Cartmel Priory

I took a walk over the hill to Cartmel this morning.  After a most enjoyable coffee and bacon roll at 'Coffee and Stays' and a visit to the Cartmel cheese shop in Unsworth's Yard I popped into the Priory.  I hadn't realised just how significant this structure was and how it came to escape the widespread destruction at the hands of Henry VIII's army during the Reformation.  It is understood that Cartmel Priory was incredibly important to its founder Sir William Marshal who had acted as Prince Regent for the 9 year old King Henry III and during that period had led this country to victory over the French invading army at the 2nd Battle of Lincoln.  This battle was of such significance that, if he had lost, we would now be a french speaking nation.  Thus in 1537, with the dissolution of the monastery at Cartmel, the building was allowed to stand in Marshal's honour.

The blip is of the memorials to Frederick and Edward Cavendish, sons of William 7th Duke of Devonshire.