Benedictine cell (St Cuthberts Chapel) (North Sunderland and Seahouses)
Cell of Benedictine Monks. (1)
Farne Island. Cell of Benedictine (Black) Monks founded c.1255, dissolved c.1538. Net income in 1535 was £12. Dependent on Durham. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument.
Several monks lived on the island as hermits including St Bartholomew of Farne who died c.1195, but it did not become a regular cell of Durham till c.1255, when it was established for two monks, one being master. (2)
From the time of Cuthbert, Farne became a place of resort to monks of Lindisfarne and was used by a succession of hermits. Soon after the death of Bartholomew the Convent of Durham determined that Farne be inhabited by two monks of their body (List of Masters 1255-1536). (3)
The first master of Farne was appointed in 1255 and the house was dissolved in 1536.
The number of monks varied; there were usually only the master and the associate, but occasionally there were as many as six, in addition to the servants, living on the island.
Ample and varied endowments were soon granted but some had ceases to be of value long before the 16th century. In addition to caring for the pilgrims the monks cultivated the soil and kept livestock.
After the Dissolution the Farne Islands were granted to the Dean and Chapter of Durham. Following the establishment of the first lighthouse in 1673 the islands were leased to Francis Liddle and from then until the early 19th century there were a succession of tenants. The venerable Charles Thorp (Archdeacon of Durham 1831-62) became the tenant of the island and the in 1848 carried out extensive restoration work. In 1861 the islands were sold to Archdeacon Thorp.
In 1927-8 further restoration was made, the islands by then having been vested in the National Trust. (4)
(Brief description). (5)
At the Dissolution there were two religions on Farne Island. (6)
Scheduled. (7)
A programme of historic building recording, historical research and analysis was undertaken by Peter Ryder on the monastic cell on Inner Farne. The buildings were studied in detail during conversation work. The building survey looked at the main group of buildings focussed around a small courtyard between St Cuthbert's chapel on the north and the remains of St Mary's chapel on the south. The external elevations of St Cuthbert's chapel, the external elevations and sections of Prior Castell's Tower and various worked stones lying in and around the chapel were drawn as part of the survey. (8)
Centred NU 21803598. (9a)
Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II*. Chapel. C12 or C13 masonry in lower part of north wall. Rebuilt C14, extensively restored 1840-50. Single cell building of 4 bays. Left bay has blocked original 2-light
Decorated window.
Stone coffin, c.10 yards south of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II.Stone coffin. Medieval. Sandstone.
Font c. 10 yards south-west of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II. Probably late C15. Sandstone. Original base and octagonal bowl with slightly concave sides.
Remains of chapel to south-east of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II. Remains of walls, now incorporated into C20 National Trust information centre. Medieval. Random rubble and squared stone. Of features only the jambs of a blocked doorway remain. Included for group value. (9b)
NU 218 359. Monastic settlement on Farne Island. Scheduled No ND/104. (9c)
General association with NRHE UID 24501 (Durham Cathedral (9)
Farne Island. Cell of Benedictine (Black) Monks founded c.1255, dissolved c.1538. Net income in 1535 was £12. Dependent on Durham. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument.
Several monks lived on the island as hermits including St Bartholomew of Farne who died c.1195, but it did not become a regular cell of Durham till c.1255, when it was established for two monks, one being master. (2)
From the time of Cuthbert, Farne became a place of resort to monks of Lindisfarne and was used by a succession of hermits. Soon after the death of Bartholomew the Convent of Durham determined that Farne be inhabited by two monks of their body (List of Masters 1255-1536). (3)
The first master of Farne was appointed in 1255 and the house was dissolved in 1536.
The number of monks varied; there were usually only the master and the associate, but occasionally there were as many as six, in addition to the servants, living on the island.
Ample and varied endowments were soon granted but some had ceases to be of value long before the 16th century. In addition to caring for the pilgrims the monks cultivated the soil and kept livestock.
After the Dissolution the Farne Islands were granted to the Dean and Chapter of Durham. Following the establishment of the first lighthouse in 1673 the islands were leased to Francis Liddle and from then until the early 19th century there were a succession of tenants. The venerable Charles Thorp (Archdeacon of Durham 1831-62) became the tenant of the island and the in 1848 carried out extensive restoration work. In 1861 the islands were sold to Archdeacon Thorp.
In 1927-8 further restoration was made, the islands by then having been vested in the National Trust. (4)
(Brief description). (5)
At the Dissolution there were two religions on Farne Island. (6)
Scheduled. (7)
A programme of historic building recording, historical research and analysis was undertaken by Peter Ryder on the monastic cell on Inner Farne. The buildings were studied in detail during conversation work. The building survey looked at the main group of buildings focussed around a small courtyard between St Cuthbert's chapel on the north and the remains of St Mary's chapel on the south. The external elevations of St Cuthbert's chapel, the external elevations and sections of Prior Castell's Tower and various worked stones lying in and around the chapel were drawn as part of the survey. (8)
Centred NU 21803598. (9a)
Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II*. Chapel. C12 or C13 masonry in lower part of north wall. Rebuilt C14, extensively restored 1840-50. Single cell building of 4 bays. Left bay has blocked original 2-light
Decorated window.
Stone coffin, c.10 yards south of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II.Stone coffin. Medieval. Sandstone.
Font c. 10 yards south-west of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II. Probably late C15. Sandstone. Original base and octagonal bowl with slightly concave sides.
Remains of chapel to south-east of Chapel of St Cuthbert. Grade II. Remains of walls, now incorporated into C20 National Trust information centre. Medieval. Random rubble and squared stone. Of features only the jambs of a blocked doorway remain. Included for group value. (9b)
NU 218 359. Monastic settlement on Farne Island. Scheduled No ND/104. (9c)
General association with NRHE UID 24501 (Durham Cathedral (9)
N5882
BUILDING SURVEY, Inner Farne 1999
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.