NEWMINSTER-ABBEY, a township in that part
of the parish of MORPETH which is in the western
division of CASTLE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND
containing 179 inhabitants. An abbey of Cistercian
monks from Fountains, in honour of the Blessed-Virgin
Mary, was founded here, in 1198, by Ranulph de Merr
lay, and Julian his wife, which at the dissolution
had a revenue valued at £140. 10. 4.: of this once
magnificent structure only a part of the gateway remains.