More information : [NU 2414 0594] Warkworth Hermitage [NR] (remains of) [NAT] (1)
(Note: The OS record for NU 20 NW 6 is missing up to the Field
Recorder below and is thus derived from the latest Scheduled entry)
Condition unchanged, drip well surveyed at 1/2500. (2)
Warkworth Hermitage. Grade I. (3)
NU 2414 0594. Warkworth Castle Hermitage. Scheduled RSM No 23232.
The monument comprises Warkworth Castle hermitage and is situated
on the River Coquet in an area formerly part of the manor of
Warkworth known as Sunderland Park. Originally the hermitage
consisted of three chambers carved out of a projecting part of
the riverside cliff. No documentary evidence for the foundation
of the hermitage has been found, but the architectural detail of
the rock-cut features indicates an early 14th century date. The
three chambers include the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, a sacristy
to the N of this and, to the W, a small room interpreted as the
early living quarters of the hermit. Access was via a porch leading
through the cliff face into the SW corner of the chapel. The walls
and roof of the chapel were carved to imitate a structure of three
vaulted bays, but the work was interrupted by the Scottish raid on
Warkworth in 1341 and never completed. The chapel measures 6.2m by
2.3m and has a rock-cut altar at the E end with a recess for relics
above. On the N side is the door into the sacristy, a squint which
allowed the chapel altar to be seen from inside the sacristy, and
an unglazed traceried window which allowed light into the sacristy
from outside. On the S side is a basin carved inside a bay lit by
a quatrefoil opening, and a second recess containing a carved
religious scene lit by two single-light windows. Carvings depicting
the crucifixion and the instruments of Christ's Passion appear over
the doorways into the chapel and sacristy, both accompanied by
inscriptions taken from the Psalms. The sacristy measures 8.5m by
1.6m and was formerly partitioned at the W end to create an
additional room. At the E end is an altar with a small recess for
a lamp, while two aumbries are cut into the rock on the N side.
Formerly, the interior of the three chambers included painted
decoration throughout.
At some point in the late 14th or early 15th century, the hermitage
was extended by the construction of more spacious and comfortable
living quarters comprising a hall, kitchen and solar or private room.
The latter was built onto the W side of the original rock-cut living
chamber whose outer wall must have already collapsed or been
demolished for the purpose. The solar contained a garderobe, a
window overlooking the river and doors leading to the sacristy and
to the rock-cut stairs leading up to the chapel. The hall and kitchen
lay below the solar and chapel, set partly beneath an overhang in
the cliff. A central doorway led into a small lobby which gave onto
the hall on the left and kitchen on the right. The hall, or living
area, measures 5.5m by 4.6m and includes a large window overlooking
the river, a fireplace, a cupboard and, in the NE corner, a doorway
into a two-storey annexe which was added to the hermitage in the
late 15th or 16th century. The kitchen is 4.6m square and contains
the base of an oven. The doorway into the kitchen was blocked in the
relatively recent past. To the E of the kitchen, near the steps
leading up to the chapel, is another flight of stairs which rise
through a tunnel to the site of the hermitage farm on the cliff-top
above.
The founder of the hermitage is believed to have been Henry, second
Lord Percy of Alnwick, who was granted Warkworth Castle in 1332 and
died in 1353. The hermitage is not mentioned in records, however,
until 1487 when Thomas Barker was appointed for life by the fourth
earl of Northumberland to be 'chaplain of the chantry in Sunderland
Park'. Both hermitage and chapel had fallen out of use by 1567 when
it is recorded that the buildings were in decay and that the fields
belonging to the hermitage had reverted to the earls of Northumberland. The monument has been in State care since 1923. (4)
Probably founded about 1400 by the first Earl of Northumbria, possibly as a chantry chapel rather than a true hermitage. The rock cut chapel and living quarters date from the 14th and 15th centuries. it comprises three vaulted bays. The interior features a nativity scene. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and its internal ornament- the Nativity Scene- suggests in addition devotion to the Virgin Mary. The doorway to the innner chamber has a shield carved over it on which are the instruments of Christ's crucifixion. the chapel had fallen out of use by 1567 and was the subject of a romantic and fanciful poem published in 1771. The Hermitage is in the care of English Heritage. (5)
, [NU 2414 0594] Warkworth Hermitage [NR] (remains of) [NAT] (1)
(Note: The OS record for NU 20 NW 6 is missing up to the Field
Recorder below and is thus derived from the latest Scheduled entry)
Condition unchanged, drip well surveyed at 1/2500. (2)
Warkworth Hermitage. Grade I. (3)
NU 2414 0594. Warkworth Castle Hermitage. Scheduled RSM No 23232.
