Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 257 



■was met with. A considerable part of the Choir of the Church 

 was cleared out, and the site of the High Altar — measuring 13 

 feet 5 inches by 5 feet — was disclosed, and in front of it an 

 empty stone coffin much mutilated. No evidence of the east 

 wall of the church was obtained, but at a point, probably just 

 outside of it, a small stone coffin containing a skeleton was come 

 upon. In an extensive trench, dug length-ways in the north 

 transept, four incised slabs were cleared out, along with three 

 stones of a respond. One of the slabs had only a cross, a second 

 had a cross and a pair of shears ; a third a cross and the words 

 ' Joh'es de la Vale,' and the fourth a cross with the word 

 ' ToMAS ' and a surname, the only portion of which that could 

 be deciphered was ' Sun.' On the stones of the respond was 

 the nimbed figure of an ecclesiastic in proper vestments. The 

 excavations at the west end of the Church revealed several points 

 of interest, but the work was not carried far enough to allow of 

 an accurate conclusion being come to regarding their exact 

 design and character. The work was discontinued through lack 

 of funds. To make a complete exploration of the entire site 

 would require about £200. Mrs Blackett Ord of Whitfield, has 

 granted leave for the work to be done, subscribed towards the 

 expense, and promised to protect whatever of interest is laid 

 open." 



A piece of Purbeck stone was pointed out, as being the frag- 

 ment of a stone lettered '* Laus Deo." The other slabs are local 

 sandstones ; one is known by its large grit. These tombs were 

 broken by the fall of the roof, when the monastery was rifled in 

 the time of Henry YIII. The wall at the high altar was also 

 crushed, and a pillar base was twisted. There is part of a pillar 

 still in situ. 



Documents do not preserve the names of many of those who 

 were privileged with burial within the sacred precincts. St. 

 Eobert, the first Abbot, was laid in the north transept ; and his 

 tomb had eight wax candles burning before it.* Eanulph de 

 Merlay, Lord of Morpeth, who founded the Monastery in 1138, 

 was buried along with Juliana, his wife, daughter of Cospatrick, 

 2nd Earl of Dunbar, and Osbert one of their sons, in the 

 northern part of the chapter-house, f His son, Eoger the first, 

 was interred with his father ; and his son Eoger, the second, was 

 * Chart. Nov. Monast., p. 238. t lb., p. 270. 



