(NU 21783599) In 651 Bishop Aiden used to retire to Farne Island to pray and parts of his cell were still standing when Bede wrote (c.705). In 676 Cuthbert decided to retire there from Lindisfarne (Holy Island).
Bede describes Cuthbert's cell as being round and about four or five poles in extent from wall to wall and made of rough stone and turf. The roof was made of rough poles and dried grass and the cell itself was divided in two parts, one part being used as an oratory and the other as a living room. A spring is said to have appeared in the middle of the hut in answer to Cuthbert's prayers.
On March 20th 687 Cuthbert died and his body taken to Lindisfarne. After this a succession of hermits, of whom only a few are known by name, lived Farne Island. One, Ethelwald lived there from 687 until his death in 699 and was succeeded by Fegeld for whose benefit the oratory restored by Eadfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne.
While it is possible that during the next few centuries hermits lived from time to time on Farne Island, little information is available and it is known that by the 12th century the island had lost most of its religious character and that laymen were living there. St Cuthbert's oratory had become a sheepfold in which, it was said, no one could kneel down on account of the filth. A monk called Aelwin is known to have been living at Farne in 1135. He was joined c.1150 by Bartholomew the most notable of the hermits of Farne, who died in 1193. The last of the hermits was Thomas de Melsonby who died there in 1246.
Soon after the death of Thomas de Melsonby it was decided that Farne Island should be inhabited by two monks of the Benedictine order and the first master was appointed c.1255.
There is considerable doubt about the site of the cell. Eyre considers that it was about halfway between the chapel and the hospitium, but H L Honeyman believes that it was probably on the site of Prior Castell's tower. Added weight is given to this theory by the fact that the only well on the island, known incidentally as St Cuthbert's Well, is in the tower. (1)
(Account of St Cuthbert's stay on the Farne Islands). (2)
St Cuthbert erected his oratory not far from the landing place on the east side of the island. (3)
(NU 21823598) A spring on the north side of the stable (formerly the hospitium) marks the exact site of St Cuthbert's cell. The spring exists to this day. (Accompanying plan - rather distorted - shows a well symbol with the annotation 'St Cuthbert's Well' approximately 20m north west of the building annotated 'hospitium'). (4)
Includes reproduction of Speed's map of 1611, shows a freshwater spring between the 'Fishe House' (hospitium) and the chapels. Map too rudimentary and distorted for siting purposes. (5)
(The hermits and miracles of Farne). (6)
The spring referred to by authority 4 as St Cuthbert's Well is almost certainly that shown on Speed's map of 1611 (authority 5 refers). It consists of a circular depression 5m in diameter and 1m deep, the bottom water-filled and with traces of stonework on the south side.
Immediately to the south west of the spring is a roughly circular depression 'scooped' into the north-east slopes. The depression is approximately 12m in diameter with a maximum depth of 2.5m. There are also traces of what appears to be a fragment of enclosing bank on the open north side. The depression may be quite natural but it does bear some resemblance to the !scooped! huts found in many of the earthworks on the Northumberland mainland. In size and shape it also agrees with Bede's description of St Cuthbert's cell (authority 1 refers). Its site, quite close to the landing place, is in agreement with authority 3).
Although the evidence is slight it is considered that the spring with its accompanying 'scooped' depression possibly marks the site of the hermitage.
The well in the tower, referred to by authority 1 (quoting H L Honeyman), as a probable site of the cell, is a stone lined cavity approached by steps. Although it is water-filled it could not be
ascertained whether the water came from a spring or was merely the result of seepage. Local opinion is divided. In any case the tower is situated in an exposed position, an unlikely site for a structure such as described by Bede. A position a little to the south east, as previously
described, gives good natural shelter from prevailing south west winds and would be much nearer to the landing place and hospitium. (7)
Part of scheduled monument number 24642, scheduling revised 12th November 1996. Between St Cuthbert's Chapel (NU 23 NW 15) and the hospitium (NU 23 NW 11) lies a circular depression, 5m in diameter and 1m deep. It has traces of stonework on the south side and is interpreted as the site of St Cuthbert's well. There are no natural springs on the island and the seventh century monk and historian Bede describes the well as having been created by Cuthbert digging two pits and praying to God, as a result of which the two holes filled with water. The site of the well has not been located, although it is depicted on Eyre's map of 1887 as lying to the south east of the hospitium.
The post-Conquest monastic settlement on Inner Farne is well preserved and will contain significant archaeological deposits. It is likely that archaeological deposits associated with pre-Conquest activity on the island will also be preserved. The monastic settlement is one of several situated on promontories or island locations in Northumbria and will contribute to our knowledge and understanding of isolated monastic communities in the pre-conquest and post-Conquest periods. (8)