176 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



JJ40. The prior, Sir William Wefton, died of grief. 

 The priory-lands were annexed to the crown, except 6co marks 

 per annum given to four knights and two gentlemen for their va- 

 lour ; ico marks to each, with a dwelling-houfe, for ever. Their 

 names were Sir John Dudley, Sir Thomas Seimour, Sir Thomas Poin- 

 ings, Sir George Q<reiv, Anthony Kingftou^ and Richard Cromwell (k). 



Fenham was afterwards in the poffeflion of the ancient family 

 of the Riddels, anceftors of Thomas Riddel, of Swinburn-Caftle, Efq; (I), 



It is now the manour and feat of William Ord, Efq; high merifF 

 of Northumberland, 1747. His feat is a modern flructure, large 

 and handfome. From the eaft front is a fine profpect of the ri- 

 ver Tyne, of the fhips in the river, of the church fmj and villa of 

 Girwy, famous for its monaflery, the rcfidence of venerable Bede, 

 of the villa ofCbirton, and the admired ruin of the priory-church 

 of Tynemouth, on a clear day. 



(k) Hoi. Chron. vol. ii. p. 351. (I) See Swinburn-caMe. 



(m) Built in the reign of K. Egfrid, as atteftcd by the following infcription in the churcli- 

 wall. 



DEDICATIO BASILICAE 

 SCI PAVLI VIIII KL MAI 



ANNO XV EGFRIDI REG 

 CEOLFRIDI ABB EIUSDEM 



Qi ECCLES DO AUCTORE 



CONDITORIS ANNO IIII 



Thus read, 



Dedicatio Bafilicae Sandli Paul! gno Kal. Mali Anno 15 Egfrtdi regis. Cleifridi Abbatis 

 ejufdem Ecclefiae, Deo Au&ore, Conditoris Anno (Elelionis, fcilt.) 410. 



