Marrick Priory

Outdoor Education and Residential Centre

AALA - Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

  • Welcome
  • Activities
  • Your Stay
    • Facilities
    • Meals
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    • Sample Programme
  • Ethos
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  • Gallery
    • Activities – Caving
    • Activities – Climbing & Abseiling
    • Activities – Watersports
    • Activities – Other
    • Marrick Priory – Facilities
    • Marrick Priory – Snow
    • Marrick Priory – At Night
  • Bookings
  • History
    • Foundation
    • Dissolution
    • 1958 – Photos
    • Youth Centre
    • Photos – Then and Now
    • Newspaper Articles
    • The Hearse House
    • JMW Turner (Artist)
    • History PDF Download
  • Other Info
    • AALA Licence
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Photos – Then and Now

Marrick Priory was opened as an Outdoor Centre on 30th May 1970.  Much has changed since the early days; we now offer many more activities led by a qualified and dedicated staff team.  The facilities have also been dramatically improved with the building itself having been extended on several occasions. Below are some photos highlighting the changes.  You can also click here to read more about the development of Marrick Priory as an Outdoor Centre (previously called a Youth Centre).

Early 1970s - Dining room with dorms above
Early 1970s - Dining room (1)
2019 - Dining room
2019 - Dining room (1)

The dining room is at the west end of the main hall and, as the name suggests, it is primarily used by our guests for mealtime gatherings.  We also use this space for table tennis (downtime) and indoor climbing and abseiling (as part of an instructor led session).  Guests can climb up the inside tower wall to the right of the large window.  They can also abseil in this area; descending from a trap door in the tower (accessed by the small door to the left of the ping pong table). We still use the ping pong table daily but it is folded up for abseiling sessions, which were happening just after the 2019 photo was taken.

The 2019 photo above also shows a door (to the right) leading to the Prioress's house - a 1994 extension/conversion that is now used as the large common room.  On the left of the above photos you can see the boys' dormitory above the dining room.  This has been upgraded to include an emergency exit (spiral staircase) and glazing that encloses the dormitory area.

The photos below show the dining room looking in the opposite direction (east).  In the 1970s the boys' dormitory was accessed via stairs direct from the dining room. Today the main access is from the main hallway, a subsequent building extension to the left of picture (north).  The 2019 photo shows the servery in the far right corner of the room - the kitchens are across the main hallway.

Early 1970s - Dining room
Early 1970s - Dining room (2)
2019 - Dining room
2019 - Dining room (2)

The 1970s photo above shows people gathered in a door way, this is the entrance to the small common room.  You can't see the girls dormitory in these photos - it's behind the boys' dormitory directly above the small common room.  The photos below are taken from the main hallway entrance to the small common room.  To the left of picture is the chapel and to the right is the dining room

 

1970s - Small common room
1970s - Small common room
2019 - Small common room
2019 - Small common room

The chapel today is similar to the chapel of the 1970s.  It is still used by our residential guests as a place to congregate for worship, music, reflection etc.  The Prioress's house (converted in 1994) is used as a large common room.  It is also where our guests meet for pre-session briefings from the duty instructor. 

 

2019 - Marrick Priory Chapel
2019 - Marrick Priory Chapel
2019 - Prioress's house
2019 - Prioress's house

It's not just the inside of Marrick Priory that has seen major developments over the years.  The area outside around the ruins has been cleared and tidied. 

 

1958 - Arch ruins
1958 - Arch ruins
2019 - Arch ruins
2019 - Arch ruins

We have also added lots of new activities and equipment in the grounds.  In 2011 we constructed a high ropes area, outdoor climbing tower and archery range (photos below).  At the same time we even installed two zip wires across the river - the main zip wire is long and fast, the smaller one is slower to return you safely back across the river without getting your feet wet. 

In 2018 we built an outdoor classroom, just up the bank from the high ropes area.  It is a fully enclosed structure that can accommodate around 20 people. The outdoor classroom is available for use by both residential groups and day groups.

 

2019 - High ropes area
2019 - High ropes area and climbing tower, steps lead to outdoor classroom
2019 - Outdoor classroom
2019 - Outdoor classroom
2019 - Archery range with outdoor classroom above
2019 - Archery range with outdoor classroom above in the trees
2019 - River Swale
2019 - River Swale viewed from archery range - the pole on the opposite bank supports our smaller return zip wire

History Menu

  • Foundation
  • Dissolution
  • 1958 – Photos
  • Youth Centre
  • Photos – Then and Now
  • Newspaper Articles
  • The Hearse House
  • JMW Turner (Artist)
  • History PDF Download

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Write:
Marrick Priory OEC
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL11 7LD

Telephone:
01748 884434

Main contact:
office@marrickpriory.co.uk

Website related matters:
website@marrickpriory.co.uk

 

Welcome

Marrick Priory is a historic 12th century medieval building that was developed in the 1970s into an Outdoor Education and Residential Centre.  It is situated in Swaledale in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park and welcomes groups of visitors from all over the world. The Priory is licensed to provide a wide range of adventurous activities and can be booked on a day or residential … Continue Reading

Feedback from Leaders

"The instructors were extremely pleasant, friendly and assertive"

Feedback from Children

"I have come back with new talents I never new I had"

Feedback About the Food

"Excellent food and flexibility - healthy and child appealing"

Feedback collated from feedback forms and thank you letters from children. See more feedback here

Governance

Marrick Priory is run by the Head of Centre and a board of dedicated and active trustees. There is a close affiliation with the Church of England through the Diocese of Leeds, who have been instrumental in supporting and developing the centre since the 1960’s. The Diocese appoints half of the trustees, with the other half being made up of locally recruited representatives.

Make a Secure Donation to Marrick Priory

The Church of England - Diocese of Leeds

AHOEC - Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres

People's Postcode Trust

Marrick Priory Outdoor Education Centre - Richmond - North Yorkshire - DL11 7LD
email: office@marrickpriory.co.uk | tel: 01748 884434 | fax: 01748 880178
Marrick Priory Trust Limited is a Registered Charity – No. 1139240
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