stools he encountered on his journeys through France and Rome.

It is probably a frith stool. The word ‘frith’ is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and means ‘peace, security and freedom from molestation’. In medieval England, it was possible for those fleeing conflict and persecution, and even justice, to claim sanctuary in a church. The frith stool, traditionally located near the high altar, was considered to be the safest and most protected place in the church for such refugees.