334 Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. 



The company proceeded to the church on the point. Here I 

 adopt the special report of one of the members present. " The 

 memorial slabs, with their great variety of floriated decoration 

 and ornamental crosses and other symbolical carvings, which 

 have been built into the inside of the porch walls, were examined 

 with much care, and a general opinion was expressed that they 

 should be photographed. Once inside the church the majority 

 of the visitors were much surprised to find the two perfect arcades 

 of the original nave enclosed by what are now the outer walls of 

 the building. It was noticed that the pillars, caps, and arches 

 were characteristic of the transition from Early English, though 

 it was somewhat remarkable that each of the two westernmost 

 arches was rounded after the Norman fashion. Mr Longstaffe 

 gave to the company a number of historical details not only 

 respecting the church, but the early history of Newbiggen and 

 Woodhorn [as well as of the possessions of St Cuthbert in the 

 immediate district of Northumberland]. They had both been 

 parcels of the ancient patrimon}" of the Balliols who played so 

 prominent a part in the relations between England and Scotland 

 during the reigns of the first Edwards. The 'men of New- 

 biggen ' were from early times • recognised as practically 

 independent of any superior lord, and transacted their local and 

 public business according to their own laws and customs. Even 

 to this day they maintain many of the rights and franchises of a 

 pure village community ; though in early times the place ranked 

 as a borough, in connection with which there was a very con- 

 siderable trade both by land and sea." 



Newbiggen was on more than one occasion visited by royalty. 

 Edward II., while on his march to prosecute an ineffectual 

 siege of Berwick-on-Tweed, was here three da} r s. On July 10th 

 and 13th, 1319, after fluctuating between Gosford and Newcastle, 

 he was at Gosford, on the 14th at Hertford Bridge and Anebell 

 (Amble), on the 15th at Gosford and Newbiggen, on the 16th at 

 Newbiggen, on the 17th at Anebell and Newbio-gen. He then 

 advanced to Fenham for a week, and on the 29th and 30th was 

 at Bairmor ; on September 4th he had crossed to Kynbrigham, 

 in Scotland, and thence to Roxburgh ; and from the 9th to 17th 

 was occupied with the siege, and his attacks being repulsed, 

 retired to Belford from the 18th to the 20th ; lingered more than 

 a week at Newcastle -on-Tyne, and then withdrew by way of 



