REPOftT Ol* MEteTlMGS FOU 1905 2?5 



illustrated at Dunstanburgh Castle, a few miles further 

 North. In the clefts of the rock, but beyond the reach of 

 the collector, fine tufts of Asplenium marinum were observed. 

 On reaching the top of the headland, the travellers rejoiced 

 to find that the next portion of the route consisted of a grass 

 track all the way to Craster, on which, here and there, rocks 

 with unmistakable glacial markings obtruded themselves, and 

 a series of hewn stones had been stationed at intervals to 

 guide the men of the Coastguard service on their night- 

 patrols in winter. 



Before entering the village, a view of Craster Tower, of 

 which an old pele built before 1415 forms the central 

 portion, was obtained, concerning which Captain Norman 

 communicated the following : — This estate was originally 

 granted to the Craster family, of which Thomas William 

 Craster, Esquire, is the present representative, nearly six 

 centuries ago. The family is a very old one, Albert, its 

 founder, having been in possession of Craster before the 



year 1168. The village is devoted to the 

 Craster fishing and herring-curing industries, and the 



Village and inhabitants for the most part are distinguished 

 Harbour. by the surnames of Archbold, Smailes, and 



Simpson. Situated at the South-East end of 

 the parish of Embleton, it is noted for a valuable 

 outcrop of Whinstone, part of the geological formation 

 already referred to, which has rendered it long famous for 

 quarrying. In the Newcastle Courant of 14th March 1772 

 the following advertisement appeared : " Craster Whinstone 

 Quarries. Wanted immediately a number of good hands that 

 understand the dressing of said stones for paving London 

 Streets." The village can boast of a small natural haven for 

 cobbles, but cannot as yet provide accommodation for the 

 large herring and deep-sea fishing boats, of which it owns a 

 few, which in consequence are laid-up at Amble when not 

 required. In regard to this serious hindrance to the develop- 

 ment of that industry, it is interesting to learn from the 

 present proprietor that the want of a harbour at Craster has 

 long been recognised, and a Provisional Order is now before 

 Parliament to sanction the making of one. The late Captain 

 Charles Craster, who recently lost his life during the storming 



