Heritage Crime..............................2
Future of the high street.................2
The Chantry of St Mary and the
Chantry House..............................3
Fifty years of change......................4
Hedgerows: are they a priority?.......6
News in brief.................................7
Where did we come from? Where
will we go?.....................................8
Draft advice on climate change.......9
Recent work with schools...............9
Planning Matters..........................10
Quiz: F. R. Wilson churches.........11
About Alnwick Civic Society........12
Who's Who?................................12
Diary dates..................................12
Essay competition...........1
Notice board................... 1
Social media................... 2
Newsletter changes........ 2
Neighbourhood Plan.......3
Inspired Alnwick Trail...... 4
Programme.....................5
News in brief...................5
Core strategy.................. 6
Planning matters.............7
Viewpoint........................ 7
Who's who?.................... 8
About the society............ 8
Diary............................... 8
ACS news: November 2013
Director of planning..............................................2
Prudhoe and Lisburn Street Traffic.....................4
Planning matters....................................................5
Recording St Michael's Graveyard.......................6
Conservation of railings and gates......................8
News in brief..........................................................9
Team Tree..............................................................10
Quiz: Railings and gates.....................................11
About Alnwick Civic Society.............................12
Who's Who?..........................................................12
Diary dates............................................................12
Includes St Michael's Church
17 February 1736: “Boome Tree," blown down on Ash Wednesday 17th of February, 1836. A venerable Ash tree that stood in the churchyard. Girth of 133 feet, divided at height of 7 feet into two branches. Said to have been planted in Reign of Henry IV (1399 to 1413). Wood sold by auction. "Boome" is saxon for tree.
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A Relic of the days of our FORETFATHERS. to be sold, BY AUCTION, T. STAMP, AUCTIONEER, On Monday, Feb. the 22nd, inst. NEAR THE CHURCH GATES, THE REMAINS OF THE VENERABLE BOOME TREE, Supposed to have been Planted in the Reign of EDWARD the FOURTH, nearly 400 Years ago! Sale to begin at 2 o’Clock. Alnwick, February 18th, 1836.
Poetry.
On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 1836. It grew in Alnwick Churchyard, and is supposed to have been planted in the reign of Edward IV, nearly 400 years ago,
The winds were loud, the sea did roar
The rain in torrents fell
The angry breakers sought the shore
Their furious rage to quell.
The shepherd left his fleecy charge,
And hasten’d or the plain
His flocks deserted rov'd at large,
And shelter sought in vaine
The mountain torrents rushing down
Swept through the lonely vales
The spirit of the storm did frown
His threats were in the gale.
Nor could the storm's triumphant stroke
The headless woods resist
It made the proud disdainful oak
His stubborn branches twist
An ash, stupendous, reared its form
The churchyard path beside
For ages had withstood the storm
And bloomed with stately pride.
But Time's subduing hand, at last
Its victim overthrew
It yielded to the northern blast
Which most tremendous blew.
When Sabbath bells with joyful sound
Call'd to the house of prayer,
Both rich and poor, and all around,
The healing balm to share!
Beneath its shade they pass along
And gaz’d with wond’ring eyes;
It seem'd to hail the pious throng,
Intent on sacrifice!
When happy pairs, In youthful pride,
Whom Love had smil'd upon
To Hymen’s altar gaily hied
To join their hands in one.
His playful leaves it rustl'd high
To cheer their spirits gay,
And welcom'd them in passing by
Upon the nuptial day!
In sable weeds, when mourners pass'd,
Suffus'd with many a tear,
A hollow moaning sound it cast
Upon the solemn bier.
That stately tree, alas ! no more
Shall wave its tow'ring head;
Its time is past— its days are o'er,
'Tis number'd with the dead !
W. F. Alnwick.
Historic England listing: Church of St Michael
Inspired Alnwick - Parish Church of St Michael
Keys to the past: Church of St Michael
Picturesque England - Alnwick Castle - the seat of the Duke of Northumberland.
Illustration from Tate's history
The parish church of Alnwick (NU 1837 1372) stands on the edge of the old town, c 500 m to the north-west of the Market Place and 400 m west of the Castle, with the land on the north of the churchyard dropping steeply to the River Aln. The building consists of a five-bay aisled nave, with a tower forming the west bay of the south aisle and a range of vestries forming in effect an outer north aisle, a south porch and a three-bay fully-aisled chancel.
St Michaels from Ratten Row by Barbara Woodhouse
The exterior of St Michael's Church seen from the south
Alnwick: St Michael’s Church
1797, Joseph Mallord William Turner
St Michael's Church is an Anglican place of worship situated on Bailiffgate in the town of Alnwick in Northumberland, England. The current building dates from the 15th century but a 12th-century Norman chapel stood on the site prior to this; reports of an earlier 8th-century Saxon chapel are unconfirmed. The church is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, in earlier times it was also dedicated to St Mary as well. It is a Grade I listed building.