54 E.ev. J. W. Dunn on Warkworth. 



ascertained, and that I have allowed to be introduced 

 nothing of new for which condonation may not be granted. 



Leaving you to make your own observations upon the 

 church exteriorly and interiorly, and gladly offering any in- 

 formation upon the spot which I may be able to render, I 

 shall mention but one or two things respecting it to direct 

 your inspection. 



I have stated that a church is recorded as being in exist- 

 ence here in 737, and that Ceolwulph, king of Northumber- 

 land, gave it to the monks of Lindisfarne when he entered 

 that monastery. 



In our restoration work we found a quantity of Norman 

 remains, corbels, mouldings, &c., but no trace of Ceolwulph's 

 pious toil, until, one day, an undoubted Saxon relic pre- 

 sented itself which you will find in the chancel. 



Thus stimulated, we were of course on the alert to find 

 other traces of a similar description, and it was not long be- 

 fore our watchings were rewarded by the discovery of what I 

 believe to be the veritable ruins of the church of Ceolwulph. 

 These curious remains lie buried low near the chancel arch, 

 and consist of the angles of a building with a south wall run- 

 ning some distance westward. A huge stone rested upon 

 the south-eastern corner of this wall, which on being raised, 

 disclosed in the block beneath it, a longitudinal cavity. It 

 may be imagined with what eagerness we dived into this 

 treasure hole in the expectation of finding coins or other 

 remembrancers of Ceolwulph himself. But here again an early 

 bird had preceded us many a long year. It is every way 

 probable that the Norman builders had been before us, as we 

 found that they had monopolized the stones of this ancient 

 structure as far as they were available, for the foundation of 

 their chancel. 



In the chancel you will find, as I have stated, the curious 

 Saxon fragment, containing a rude cross with knot work on 

 both sides ; and also on the wall near to it, the few letters of 

 a most puzzling incised inscription which I brought to light 

 beneath the panelling, and which I have caused to be care- 

 fully preserved. 



The vestry, which is worth inspecting, has at some time, 

 probably during the Early English period, been added to the 

 north side of the chancel, and was in all likelihood the habitat 

 of an anchorite. Here, in the west wall, I opened out a curi- 

 ous" window which may have been used as a confessional. 



The porch, also, is an afterthought, apparently, to the south 



