120 Amble and H(iuxle>j. By J. C. Hodgson. 



which here is great Plenty. Vast Flocks of Wild Fowl 

 continually harbour and lay their Eggs on this Island, by the 

 sale of which the Fishermen make great Advantages as well by 

 the Fish which they catcj> here in Abundance. Its Air is reck- 

 oned unhealthy by reason of the frequent Fogs that rise here : 

 the soil is barren, and the Island is often attacked by 

 Tempests." 



In 175,. the island was sold by John Widdrington to the 

 Duke of Northumberland. 



In 1815 it was advertised to be let, and was described as 

 containing 13 acres with rabbit warren and sea-ware.'"^ 



It was subsequently rented by the father of Mr Dand : the 

 latter can remember the richness of the milk produced by the 

 cows pastured there ; the cream standing the old time dairy 

 maid's test of excellence, by carrying unbroken the old copper 

 penny piece. 



Later the island was the scene of the Duke of Northum- 

 Iterland's experiment in the breeding of the white Angola 

 rabbit — the result was unsatisfactory. The rabbit, the tern, 

 and the eider duck were banished after the building of the 

 lighthouse. 



Seals inhabited the north part of the island, and were 

 sufficiently numerous to causes the fishers great trouble by 

 taking the salmon from the nets. They were shot down by 

 the pleasure seekers, brought from Tyneside by the steam 

 boats some 25 years ago. 



The island is now leased to the Trinity House, which 

 maintains a lighthouse — a granite tower eighty feet above 

 high watnr, with a revolving light, which occults three seconds 

 in eveiy minute, and is said to be at its brightest at a twenty 

 mile radius. It requires the attendance of three men, wh(j 

 with their families are the j)resent inhabitants. 



In the present building is incorporated the vault of the 

 old tower : in the curtilage is a grave cover which makes a 

 capital table for the children to beat sandstone, under which 

 operation the cross has become almost obliterated. There is 

 also a very curiously cut stone — a so-called confessional. 



The Plate of ' St. Cuthbert's Hermitage, or Oratory, on 

 Coquet Isle,' given by Grose, is undoubtedly of the chapel 

 and buildings on the House Island — one of the Fames— and 

 '06 Local Papers, 29th April 1815. 



