Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 259 



conduct the same service for them as if they had been two 

 monks.* John the son of the aforesaid Patrick de Kestern, 

 granted them land in Caistron along with his body.f His son 

 John, still more generous and facile, sold to Newminster both 

 Caistron and Werihill. AU these, as well as their ancestor 

 Edgar, were written among the benefactors of the house ; as well 

 they might, after their noble estate had been nibbled away 

 gradually, and then swallowed up by the rapacity of their 

 spiritual guides.^ Hugo de Lakenby also gave them 21 acres of 

 land in the vill of Edington, with his body.§ 



The possessions of the abbey were valuable and extensive, 

 comprising numerous lands on both sides of the Wansbeck, or in 

 the adjoining district ; vast tracts on the Coquet, including Kid- 

 land, lands in Kestern, Elotwayton (Flotterton), Bitelisden, 

 Scharbirton, Stretton, &c. ; two pits or drifts for extracting sea- 

 coal ; salt works near the mouths of the Blythe and Coquet ; 

 fisheries on the Tyne ; houses in Newcastle ; Chopwell on the 

 Derwent ; lands in Filton, Tolland, and Swinburn, in Chollerton 

 parish ; the advowson of Whelpington ; peat moss at Edling- 

 ham, &c., &c.|| The value of their property has been estimated 

 at £20,000 per annum of the present money. 



The young plants of Verlascum Thapsus or mullein, and the 

 common Celandine ( Chelidonium majus) seen about the ruins are 

 perhaps survivals of seeds that may have retained their vitality 

 since the buildings became covered up with soil. 



The old north road from Newcastle, passed by the west side of 

 the abbey ; the bridge by which it crossed the river has now 

 ceased to exist. The abbey grange stood at the end of the 

 bridge. 



From its propinquity to the public road, there was a friendly 

 resort to it, by the royal army, and noblemen and others both 

 from England and Scotland, which was felt to be very burden- 

 some. In Jan. 5, 1300, Edward I. directs from it by brief of 

 Privy Seal, a commission to Lord Saint John to receive the men 

 of Annandale to the king's peace.^ Edward II, dated public 

 documents from it, Sept. 8th to llth, 1310 ; and on May 29 to 

 3], and from June 1 to 12, 1314, and on Aug. 7, 1322; and 



* Chart. N. M. pp. 118-120. f P- 121. % IT), pp. 140, 146 ; 301. 



§ lb. p. 166 II Charters, passim. 



If Historical Documents, Scotland, ii., p. 409. 



IG 



