Report of the Meetings Jor 1893. 243 



The following objects of interest at and connected with 

 Netherwitton Hall were shown: — 



1. — The family portraits (very numerous) chiefly Thorntons and 

 relatives of the Thorntons, as Scrope of Danby, Swinburne of Capheaton, 

 RadclifEe of Dilston, Meynell of Kilvington (Yarm.) The collection is 

 remarkable as being composed almost entirely of portraits of members of 

 old North -country Catholic families. The Thorntons of Netherwitton 

 were, at all times, staunch Roman Catholics. 



2. — The "Priest's Hiding Place," apparently a genuine hiding hole, 

 well contrived, opening off a cupboard in a room on the third storey. 

 Lord Lovat of '45 is said to have been hidden here, but I do not know 

 that this is authentic. The hiding hole was probably constructed solely 

 for the use of the Catholic clergy, in case of necessity, in the time of the 

 penal laws. 



3. — The old tower or oldest part of the mansion (incorporated with the 

 later building) with a coat of arms and date (I think time of Edward V.) 



Hodgson gives full particulars about the date of Netherwitton Hall. 

 I may be wrong in supposing one part of the present mansion at Nether- 

 witton to be older than the rest. 



On the back wall of the house one can trace distinctly the mark of the 

 gable of the chapel, pulled down in the present century by the Trevelyan 

 family. This was the domestic chapel of the family, and was used for the 

 Catholic service in the time of the Thornton family. The chapel appears 

 to have been of considerable size. Even within the last 100 years almost 

 all the inhabitants of the village were Catholics. 



4. — Some remarkably fine oak trees, in the wood north-west of the 

 House. These no doubt were shown and notes taken of them. N.B. — 

 The silver firs in the avenue at Nunnykirk are very fine. 



5. — The old tower or chapel-house of Witton- Shields, formerly part of 

 the Netherwitton estate, built by the Thorntons, probably about 1608, 

 which date is on a stone on the outside of the tower. This tower, and 

 some land adjoining, has for long been in the possession of the Roman 

 Catholic Church — apparently by gift of the Thornton family. The first 

 floor is entirely occupied by the chapel, which is ecclesiastically and 

 otherwise dependent on the Roman Catholic Church of Longhorsley (one 

 mile and a half east of Netherwitton) and is served from there. The arms 

 of Thornton impaling Radcliffe are on the ceiling of the chapel. The walls 

 of the chapel are covered with very beautiful black oak, reaching to the 

 ceiling. A foundation for Masses for the souls of members of the families 

 of Thornton and Swinburne of Capheaton, is attached to Witton- Shields. 

 A portion of the old Baptismal register of this chapel is preserved at 

 Longhorsley. 



