Finchale Priory Camp Site and Beamish Clematis Nursery

We drove straight from Ike's to the Finchale Abbey Touring Site. The first day/night was cold and miserable, but the second day was brighter and we could make out the abbey or priory right next to the camp site. The remains of St Cuthbert rested here for a while before being taken to Durham cathedral where they are now enshrined. The venerable Bede joined him later, I believe. Anyway, this English Heritage site was not open until 1 April, hence we peered over the iron railings . Isn't it ironic that the state which stole this land and buildings off of the Catholic church now charges us to visit it and tells us it is our heritage - which part would that be? The dissolution of the monasteries, the loot, or the derelict buildings?
The abbey sits above the mighty Wear following swift and death-cold towards Durham.
How versatile is an Auto-Sleeper Medallion. The next morning we were off to Beamish Clematis Nursery for to buy many plants on the advice of our excellent plantswoman landscaper Anna Osborne of Elvet Garden Design. We met her upon Palace Green and then took refreshment in several tea rooms, not the least of which was the aforementioned Vennels.

BCN is well-stocked with the plants we required, of which much more later. And one can see we stored the lot in the Medallion for forward transportation to Walsden.