In Durham Cathedral was a ** goodly 
fidr porch called the Anchoridge, with an 
altar for a monk to say daily mass, being 
in ancient times inhabited by an anchorite, 
whereunto the priors were wont much to 
finsquent, to hear the high mass, standing 
BO conveniently unto the high altar ; the 
entrance was up a fair pair of stairs, &c." 

At Gateshead the ''Anchorage" is a 
tolerably large apartment above the vestry. 
The Bishop's licence for assigning a space 
in the cemetery of Gateshead contiguous 
to the church, for the purpose of building 
a residence and therein " shutting up ^* 
an anchoritess, was obtained in 1 34 0. The 
conditions of the consent of the rector 
and parishioners, and the leaving a com- 



petent place for burial of the dead, were 
annexed. After the Reformation the 
anchorage was used as an almshouse and 
afterwards for the Anchorage School. 

Certainly these doubly-storied Ycstries 
were not for chapter-houses or muniment- 
rooms to collegiate churches. In the 
North of England they are as *' plenty as 
blackberries." The upper room is some- 
times approached from the lower one, and 
often has squints towards the altar. At 
other times it has had a separate entrance 
from the exterior. I have seen squints 
from the lower apartment. At Wath, 
near Ripon, an old chimney remains in 
the arrangement. 

That many anchorites were so only in 
name is evident from the anchorages in 
frequented places, such as at Tyne Bridge; 
the crossing of the old Durham road over 
the stream at Eighton banks, oo. Durham ; 
the cell of a woman anchorite attached to 
St. Edmund's Chapel, or ** Ankerkirke," 
in the thoroughfare of Frenchgate, at 
Richmond; and another, " Ankriohe," in a 
vacant space in the heart of the same town. 

I wish some one would thoroughly in- 
vestigate our buildings called vestries. 
That all were anchorages can scarcely be 
believed ; but that many were, and that 
both rooms were (sometimes, at all events)
used for the purpose, seems highly pro- 
bable. Yours, &c. 

W. HtLTON LONOSTAPPB. 

This, from

History, Directory, and Gazetteer, of the Counties of Durham and ...

By William Parson, William White (of Sheffield)