More information : [NU 21783599] In 651 Bishop Aiden used to retire to Farne Island to
pray and parts of his cell were still standing when Bede wrote
[c.705]. In 676 Cuthbert decided to retire there from Lindisfarne
(Holy Island).
Bede describes Cuthbert's cell as being round and about four or five
poles in extent from wall to wall, and made of rough stone and turf.
The roof was made of rough poles and dried grass and the cell itself
was divided in two, one part being used as an oratory and the other asa living room. A spring is said to have appeared in the middle of the hut in answer to Cuthbert's prayers.
On March 20th 687 Cuthbert died and his body taken to Lindisfarne.
After this a succession of hermits, of whom only a few are known by
name, lived on Farne Island. One, Ethelwald lived there from 687
until his death in 699 and was succeeded by Fegeld for whose benefit
the oratory was restored by Eadfred, Bishop of Lindisfarne.
While it is possible that during the next few centuries hermits lived
from time to time on Farne Island, little information is available and it is known that by the 12th century the island had lost most of its religious character and that laymen were living there. St Cuthbert's oratory had become a sheepfold in which, it was said, no one could kneel down on account of the filth. A monk called Aelwin is known to have been living at Farne in 1135. He was joined c.1150 by Bartholomew the most notable of the hermits of Farne, who died in
1193. The last of the hermits was Thomas De Melsony who died there in 1246.
Soon after the death of Thomas De Melsonby it was decided that Farne
Island shold be inhabited by two monks of the Benedictine order and
the first master was appointed c.1255. [See Northum 13 SE 3].
There is considerable doubt about the site of the cell. Eyre
considers that it was about halfway between the chapel [Northum 13 SE
3.1] and the hospitium [Northum 13 SE 3.4] but H.L. Honeyman
believes that it was probably on the site of Prior Castell's tower
[Northum 13 SE 3.3]. Added weight is given to this theory by the fact that the only well on the island - known, incidentally, as St
Cuthbert's well - is in the tower. [Sited to tower]. (1)
[Account of St. Cuthbert's stay on the Farne Islands]. (2)
St. Cuthbert erected his oratory not far from the landing place on the east side of the island. (3)
[NU 1823598] A spring on the north side of the stable [formerly the
Hospitium - See Northum 13 SE ] marks the exact site of St.
Cuthbert's cell. The spring exists to this day. [Accompanying plan -rather distorted - shows a well symbol with the annotation 'St
Cuthbert's Well' approx 20.0m NW of the building annotated
'Hospitium']. (4)
[Includes reproduction of Speed's map of 1611 shows a freshwater
spring between the 'Fishe House' (Hospitium) and the chapels. Map too rudimentary and distorted for siting purposes. (5)
[The hermits and miracles of Farne]. (6)
The spring referred to by authority (4) as St. Cuthbert's Well is
almost certainly that shown on Speed's map of 1611 (authority (5)
refers). It consists of a circular depression 5.0m in diameter and
1.0m deep, the bottom water-filled and with traces of stonework on the south side.
Immediately to the SW of the spring is a roughly circular depression
'scooped' into the north-east slopes. The depression is approx 12.0m
in diameter with a maximum depth of 2.5m. There are also traces of
what appears to be a fragment of enclosing bank on the open north
side. The depression may be quite natural but it does bear some
resemblance to the 'scooped' huts found in many of the earthworks on
the Northumberland mainland. In size and shape it also agrees with
Bede's description of St Cuthbert's cell (authority (1) refers). Its site, quite close to the landing place, is in agreement with authority (3).
Although the evidence is slight it is considered that the spring with
its accompanying 'scooped' depression possibly marks the site of the
hermitage.
The well in the tower, referred to by authority (1) (quoting H.L.
Honeyman), as a probable site of the cell, is a stone lined cavity
approached by steps. Although it is water filled it could not be
ascertained wheter or not the water came from a spring or was merely
the result of seepage. Local opinion is divided. In any case the
tower is situated in an exposed position, an unlikely site for a
structure such as described by Bede. A position a little to the SE,
as previously described, gives good natural shelter from prevailing SW winds, and would be much nearer to the landing place and hospitium (Northum 13 SE 3.4). (7)
Prior Castell's Tower. Grade I. Interior: keeled tunnel-vaulted
ground floor with well in the corner. (8)
NU 218 359. Monastic settlement on Farne Island. Scheduled No ND/104.
(9)
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