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

The Hermitage is a chapel hewn in the rock cliff of the River Coquet half a mile above the Castle and on the other side of the water. For the beauty of its position, its proportions and the carving of its vaulted roof it is unique in England. The only comparable rock chapel is said to be Guy's Cliff, near Warwick. It was in continuous use as a place of prayer for 200 years before the Reformation (1350 - 1550). The names of fou chaplains are recorded and have come down to us. The last to be appointed was Sir George Lancastre in 153, and these were the terms of his appointment:

'Henry, Earl of Northumberland. In consideration of the diligent and thankful service that my well beloved Chaplain Sir George Lancastre hath done unto me, and also for the good and virtuous disposition that I do perceive in him. He shall have in his daily recommendation and prayers the good estate of such noble blood now living, and the souls of such noble blood as be departed to the mercy of God out of this present life, whose names are contained and written in a table upon parchment signed with the hand of me the said Earl. Further that he shall keep and say his divine service in celebrating and doing masse of requiem each week'

To support him he was granted a pasture for twelve cattle, a garden (reached by a stone staircase), twenty loads of firewood, one draught of fish every Sunday from the pool opposite, together with £20 a year taken from the fishing rights.

The legendary origin of the chapel told in the Percy Ballad, is that a young knight, Sir Bertram, was challenged by the Lady Isabel if Widdrington to do some deed of daring to win her hand. Riding against the Scots he was wounded; she rode to help him, but was herself taken and imprisoned in a Scottish castle. Sir Bertram and her brother set out independantly of each other to rescue her, and Sir Bertam, while attempting to save his lady, fought with and killed her brother without recognising him. The lady, realising what was happening, flung herself between the warring brothers, and was also slain. The young knight devoted the rest of his life to the hewing of the chapel for prayers and penance to atone for this double bloodshed.

This may account for the carved figures on the right hand side of the altar, for the rood over the entrance and the words that once appeared there, 'My tears have been my meat day and night.' The Hermitage may be reached by ferry, and is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays during the summer months.