70 REPORT 01^ MEETINGS FOR 1901 



Appendix I. 

 Holystone. 



The annals of Holystone carry us back a long way in the 

 pages of history. Here are found traces of the pre-historic 

 Briton, the Roman occupation, the Saxon period, and relics 

 of the Middle Ages. The pre-historic period is seen in 

 the camps and earthwork on the sloping banks of the 

 Coquet, and in the flint and bronze implements you have 

 just been examining. Ihe Eoman has left his mark in the 

 paved causeway that runs down through the moors from 

 Rochester in Kede Water {the Roman Station oj Bremenium), 

 passing close to the Lady's Well, crossing the Coquet, and 

 on to Whittingham, wliere it joins the Devil's Causeway. 

 A fine piece of it is bare to this day between here and 

 Yardhope, about a mile off. A record of Saxon times is 

 found in the tradition of Paulinus, the Bishop, having here 

 baptized 3000 Northumbrians at Easter.* The story of 

 Medieval days is read in the history of the convent that 

 once existed here ; also in the scupltured grave covers in the 

 walls of the church, and the ancient masonry in the mill 

 buildings. For several centuries after the Conquest the whole 

 of the lands around, west of the Coquet, were included in 

 the great lordship of Redesdale, and were held in capite by 

 the potent Umfraville. At the dissolution of monasteries 

 several families occupied various interests in Holystone. After 

 passing through the hands of the Selbys of Biddleston, the 

 Dawsons of Alnwick, the Forsters of Lanternside, the Clennells 

 of Harbottle, and Wilkinson of Sunderland, it is now in 

 the possession of Mr F. W. Rich of Hepple Woodhouses. 



Holystone Priory. 



Of the Benedictine Priory of Holystone there remains to-day 

 scarcely a vestige. Only in the roadways in some parts of 

 the village, more especially near to the church, large stones 



* The place-name itself denotes a Saxon origin. 