The monument comprises Warkworth Castle hermitage and is situated
on the River Coquet in an area formerly part of the manor of
Warkworth known as Sunderland Park. Originally the hermitage
consisted of three chambers carved out of a projecting part of
the riverside cliff. No documentary evidence for the foundation
of the hermitage has been found, but the architectural detail of
the rock-cut features indicates an early 14th century date. The
three chambers include the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, a sacristy
to the N of this and, to the W, a small room interpreted as the
early living quarters of the hermit. Access was via a porch leading
through the cliff face into the SW corner of the chapel. The walls
and roof of the chapel were carved to imitate a structure of three
vaulted bays, but the work was interrupted by the Scottish raid on
Warkworth in 1341 and never completed. The chapel measures 6.2m by
2.3m and has a rock-cut altar at the E end with a recess for relics
above. On the N side is the door into the sacristy, a squint which
allowed the chapel altar to be seen from inside the sacristy, and
an unglazed traceried window which allowed light into the sacristy
from outside. On the S side is a basin carved inside a bay lit by
a quatrefoil opening, and a second recess containing a carved
religious scene lit by two single-light windows. Carvings depicting
the crucifixion and the instruments of Christ's Passion appear over
the doorways into the chapel and sacristy, both accompanied by
inscriptions taken from the Psalms. The sacristy measures 8.5m by
1.6m and was formerly partitioned at the W end to create an
additional room. At the E end is an altar with a small recess for
a lamp, while two aumbries are cut into the rock on the N side.
Formerly, the interior of the three chambers included painted
decoration throughout.
At some point in the late 14th or early 15th century, the hermitage
was extended by the construction of more spacious and comfortable
living quarters comprising a hall, kitchen and solar or private room.
The latter was built onto the W side of the original rock-cut living
chamber whose outer wall must have already collapsed or been
demolished for the purpose. The solar contained a garderobe, a
window overlooking the river and doors leading to the sacristy and
to the rock-cut stairs leading up to the chapel. The hall and kitchen
lay below the solar and chapel, set partly beneath an overhang in
the cliff. A central doorway led into a small lobby which gave onto
the hall on the left and kitchen on the right. The hall, or living
area, measures 5.5m by 4.6m and includes a large window overlooking
the river, a fireplace, a cupboard and, in the NE corner, a doorway
into a two-storey annexe which was added to the hermitage in the
late 15th or 16th century. The kitchen is 4.6m square and contains
the base of an oven. The doorway into the kitchen was blocked in the
relatively recent past. To the E of the kitchen, near the steps
leading up to the chapel, is another flight of stairs which rise
through a tunnel to the site of the hermitage farm on the cliff-top
above.
The founder of the hermitage is believed to have been Henry, second
Lord Percy of Alnwick, who was granted Warkworth Castle in 1332 and
died in 1353. The hermitage is not mentioned in records, however,
until 1487 when Thomas Barker was appointed for life by the fourth
earl of Northumberland to be 'chaplain of the chantry in Sunderland
Park'. Both hermitage and chapel had fallen out of use by 1567 when
it is recorded that the buildings were in decay and that the fields
belonging to the hermitage had reverted to the earls of Northumberland. The monument has been in State care since 1923. (4)
Probably founded about 1400 by the first Earl of Northumbria, possibly as a chantry chapel rather than a true hermitage. The rock cut chapel and living quarters date from the 14th and 15th centuries. it comprises three vaulted bays. The interior features a nativity scene. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and its internal ornament- the Nativity Scene- suggests in addition devotion to the Virgin Mary. The doorway to the innner chamber has a shield carved over it on which are the instruments of Christ's crucifixion. the chapel had fallen out of use by 1567 and was the subject of a romantic and fanciful poem published in 1771. The Hermitage is in the care of English Heritage. (5)
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