A Short History Church Interior Church Outside The Hermitage The School Coquet Island The Vicarage The Vicars

Turning to the left, notice the doorway in the corner leading up to the Parvise, or Paradise (the park outside the palace). Once a curate's lodging it has served many generations of Sunday School children. Further on, by the chancel door, are three stone coffins of twelfth or thirteenth century knights. Round the end of the church, notice the old door of the vestry and the original window leges. The staircase gives access to the space above the Chancel. The buttresses were built to stop any further bulging of the wall. In 1830 a third buttress was contemplated but was found to be unnecessary. These buttresses give the nave a ship like effect.

The Churchyard - Some gravestones have been re-faced and the letters re-cut. This applies to the huntsman's tomb on the left of the main gate. Under three hunting horns are the words 'Here lyeth the body of Edward Dodsworth, East Chevington huntsman to King James who departed to the mercy of God the 30th May Anno Domini 1630.'

The Forster Family - Lt. John Forster R.N., of Low Buston, served aboard H.M. Hospital Ship Princess Caroline in 1762. His son was in business in London at the time when Brandenberg House, once the residence of the Queen Caroline, was being demolished and he bought the marble paving, some Adam chimney-pieces and bronze stair rails, for his home in Bridge Street which is now the Warkworth House Hotel.
Edward Cook of Togston - was a breeder of dogs. He went to the U.S.A., taking a pointer with hom which he lost while out shooting in Baltimore. Some time later the dog turned up at is old home near Warkworth, to the great suprise of the cook family. The dog lived to welcome its master home again, but no one ever solved the mystery of its journey back to England from America.

Isabella Johnson - On the grave of a child of fifteen are cut the words:

'It pleased the Lord to end my time
When I Was young and in my prime
And send me to a place of rest
Where Jesus Christ did think it best.'

The Churchyard wall - was kept in repair by the various farms, each farm being responsible for so many yards. The farms also took it in turns to provide bread to be offered on the altar, 'Holy Bread'.

The Parish Registers - These are now held by Northumberland Record Office and can be viewed by making an appointment. The church warden's account books, dating back to 1722, have many interesting entries. One shilling was piad for every fox's head, 8d. for cub heads; bills for white-washing the walls of the church; for laundry and mending of the 'suplice'; for ringing the bells at Gunpowder Plot; for mending the violin; for cleaning the bridge spouts; 'Rogue money' for support of prisoners in Durham gaol, including discharged soldiers and sailors Penitent sheets, 3d., for those who had done amiis and must make public confession at morning prayer. Walter Besant's 'Let nothing you dismay', gives a vivid description of such a scene taking place in Warkworth Church.

Tithe Barn - At the west end of the church stands the former vicarage. To the east, giving its name to the lane stood the tithe barn. In 1663 various 'tythes' are mentioned, including wool, pig, goose, foal, hens and bees. There were doors on the north and on the south to get a through-draught, when winnowing of the corn was in progress. Latterly it was used as a parish room; according to a play bill on April 21st 1849 'Jane Shore' was performed here. At the beginning of the century a local builder cleverly converted it into three cottages. The original stone remains, but the red tiled roof is gone. Further on towards the bridge, a garden wall hides the foundations of a Benedictine Chapel of the thirteenth century. Before the bridge was built the old approach to the village was across the ford which lies below the former vicarage. The field on the other side is called the 'Night Fold', where sheep and cattle were folded for the night on their way to the markets further south.