56 Report of the Meetings for 1894. 



the foundation, 31st August, (old style), when St. Aidan died, 

 and when the sun at rising would then strike the pointer. The 

 parishioners at present observed the Slst August, but which, 

 allowing for the old style, should be the 11th September or 

 thereabouts. 



Many members of the Club regretted the present disrepair 

 of Grace Darling's tomb. The churchyard once extended 

 across the road, and included part of the plantation, which 

 is nearly 70 years old. 



The present village is all that is left of an ancient town 

 once clustering around the Castle, and extending some distance 

 inland. According to Canon Long, it does not occupy exactly 

 the site of the ancient town, and he mentioned, in proof, that 

 the "Roman Way" led thence to the Church. It appears also 

 to have been the highway to the encampment at Spindlestone. 



It is convenient to mention here that, after dinner, Canon 

 Long invited the Club to continue its explorations to the ruins 

 of a second and later monastery — that of the Preaching Friars. 

 The fragment of building is part of the east chancel wall, 

 from which an arched window sprang. Near this also was 

 the site of the Bastle or Bastile, a square tower for defence, 

 and probably somewhat similar. Canon Long thought, to the 

 structure belonging to the Augustinian Monastery, at the S. 

 side of the churchyard wall. 



The Castle Hill is a huge pile of basaltic rock, which forms 

 quite a natural fortress. Short references to its history are 

 frequent in our Proceedings. The Club visited Bamburgh 

 on 21st June 1854, 20th June 1855, 25th August 1864, and 

 27th June 1872. 



Recently Mr Cadwallader J. Bates, one of our members, 

 has described the Castle in the Border Holds of Northumberland, 

 Parts 34 and 38 of Archseologia Aeliana, the Transactions of 

 the Society of Antiquaries at Newcastle. 



Our visit to-day was specially instructive, as a narrative of 

 its history had been prepared for us by our co-member, Mr 

 E. G. A. Hutchinson, who is also the Resident Agent for 

 the Crewe Trustees. 



Through the courtesy of Lord Armstrong and of Dr Hodgkin, 

 who occupies the keep, the Club made a complete investigation 

 of the Castle. The courtyard and walls, the great kitchen, 

 with its ventilating shafts over the arches of the chimney, 



