Aldingham, which occupies a site inhabited
since Saxon times, has been gradually lost to the sea over the centuries, and
practically the only remaining traces of the original village are Aldingham
Hall and the 12th century Church of St Cuthbert, which is protected from the
sea by a wall and which is well worth a visit for its many interesting features. The name of the church derives from the
probability that the monks of Lindisfarne brought the saint's relics here,
possibly with a view to taking them across to Ireland to escape the invading
Danes. As a further reminder of that
time, the north side of the church is believed to harbour Viking burials. The church was founded in the Norman period,
and some of the arches and other Norman features remain, while in the Eastern Wall
of the chancel there is a hole which is believed to have been put there for the
benefit of the local lepers, who could view the church service without entering
the building. Further bits were added
on, including the tower, which was built around 1350 and a 15th century window
on the west side of the church. During the area's smuggling days, the crypt of the church was allegedly used to hide the smugglers' ill-gotten gains, including brandy from France and tobacco from America. The
village used to have a motte and bailey castle, which was erected by the prominent local Fleming
family, and the motte part of it can still be seen from the shore.
Map of the area.
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| St. Cuthberts Church, Aldingham - geograph.org.uk - 271179. Photo by John Clive Nicholson, via Wikimedia Commons |
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