File:Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales - descriptive, historical, pictorial (1890) (14802976523).jpg

Identifier: cathedralsabbey02bonn (find matches)
Title: Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales : descriptive, historical, pictorial
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Bonney, T. G. (Thomas George), 1833-1923 Bonney, T. G. (Thomas George), 1833-1923
Subjects: Cathedrals Cathedrals Church buildings Church buildings
Publisher: London : Cassell
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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ather-thatchedroofs, now green with moss, and fast decaying. Richard, Prior of Hexham from 1142 to about 1160, was a man of con-siderable literary ability, and, amongst other works, he wrote a history of thechurch over which he ruled. He tells us that in his day the town was moderatein size and thinly inhabited, but formerly ample and magnificent, as the vestigesof antiquity testify. In 674, Queen Etheldreda, the wife of Ecgfrid, King ofNorthumbria, gave to St. Wilfrid land which had formed a portion of her dower.This comprised the district known as Hexhamshire, and included the parishesof Hexham, Allendale, and St. John Lee. St. Wilfrid founded a monastery andbuilt a church, which, according to the old chroniclers, must have been one Hexham.) EARLY DAYS. 335 of the largest and most beautiful to be found lu England at that time. It hada crypt and underground passages, porches, towers, and winding staircases, aswell as galleries in the walls at various heights. There were many chapels,
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THE EXTERIOR. both on the floor and in the galleries above, and these contained altars dedi-cated to Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and Virgins, all the altars being mostsumptuously furnished with vessels and vestments, while the walls were coveredwith paintings and carvings in relief. In 681 Hexham was made a see dependenton York, and its beautiful church became a cathedral, with the right of sanctuary.The old stone seat, called the Fridstool or seat of peace, still remains.It was probably the bishops throne of the Saxon cathedral, but up to the time ofthe abolition of sanctuary it was used as the goal to which the fugitive criminaldirected his steps in order that he might be under the protection of the Church;and being seated in it, none dared molest him. The sanctuary extended for amile from the church in all directions, and four crosses were erected at the fourpoints of the compass to mark its boundaries. The sites of two of these crossesare known, and a fragment of one of them is

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