Comments on: The Hermitage, Newton House, near Whitby, North Yorkshire

By: Editor

Editor — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:05:32 +0000

In reply to Colin Waters. Good evening Colin. Many thanks for getting in touch. I didn’t know about the runes, but when I get a chance to revisit I will see what I can find.

By: Colin Waters

Colin Waters — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:29:19 +0000

There is (or was) a line of runes on the top of the hermitage carved or scratched in runes. It would be interesting to see if they are still there. They were obviously not of any great age. I translated them many years ago and I think they spelt out the name of a local Catholic priest from Whitby (not 100% sure of this as it was many years ago when I found them)

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:46:08 +0000

In reply to Garance. Good morning Garance. Robust is an excellent description, I imagine it will be there for many, many years to come. A day’s jaunt to the museum, hermitage and tea garden is highly recommended.

By: Garance

Garance — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:01:10 +0000

Many thanks for this fascinating piece. Sculptor, Stone Mason or quarry man, whoever carved out the space certainly put in a huge amount of effort for a rather more robust folly than many you introduce us to.

I imagined hermits kept themselves to themselves, but it seems in this instance there was much seating provided for socialising.

Though we may not get in to see the hermitage, thank you for suggestions of the ‘excellent’ Whitby Museum and Falling Foss waterfall and tea garden, which will go on my list of places to be visited. Amazing how much added value comes from your ‘excellent’ research.

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:04:01 +0000

In reply to David Edgar. Good morning David. I know Warkworth well and endorse your comments on its many wonderful buildings. The hermitage there is, as you say, on a wholly different scale and although earlier in date it was treated as a landscape feature in the 18th century when hermitages were in vogue. Many thanks for taking the time to comment.

By: David Edgar

David Edgar — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 22:20:07 +0000

A splendid hermitage exists at Warkworth Castle (English Heritage) in Northumberland. Out of the rock has been cut a chapel room, an inner chamber and a smaller chamber. In the first 2 the walls and ceilings are carved as fictive pillars and vaulting. It was established in about 1400 and is located on the further bank of the River Coquet. E H provides a ferryman at times.
The castle consists of extensive ruins and an ingeiously planned majestic Great Tower, all set on a high spur of land above the attractive town of Warkworth. Its church is interesting and the original road crosses the River Coquet by means of a defendable medieval bridge.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:28:23 +0000

In reply to Caroline Kernan. Good afternoon Caroline. The structure is a stone bench which runs around the interior of the cavern - it is all carved out of the single block of stone, and must have taken many, many hours to complete. Quite an achievement!

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:24:17 +0000

In reply to Colin Addy. Hello Colin. The Hermitage, and the walk to it, are well worth adding on to a trip to Whitby. I don't know Dale Abbey so will add that to my list of things to explore when next in Derbyshire, thanks.

By: Colin Addy

Colin Addy — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 09:06:36 +0000

Thanks for this week’s post and all your research on the Hermitage. We’ll be adding a visit to our next trip to Whitby!
It reminds me of a similar ‘hermitage’ at Dale Abbey, in Derbyshire. That one wasn’t constructed as a ‘folly’, if I recall correctly, but was reputed to have been the living quarters of a real monk from the nearby abbey – but no wild boars!
Best Wishes

Colin

By: Caroline Kernan

Caroline Kernan — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 08:33:19 +0000

What a fascinating story. My comment really is just about the structure that appears to run around the inside of the grotto. It looks like a feeding trough. I can tell nothing of it’s age from the image and it might have been a later addition.