Medieval chapel at Falstone (Falstone)
Little is known of the pre-Reformation chapel at Falstone and its site is uncertain. In 1541 there is mention of a chapel at 'Fawe Stone' being used for private masses. In 1650 the parliamentary commissioners recommended that the chapel be rebuilt and made the parish church. This order did not take effect but in 1709 the chapel was rebuilt by the Presbyterians, who, in 1738, built a new church on another site.
The present church, built in 1891, is on the site of a previous church, burnt in 1890, which was built in 1824. The chapel of ease built in 1725 had the same graveyard as the present church but was probably in a slightly different position. There is a reference to the !more ancient! Church standing to the south of the present structure but this may refer to the chapel built in 1725. According to Thomas Hitchin's map the 'chapel of ease' (built 1725) stood to the west of the 'chapel in ruins' (the medieval, afterwards Presbyterian chapel).
Armstrongs' map of 1769 marks 'ruins' near Hawkhope on the left bank of the Tyne a short distance above Falstone. By the early 19th century these ruins had been reduced to a stony bank in the centre of a one acre field belonging to Thomas Ridley of Park End and farmed by the Rev James Wood the Presbyterian minister.
In 1813 Mr Wood cleared this bank and found three feet below the surface an inscribed stone fragment. No trace of masonry 'in situ' was found but it is possible that this spot is the original site of the mediaeval chapel, the dedication of which is not known.
The inscribed stone is the oldest post-Roman inscription in Northumberland. Part of a socket still remains, suggesting that it was part of a cross. There are two inscriptions, one of four rows of runes and the other four rows of insular uncial letters of the kind in use from the 8th century until after the Norman Conquest. The two inscriptions are side by side, with a central division consisting of what appears to be a human figure.
A fifth line of uncials extends uninterrupted right across the panel. The general form suggests a pre-Conquest date but more knowledge is necessary to confirm this. The inscription is usually rendered in modern English as 'Eomaer Set This Up For His Unce Hroethberht. Pray For His Soul'.
The stone was presented to the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle upon Tyne. 'It is not a 'hogback''. (1)
A survey of c.1715 refers to 'Fawstone: the remains of a chapell in ruins but now rebuilt and used (by) the Presbyterians'. (2)
Chapel mentioned in the Bower and Elleker survey of 1842. (3)
The inscribed stone found at Falstone in 1813 is about 1 foot long and 5-1/2 inches broad (Description). (4)
(Account of the discovery of the inscribed stone and description). (5)
(Description of inscribed stone. Ascribed to the late 7th or early 8th century). (6)
(Area centred NY 72008780) Chap House (Single building shown. Siting approx owing to small scale and lack of control). (7)
The inscribed stone found at Falstone in 1813 is probably of the period c.1100. (8)
Ruins (Symbol representing these ruins in position corresponding approximately with that given by authority (10). Crudeness of draughtsmanship and small scale of map make accurate siting
impossible. (9)
10th century diminutive hogback from Falstone. Inscription in miniscules and Anglian runes. (10)
Falstone Inscription (ascribed to about AD 700). The inscription is repeated, left, in Roman, right, in Runic letters. Presented by the Rev James Wood. (11)
Area NY 72008780. Pre Reformation chapel sited from information in authorities 2, 10 and 12.
No visible remains of antiquity were found within the area. Local enquiries revealed no knowledge of field names. The resident vicar of Falstone had no knowledge of this early chapel. (12)
Incomplete house-shaped memorial, in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne, accession no 1814.23. First mentioned in 1822 when given to the Society of Antiquaries. Measures 0.324m x 0.176m x 0.152m deep. Incomplete and worn in places.
The stone is incomplete on every face and appears to have been split at mid-point. Bi-alphabetical inscription on one face. The long side is slightly curved and with the remains of a pointed gable gives the appearance of a house shape. Two panels with inscriptions on the long face of the stone. Left panel, first two lines unclear, last three read:
+EO[-]
TAAE[FT]AER
HROETHBERHT[E]
BECUNAEFTAER
EOMAEGEBIDAEDDERSAUL[E]
Right panel, runic inscription, may be read:
+[-]
aeftaerroe[--]
tae[be]cunae[f]taere[o--]
geb[i]daedpe[r]saule
Translated: 'in memory of Hroethberht, a monument of the uncle: pray for (sc 'his') soul'. Stephens (1884) saw other letters on the 'roof' but none are visible today.
