Or THE STAPLES]

FERN FARNE ISLANDS [also

See also:

• FEARNE, CHARLES (1742-1794)

FEARNE  , a group of rocky islands and reefs off the coast of Northumberland, England, included in that county . In 1901 they had only eleven inhabitants . They extend in a line of some 6 m. in a north-easterly direction from the coast, on which the nearest villages are Bamborough and North Sunderland . The Fairway, 'Z m. across, separates the largest island, Farne, or House, from the mainland . Farne is 16 acres in area, and has precipitous cliffs up to 8o ft. in height on the east, but the shore is otherwise low . The other principal islets are Staple, Brownsman, North and South Wamses, Longstone and Big Harcar . On Farne is a small ancient chapel, with a square tower near it built for purposes of defence in the 15th century . The chapel is believed to occupy the site of St Cuthbert's hermitage, whither he retired from the priory on the neighbouring Holy Island or Lindisfarne . He was with difficulty persuaded to leave it on his elevation to the bishopric of Lindisfarne, and returned to it to die (687) . Long-stone rock, with its lighthouse, is famous as the scene of the bravery of Grace Darling in rescuing some of the survivors of the wreck of the " Forfarshire " (1838) . The rocks abound in sea-birds, including eider duck .