58 Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jan. Hardy. 



The rectory-house was originally erected by the Eev. Major 

 Allgood. The following inscription still remains over the en- 

 trance of it, though much injured by the weather : — 

 " Non tarn sibi, quam successoribus suis, 

 Hoc sedificium extruxit Major 

 Allgood, anno mirabili, 1666. 

 Nunc mea, mox hujus, sed postea nescio cujus." 

 This concluding sentiment is almost identical in terms and age 

 with that brought from the old house at Fulfordlees, and now 

 preserved at Houndwood House, Berwickshire : 



"Nunc mea, tunc hujus, post illius nescio cujus, 1606." 

 See Club's "Proceedings," ix., p. 13. 



The old rectory-house was a small border tower in 1522 ; and 

 at that date there was also a bastle house at the Hall barns in 

 Simonburn. 



Canon Bogers in his paper gave a brief outline of the history of 

 Simonburn Castle, which lay to the left after leaving the village. 



" Pew of this gentle and learned company who have already visited 

 Ilanghton Castle and are on their road to Chipchase Castle, are aware that 

 within half a mile of this church stand the ruins of a castle more famous 

 perhaps in late times than either. Simonburn Castle is now but a pictur- 

 esque ruin, but Sir Robert Bowes in 1522 describes it as ' a strong toure of 

 foure house height of the inheiytance of Sr Wyll'm Herons heyrs and yt 

 standeth of a very stronge ground a myle from Chypchase upon the west 

 syde of the ryver of North Tyne and ys in measurable good repacons.' 

 He goes on to say that as the best means of the keeper of Tynedale being 

 able ' to correcte, chastyse, and keep in due oboysaunce, the prowde, ob- 

 stynate, and rebellyons hartes of the said Tyndale,' that not less than 

 fifty horsemen be kept in continual garrison. He continues thus, ' The 

 most convenyent house for the said keeper of Tynedale and the said garri- 

 son with hym, were Chipchase and Symondburne. And Symondburne ys 

 a great and strongely bnylded toure, standinge very defensible upon the 

 corner of an hyll envyroned upon thre quarters thereof with a deep, 

 stave hyll almost inaccessible.' He estimates the cost of the ' barmekyn 

 with all necessary houses for the said keeper of Tynedale and the said 

 fyftie horsemen and stables for their horses at 200 pounds or a lytle more.' 

 Bowes then counsels what would have saved the societies a five miles drive, 

 a ' bridge over the said river of North Tyne, even unto the toure of Chip- 

 chase, that the inhabitants upon both sides of that ryver might assemble 

 by that way to relieve the said keeper of Tyndale as his neede shall 

 require.' There follows a list of the places at which two watchers are to 

 sit, all alone. Names remain unvaried. Among the list of watchers 1 find 

 Sir John Hall, priest, ' shewing that in this matter there was no benefit of 

 clergy.' Tradition savs that early in the last centurv a ' warlock of 



