Report of Meetings for 1888. By J. Hardy. 219 



twitch grass. On this island there had been always known to 

 be a chapel dedicated to St. Cuthbert, which was mentioned by 

 the Venerable Bede, and by Dr Kaine in his History of North 

 Durham. Raine gave au inventory of the chapel at the dissolu- 

 tion of the monasteries. Some years asro it was stated that the 

 walls were four feet above the ground, but they had become 

 level with it, and were covered with some turf, but still they were 

 distinctly traceable. He had had the walls laid bare, and found 

 that the chapel extended 24 feet 10 inches from east to west, and 

 12 feet 10 inches from north to ^outh. The east wall was three 

 feet thick, the west wall two feet, and each of the side walls two 

 feet six inches. On the south wall he found traces of a door, 

 but none of any windows, as the walls were too low to show any 

 sills. Near the door on the south wall was found a piece of 

 worked stone which had evidently been part of the ridge stone 

 of a porch. This was the only piece of worked stone found in 

 the chapel, with the exception of the door sills and jambs, the 

 walls being built of the whinstone of the island. Outside of 

 this chapel to the westward, he found there was an enclosure 

 running 28 feet 5 inches from north to south ; and 15 feet 8 

 inches from east to west. The western wall was much broken 

 down, but the other walls were in a pretty fair state of preserva- 

 tion, although entirely covered with earth. Steps were found 

 from the floor of the enclosure to a platform on the north and 

 south sides of the chapel. Whether this platform went all round 

 the chapel it was impossible to say, and it could not be ascer- 

 tained whether the enclosure was covered in or not. A door was 

 found at the north end of the enclosure, showing that a covered 

 passage on to the island had existed. About 1 7 feet from the 

 south wall and 25 feet from the east wall of the chapel was found 

 a rough whinstone wall which has the appearance of a break- 

 water. What the use of this was on the east side it is hard to 

 say, as it is much above the level of high water spring tides ; and 

 some foundations discovered afterwards to the eastward were very 

 much below the level of high water. At the extreme south-east 

 corner of the island, laid on the solid rock and nearly on a 

 level with high water mark were found some foundations of a 

 building which would appear to have been a cell or dwelling- 

 place of a priest attached to the chapel. It seemed to have 

 consisted of a sleeping place and a kitchen. The stones are 

 beautifully cut and accurately laid. A room 15 feet 10 inches 



