Spurs found near the foundations of Belford Castle. 89 



An account of the Spurs found near the foundations of 

 Belford Castle. By the Rev. J. D. Clark. 



About thirty-five years ago, when some workmen were 

 employed in enlarging the mill pond, formerly part of one 

 of the moats of Belford Castle, they discovered, close to the 

 foundation on the south side, some human bones and a pair 

 of bronze spurs which have been richly gilt, and are still in 

 good preservation. I'he rowels are 2^ inches in diameter 

 with 20 points, the clasps are in the form of Fleur-de-lys. 

 They were submitted in 1823 to Dr. Meyrick of London, then 

 the great authority in Antiquarian matters. He stated that 

 they were of the period just succeeding King Henry VI. 

 (A.D. 1461), and preceding the large rowel of King Edward 

 the IV. 



It is not unlikely that they may have adorned the boots of 

 some French Knight who accompanied Margaret of Anjou 

 from France, when she prevailed on Louis XI. to send over 

 2000 men at arms to assist her in an inroad upon England, and 

 who landed on the coast of Northumberland. A part of these 

 forces were defeated at the battle of Hedgley Moor, by Lord 

 Montacute, Warden of the Eastern Marches. ^'^ The un- 

 fortunate owner of the spurs may have been wounded in the 

 battle, and dying at this place on his way back to the coast, 

 been buried on the outside of the walls of the castle. f 



Obituary Notice of the late Rev. Joseph Wat kins Barnes, 

 Vicar of Kendal. By R. C. Embleton. 



Since our last anniversary, we have to lament the death of 

 one of our earliest members — the Rev. Joseph Barnes. He 

 was son of the late Vicar of Berwick, and was born there in 

 the year 1806. He received from his father the foundation 

 of that education, which, by subsequent study and perseve- 

 rance, enabled him to obtain those high honors he ultimately 

 aspired to. From the care of his father, he proceeded to the 

 University of Durham, where he obtained an exhibition, and 

 in 1824 to Trinity College, Cambridge. He was very shortly 

 elected scholar, and in 1828 he took his Bachelor's degree, 

 his name appearing in the first class Classical Tripos, and 

 also among the senior Optimes of the year. In the follow- 

 ing year he was elected a Fellow, one of the highest honors 

 which await on intellectual ability. In 1831 he took his 

 Master's degree. He became a member of our Club in the 



* 25th April, 1464, according to Hume. 



t Castrura de Belfurth, held by Lord Darcy about 1460. 



Fp 



