Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 261 



length, and for some distance contains a briskly running stream 

 of surface drainage. Near the abbey it was conveyed in an 

 arched conduit of stone about five or six feet high ; this has been 

 destroyed within the last few years, together with the original 

 oak frame of the sluice by which the admission of water was 

 regulated."*' This water from the Wansbeck is believed to 

 have anciently filled a fish pond near the abbey. At one time 

 there prevailed a firm impression in the minds of the people 

 around that the abbey was connected with Morpeth Castle, and 

 the opinion gained strength, when the culvert or arch — long 

 since silted up — was come upon in the recent operations, it being 

 carried, as it were, straight in the direction of the castle. 



Leaving Newminster we followed for some distance this ditch, 

 till the public road was regained. Eank beds of the butter-bur 

 {Petasites vulgaris), which William Turner, the old Morpeth 

 botanist, says, was in his time " called in Northumberland, an 

 Eldin," grew on its banks. This plant is still known as an 

 "EU-docken," at Kirkwhelpington. The fine beeches that we 

 saw after leaving Morpeth were remarkably well twigged and 

 leafy. But now, several of the oaks and ashes had put on a 

 second crop of foliage, which was stiU flaunting the pale brown, 

 yellow, red and green tints of immaturity. These were recoveries 

 from frost bite, consequent on a vigorous flow of summer sap, of 

 the half-ripened twigs of last season. Sometimes these had 

 snapped off, and new buds originating beneath the bark pushed 

 out fresh shoots or tufts of leaves. The Wansbeck here flows 

 over beds of sandstone, and the water is very limpid. Sand- 

 martins were flying over the water, and a single young pied wag- 

 tail was walking along the rocks. The dipper was expected to 

 put up its appearance, but was invisible. In Turner's time the 

 *' Morpetenses," called it the '' water-craw."t A very miniature 

 leaved maple was noted as a singularity, as we turned towards 

 Mitford. Spital Hill stood on the height on the right hand, 

 occupying the position of St. Leonard's Hospital, founded by Sir 

 William Bertram, in the reign of Henry I. This was a distinct 

 institution from the chapel of St. Leonard, near Mitford, which 

 in 1491, when in a waste state, was conveyed with a cottage in 

 Benrige, and other tenements and lands to Newminster. J It 



* Introd. to Chart. Nov. Mon. p. xv. 

 t Eambles in Northumberland, p. 49. % Chart. Nov. Mon. p. 249, etc. 



