Country walk at Osmotherley and Mount Grace Priory (From Gazette & Herald)

Country walk at Osmotherley and Mount Grace Priory

4:51pm Friday 5th August 2011 in Country walks By Brian Beadle

TO be a Carthusian monk in the 14th century must have been like living in a top-of-the-range hotel.

Though only small, each monk’s cell had its own living quarters comprising a garden, an oratory, a living room, a covered walkway, a bedroom and a kitchen.

The monks were hermits and rarely met their fellow inmates. Carthusian monks are a silent order apart from their singing of the liturgy. They were allowed a three-hour walk on a weekly basis and occasionally were permitted to discuss grave subjects.

It cannot have been a bad life, though, as they were granted ‘a tun of the better red wine from Gascony every Martinmas’.

The Priory of Mount Grace is situated on the edge of the Cleveland Hills and was founded as a Carthusian Priory in 1397. By the time of the dissolution it was home to 27 inmates.

It appears in some state papers of Henry VIII that a monk at Mount Grace named Flecher had fallen into the bad habit of seeing visions and loudly proclaiming the facts that he was a visionary.

It was stated that it was hoped he would be more successful than the servant girl called ‘The Maid of Kent’ who claimed to have visions and became a nun. Her visionary goings on were her downfall when she annoyed King Henry with her revelations about his future marriage and in 1534 she was executed at Tyburn.

It seems that Flecher was more careful not to upset royalty, as it is recorded that at the dissolution he received a monk’s pension of £7 per annum.

If you visit Mount Grace Priory you will find a reconstructed monk’s cell and a rather unusual sculpture called The Madonna of the Cross.

This is not the usual interpretation of a Madonna but a symbol of the three facets of Christianity. She portrays a young woman who knows the importance of her calling and understands the hardship this commands.

The figure of the Madonna is integral with the cross which is an inescapable part of her existence. She is looking to the heavens and holds her Christ child high as though it is the resurrection, not sacrificial death.

If you decide to visit Mount Grace Priory while you are in the area, it is open most of the year Thursday to Sunday inclusive. It is particularly impressive in the spring with its carpet of daffodils.

Admission is free to National Trust and English Heritage members, otherwise it currently costs £4.50 for adults. Refreshments are available and picnics are allowed in the grounds.

Your route

Leave the centre of the village by the obelisk and walk uphill in a northerly direction. As you approach the top of the hill, turn left along an unmade road signed to Cleveland Way and Scarth Nick.

The road climbs for some time and is steep at times. As the road bends to the right you will see a sign for Lady’s Chapel which was once tied to Mount Grace Priory. If you wish to take a look follow the path, then return to this point. It is a detour of about half a mile.

Enjoy the grand views across Osmotherley and Cleveland. On a clear day you can see as far as Wensleydale, Swaledale and Teesdale.

At the farm, keep straight ahead through a small gate leading into a field. Cross the field, then through another gate and continue along to another gate leading into the wood. Bear immediately right uphill in the wood still following signs for Cleveland Way.

Quite a rough, wide track now, leading uphill for some way. Eventually the track narrows near the top of the hill but continue along still climbing a little. Views change now to a grand panorama across to Bilsdale and Black Hambleton.

Not far now and the British Telecom radio station comes into view. Pass through a small gate past it, then through another gate to leave it behind. Climb gently for a short while and soon you have more grand views across to the Cleveland Hills and the conical Roseberry Topping.

Descend a little, then leave the wood through a small gate. Do not go through the next gate, but turn immediately right along a wide track across the edge of a field following a sign for bridleway. Cross the field and exit onto a single track road. Keep straight ahead for an easy walk which is all downhill from here. Soon you see Cod Beck Reservoir nestling in the valley below on your left. Continue along the road to a junction, go right here and walk down the hill back to Osmotherley for some refreshment.

country walk facts

Distance – 4½ miles (7km)

Time – Two hours

Grading – Easy

Start/grid ref – Osmotherley, grid ref. 456972

Best map – OS Outdoor Leisure 26

Parking – Street

Refreshments – Pubs and cafés in Osmotherley

Public toilets – Osmotherley, signed from centre of village

View a map of the Osmotherley and Mount Grace Priory country walk>>