Although Marrick is technically a priory, the terms priory and abbey are used synonymously, as there is very little difference between the two. The only difference, really, is that some people regard a priory as being subordinate to an abbey.

There is quite a history to the Priory, dating back to its erection as a Benedictine Nunnery around 1154 by one Roger de Aske, during the reign of King Henry II. The upkeep of Marrick Abbey, came substantially from income derived from the local lead mines.

In 1540 the prioress and her 16 nuns were evicted as part of the Dissolution of Monasteries. Thereafter the priory was leased by the Crown to Sir John Uvedale (also known as Sir John Woodhall, fomer secretary to Anne Boleyn), who later purchased it. He sold it in 1592 to Sir Timothy Marske who in turn sold it to the Blackburn family, of Blackburn Hall in 1545. It was used as a place of worship until 1948 and was thereafter used as a farm building.

Marrick Priory once had a two-wheeled hearse that was built in 1828. It remained with the Priory until 1960, at which time the hearse was the oldest in the country. The hearse was vernacular and exceptionally rare. In 1960 it was transferred to Beamish Museum in County Durham. The hearse was kept in the short building with a currently green coloured door. The hearse's first occupant was Mary, widow of Thomas Hillary, in 1828.

There are many ancient gravestones at Marrick Priory.

The Priory is licensed to provide a wide range of adventurous activities and is used for day or residential lettings. Activities include rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, caving, orienteering, hill walking, mountaineering, archery, zip wires, high rope courses and team building exercises. It is also used by schools, youth groups, church and adult groups for such things as art, drama, music, history, environmental study, spiritual retreat and meditation.

The attached Marrick Priory Farmhouse is a Listed Building with a grade II Listing.

Coast to Coast Trail Guide

"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.