Memoir of the Rev. John Frederic Bigge. 213 



dignity of Honorary Cunoii of the Cathedral was offered to kirn 

 by Bishop Wilberforce, which, however, he declined, on the score 

 of age. 



The beginning of these thirty-seven years, the entering on the 

 charge of the parish of Stamfordham, was an anxious time : the 

 former vicar had never, for fifty years, been known to visit the 

 parish, except on the occasion of his institution. The Vicarage 

 house was in a deplorable state : the church, a fine spacious 

 Early English structure of chancel, nave, north and south nave 

 aisles, and western tower, was most forlorn ; and not only that, 

 but the fabric insecure : the land, from which the living in great 

 part derived its income, was utterly neglected. It was not long 

 before all this was set to rights : the church, especially, being 

 admirably restored under the direction of Mr Perry, the architect ; 

 the house of residence thoroughly repaired ; the Vicarage grounds 

 altered and improved ; the land, by personal and careful manage- 

 ment, recovered from decay and greatly increased in value. 

 Upon these efforts followed the division of the parish, a work of 

 no little labour : but which was successfully accomplished, the 

 district of Matfen, three miles from Stamfordham, being detached 

 and formed into a separate parish. The condition of the endowed 

 school in the village also gave him great uneasiness and occasioned 

 him much trouble : which, however, resulted at last in a new and 

 moro satisfactory scheme of government. 



With all this accomplished — church, house, garden, and parish 

 in good order — a visit to the vicarage was indeed a delight : 

 whether as regarded the elegant and comfortable hospitality 

 within, or the objects of interest outside, days passed pleasantly 

 at Stamfordham. Excursions were the rule : sometimes to Sweet- 

 hope Lough, to troll for pike ; to Belsay, to visit the beautiful 

 pole tower and remarkable quarries; to Shaftoe Crag, to hunt for 

 ferns and flowers ; or, ever a welcome expedition, to the lovely 

 banks of the North Tyne. Driving along the Military Way, on 

 the foundations of the ruined wall of Hadrian, passing the site 

 of St Oswald's battle of Heavenfield, Chollerford is reached, with 

 its comfortable inn, the centre of points of interest, with choice of 

 objects all around; the Boman cities of Cilurnum and Borcovicus, 

 now Chesters and Housesteads ; the liomau Bridge, one of at least 

 three on the Tyne ; the remains of the Great Wall itself, with its 

 adjacent works, carried unflinchingly over lowland and crag ; the 

 mediaeval castles of Swinburn, Haughton, and Chipchase, with 



