Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Inner Farne
Hob Uid: 8298
Location : Northumberland North Sunderland
Grid Ref : NU2180035920
Summary : Early Medieval hermitage and site of St Cuthbert's death in the 7th century AD. Inner Farne became an anchoritic cell with Bishop Aidan retiring there in 651. St Cuthbert spent his last years there until his death in 687. The island was used as by anchorites sucessively until the last anchorite, Thomas de Melsonby who died there in 1246. It then became a Benedictine cell (see NUs3NW3).
More information : [Centred NU 21803592) Farne Island [T.I.] (1) Farne Island or the Inner Farne as it is more usually called has had a special religious significance for over twelve hundred years, for it was here that St Cuthbert died in 687. The island is first mentioned in 651 when Bishop Aiden retired there. Cuthbert lived there from 676 to 687 and after him a succcession of hermits of whom only a few are known by name. By the 12th century the island seems to have lost much of its religious character. The last of the hermits was Thomas De Melsonby who died there in 1246. All the Farne Islands belonged to the Prior and Convent of Durham, probably in the first place a gift of Bishop William De Carilif (1081-96). On the death of Thomas De Melsonby in 1246 the authorities at Durham determined that Farne Island should be inhabited by two monks of the Benedictine order. The first master was appointed in 1255. The House of Farne was dissolved in 1536. After the dissolution of the monasteries the islands were granted to the Dean and Chapter of Durham. In 1670 Charles II authorised the establishment of a lighthouse on the island. Following this the Dean and Chapter granted a 21 year lease of 'Ferne Island' to Francis Liddle of Ogle and from then on the island had a succession of tenants until 1861 when it was sold to Archdeacon Thorp. In 1894 it was purchased by Lord Armstrong. (2) [Description of Farne Island and its associations with St. Cuthbert]. (3) Inner Farne. Reconstructions of what the site of Cuthbert's hermitage may have looked like (illus) in the 7th century show one or two cells with a church set within a circular enclosure with small garden plots nearby. (4) NU 218 359. Monastic settlement on Farne Island. Scheduled No ND/104. (5) The monument is also visible as upstanding structures on air photographs part of the North East Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey. (8)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : Ordnance Survey 6" map 1926
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : 'The Farne Islands' 1951, pp 15-43 (GRACE WATT)
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : 'History of St. Cuthbert 3rd Ed, 1887 pp 32-85, plan (scale approx 1/3178) opp p. 42 (Very Rev, C, EYRE)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Aston M 1993 Know The Landscape: Monasteries 38-39 fig Batsford: London
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : English Heritage SAM List Northumbs March 1994 27
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : English Heritage Scheduled Entry 12/Nov/1996
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Source Number : 7
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Page(s) : 473
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : NMR NU 2135/11 (20473/12) 16-SEP-2005
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Early Medieval
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 410
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : ND 104
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 24642
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NU 23 NW 1
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Related Warden Records :

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Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Inner Farne