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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Lindisfarne
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(also known as *Holy Island) Part-time island in northeast England, linked to the coast of Northumberland at low tide by a 5km/3m causeway. Its holiness dates from the 7C when St *Aidan established a monastery here and was soon followed by St *Cuthbert. Their settlement fell victim to *Viking raiders, and the monks abandoned the island in 875. The present ruins are of a *Benedictine priory founded in early Norman times and destroyed in the *dissolution of the monasteries. The castle was built in the mid-16C as a military fortress against invasion from Scotland. Never used in battle, it was turned by *Lutyens into the country house, notably lacking in comforts, which survives today.
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