Hexham Abbey was originally built in AD 674, by St Wilfrid, Bishop of York. It was constructed largely of Roman dressed stone, repurposed from nearby Roman structures at Corbridge (Corstopitum). Since the dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey has served as Hexham’s Parish Church. One of the few remains from the Saxon structure is the magnificent crypt.
The crypt is beautifully preserved and largely unchanged in 1,300 years, and shows the remains of three entrances. Two of these are external entrances and one at least is thought to have been for the use of visiting pilgrims.
Today visitors can still visit the impressive remains by descending down steep steps from within the church on application to a steward or verger.