|
Tidal
Flats
|
Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle Once known as Lindisfarne, it was here that Saint Aidan of Iowa founded a monastery at the invitation of King Oswald of Northumbria. The Monastery had 16 bishops and the most celebrated was St Cuthbert, who only accepted the job after Northumbria King Ecgfrith pleaded with him. But after two years on the Island he returned to his hermits cell on the nearby Farne islands, where he died in 687. On his death, the monks rowed the body back to Lindisfarne, which then became a place of pilgrimage until 875 when the monks themselves abandoned the Island in fear of Viking attacks, taking St Cuthbert's remains on the the long journey to Durham - and the building of Durham Cathedral commenced. In 1082, the Island was renamed Holy Island and colonised by Benedictine monks from Durham. But the monastery is now in ruin but enough of it survives to give an indication of how it must have once looked. The Lindisfarne Gospels (the pages of the Gospels can be turned electronically at the island's Heritage Centre), are one of the finest illuminated manuscripts in Europe and were written here (a facsimile is also in St Mary's Church on the Island), and such is the significance of the Gospels is that they are now housed in the British Museum in London. Built on a volcanic mound called Beblowe Craig, Lindisfarne Castle can be seen from miles around. It was following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII that the Castle, constructed of stone from the nearby priory, was built in 1550 against attack from Scotland. There's a great view from the castle across the North sea and along the Northumberland coastline, and if visiting the castle check out the lime kilns which are situated under the eastern embankment - up until the turn of the last century slaked lime featured highly in the Island's economy. Holy island retains its small village and harbour, and the mud-flats and dunes are home to a wide variety of birds and flora. Until the road was opened in 1954 the only access was by way of the 'Pilgrim's Causeway' across the sands - make sure that you are aware of the tides when you visit Lindisfarne. Twice a day at high tide the causeway linking Holy Island to the Northumbrian coast is submerged and the Island is cut off from the mainland for about 5 hours - the safe crossing times are posted at either end of the 3 mile trip across the tidal flats. Once there, however, the Island has a distinctive, isolated feel to it, and it's easy to picture the furious Viking hordes sweeping across the tidal flats to the Island. Information Northumberland County Council |
|
| Back |
|
