The Delights of Bamburgh

I had been on the Bamburgh Parish Website before we had set off on our holiday, and this website had eventually taken me to the St Aidan's Church website, and I discovered that the church was holding its Harvest Festival Service on Sunday 25th September, so before we set off on our holidays we had decided to pay the Church a visit.

The countryside round Bamburgh is very fertile, with huge fields devoted to the growing of crops and root crops, so we were expecting a traditional Harvest Festival, and we were not disappointed. In front of the chancel steps was a superb display of the locally grown produce.

The Harvest display in Bamburgh Church

Bamburgh is a beautiful, much visited Northumbrian Village, well known for three or four places & events.

Going back in history it is remembered as the birthplace of Grace Horsley Darling, the daughter of the keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse (situated on the Farne Islands). When a ship was wrecked on Harker Rock, she rowed out with her father from almost a mile in raging seas to help rescue nine of the shipwrecked passengers.

The doorway of the cottage where Grace died

The plaque over the door

As a result of Grace's brave rescue, a museum, run by the RNLI has been built in Bamburgh. You can see the actual boat that was used in the rescue, as well as lots of artefacts associated with the rescue.

The RNLI flag flying over the Grace Darling Museum

The Grace Darling Museum

If you visit St Aidan's Parish Church (which is just across the road from the museum), you will see the tombstone of Grace Darling in the graveyard, as well as an effigy and window dedicated to her inside the church.

Grace Darling's Tombstone

Grace Darling Effigy in St Aidan's Church

Grace Darling Memorial Window

St Aidan's Church also has a claim to fame. It was on the site of this church that St Aidan is reputed to have died. There is a small perpetual light & shrine to him inside the church.

St Aidan's Shrine

There is also a story told that St Aidan actually died whilst resting against a forked wooden beam. This beam has been incorporated into the timbers under the tower. There have been two fires, but the beam has remained unharmed.

The forked beam in the tower

Bamburgh is well known because of its wonderful castle. This castle has featured in numerous films and adverts. The siting of the castle, on a high outcrop right on the edge of the coast makes a spectacular sight.

Whatever the time of day, or whatever the lighting conditions the castle still is a magnificent building!

Driving south from Waren Mill you crest a rise in the road, and as you turn a left hand bend suddenly the castle appears in sight. It is a real "Wow" factor!