226 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1900 



The party then assembled within the Priory ruins to listen 

 to a description of the place by Mr C. C. Hodges, who is 

 thoroughly conversant with his subject. He traced the 

 history of the Priory from the beginning. A wooden 

 thatched church, he said, first occu))ied the site. He had 

 a great deal to say respecting the edifice of which the ruins 

 remain, and also the domestic buildings attached thereto at 

 one time for the u^e of the monks. There was no trace of 

 a Chapter House. After the dissolution of the monasteries 

 the private buildings were turned over to the wardens of 

 the Eastern Marches, and were used as a Government store 

 house for a considerable time. At length they fell into 

 ruins. The main reason why they were not completely 

 destroyed at the time mentioned was this, that there were 

 no important buildings on the island, and these ruins were, 

 therefore, of great use to the authorities. 



From the ruins a move was made to the church, where 

 Sir William Grossman read an able and exhaustive paper 

 on "The Bishops of Lindisfarne," and was thanked for it 

 on the motion of Mr E. 0. Heslop. 



The Vicar of the parish, the Rev. D. Bryson, pointed out 

 several matters of much archaeological note within the walls 

 of the early English church. 



Altogether the day's proceedings proved enjoyable and 

 instructive. The general arrangements were excellent, and 

 neither hitch nor accident of any kind occurred. With the 

 exception of a slight shower, no rain fell during the visit 

 to the island. A cold wind, however, prevailed. 