A skeuomorph of a metal or bone reliquary or shrine. It could have stood on a small pediment and might have been built into the wall of a church. (13)
Description of inscribed stone as (13) above. (14)
Additional Reference (15)
NRHE lists a general association between NRHE UID 15733 and 1094503 which both form part of this HER number (15)
The present church, built in 1891, is on the site of a previous church, burnt in 1890, which was built in 1824. The chapel of ease built in 1725 had the same graveyard as the present church but was probably in a slightly different position. There is a reference to the !more ancient! Church standing to the south of the present structure but this may refer to the chapel built in 1725. According to Thomas Hitchin's map the 'chapel of ease' (built 1725) stood to the west of the 'chapel in ruins' (the medieval, afterwards Presbyterian chapel).
Armstrongs' map of 1769 marks 'ruins' near Hawkhope on the left bank of the Tyne a short distance above Falstone. By the early 19th century these ruins had been reduced to a stony bank in the centre of a one acre field belonging to Thomas Ridley of Park End and farmed by the Rev James Wood the Presbyterian minister.
In 1813 Mr Wood cleared this bank and found three feet below the surface an inscribed stone fragment. No trace of masonry 'in situ' was found but it is possible that this spot is the original site of the mediaeval chapel, the dedication of which is not known.
The inscribed stone is the oldest post-Roman inscription in Northumberland. Part of a socket still remains, suggesting that it was part of a cross. There are two inscriptions, one of four rows of runes and the other four rows of insular uncial letters of the kind in use from the 8th century until after the Norman Conquest. The two inscriptions are side by side, with a central division consisting of what appears to be a human figure.
A fifth line of uncials extends uninterrupted right across the panel. The general form suggests a pre-Conquest date but more knowledge is necessary to confirm this. The inscription is usually rendered in modern English as 'Eomaer Set This Up For His Unce Hroethberht. Pray For His Soul'.
The stone was presented to the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle upon Tyne. 'It is not a 'hogback''. (1)
A survey of c.1715 refers to 'Fawstone: the remains of a chapell in ruins but now rebuilt and used (by) the Presbyterians'. (2)
Chapel mentioned in the Bower and Elleker survey of 1842. (3)
The inscribed stone found at Falstone in 1813 is about 1 foot long and 5-1/2 inches broad (Description). (4)
(Account of the discovery of the inscribed stone and description). (5)
(Description of inscribed stone. Ascribed to the late 7th or early 8th century). (6)
(Area centred NY 72008780) Chap House (Single building shown. Siting approx owing to small scale and lack of control). (7)
The inscribed stone found at Falstone in 1813 is probably of the period c.1100. (8)
Ruins (Symbol representing these ruins in position corresponding approximately with that given by authority (10). Crudeness of draughtsmanship and small scale of map make accurate siting
impossible. (9)
10th century diminutive hogback from Falstone. Inscription in miniscules and Anglian runes. (10)
Falstone Inscription (ascribed to about AD 700). The inscription is repeated, left, in Roman, right, in Runic letters. Presented by the Rev James Wood. (11)
Area NY 72008780. Pre Reformation chapel sited from information in authorities 2, 10 and 12.
No visible remains of antiquity were found within the area. Local enquiries revealed no knowledge of field names. The resident vicar of Falstone had no knowledge of this early chapel. (12)
Incomplete house-shaped memorial, in Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne, accession no 1814.23. First mentioned in 1822 when given to the Society of Antiquaries. Measures 0.324m x 0.176m x 0.152m deep. Incomplete and worn in places.
The stone is incomplete on every face and appears to have been split at mid-point. Bi-alphabetical inscription on one face. The long side is slightly curved and with the remains of a pointed gable gives the appearance of a house shape. Two panels with inscriptions on the long face of the stone. Left panel, first two lines unclear, last three read:
+EO[-]
TAAE[FT]AER
HROETHBERHT[E]
BECUNAEFTAER
EOMAEGEBIDAEDDERSAUL[E]
Right panel, runic inscription, may be read:
+[-]
aeftaerroe[--]
tae[be]cunae[f]taere[o--]
geb[i]daedpe[r]saule
Translated: 'in memory of Hroethberht, a monument of the uncle: pray for (sc 'his') soul'. Stephens (1884) saw other letters on the 'roof' but none are visible today.
A skeuomorph of a metal or bone reliquary or shrine. It could have stood on a small pediment and might have been built into the wall of a church. (13)
Description of inscribed stone as (13) above. (14)
Additional Reference (15)
NRHE lists a general association between NRHE UID 15733 and 1094503 which both form part of this HER number (15)
N6965
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; D A Davies
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Falstone Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
HISTORIC AREA ASSESSMENT, Falstone Village Atlas (Historic Tynedale Village Atlas) ; The Archaeological Practice Ltd
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