Extict Monastic Institutions of Berwick

EXTINCT MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS.

Berwick in former times possessed many religious and charitable establishments, which were entirely swept away at the period of the Reformation. No fewer than ten institutions of piety and charity bore witness to the zeal and religious feeling of the inhabitants of the town. Of these ten establishments, four were convents for men, two for women, and four were hospitals. A Dominican Convent was founded here in the year 1230, by Alexander III., King of Scotland, who also endowed it with a revenue of forty marks per annum, to which Hobert Bruce added an annual rent out of a mill at Berwick. The Carmelites, or White Friars' Convent, was founded in 1270, by Sir John Grey, who appears to have been the castle chaplain. Of the Convent of Trinitarians which existed here, we have no authentic information, but its foundation is ascribed to William the Lion, King of Scotland. The Franciscan Convent in this town was highly favoured by the English monarchs, who took the institution under their special protection. The Convent of Cistercian nuns was founded by David, King of Scotland, in 1141, and was afterwards richly endowed by the liberality of several individuals. There was another Cistercian Convent, dedicated to St. Leonard, at Halystan, within the liberties of Berwick. It was greatly enriched by numerous donations from Edward III., after the battle of Halidon Hill. The name of Maudlingfield still commemorates the site of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen; a house dedicated to the Holy Trinity stood at the end of the bridge; there was also the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin, and in addition there was the Domus Dei, or Hotel Dieu, which was established at a very early period, and like all the other ancient religious foundations of Berwick, has long been discontinued.