The village of Wetheral is situated five miles south-east of Carlisle just above the wooded bank of the river Eden.
     Proud of its reputation as one of the prettiest villages in Cumbria, many of its dignified houses are grouped around a triangular green with its very old cross. In one of the garden walls are five great millstones.
     In 1088 Benedictine monks from York built a priory here after realizing that the Eden was one of the finest rivers in the country. Today, only the gatehouse remains. Built in three storeys of red sandstone, with embattled walls and a vaulted archway, it is a reminder of the Priory founded here by Ranulph de Meschines who was also the first builder incidentally of Appleby Castle.
     Today you can still see their salmon traps, and cut into the sandstone cliffs...St Constantine's Cells. Tradition says that these man-made caves nick named 'The Wetheral Safeguards' were used by St Constantine the Hermit. Later, they made a safe hiding place for the treasures of the local priory when the Scots came raiding, and for those seeking refuge from religious persecution.
     St Constantine, so legend informs us was a Scottish king who relinguished his throne in the 6th century to follow St Columba and later came to live here by the Eden.
     The church of the Holy Trinity, St Mary and St Constantine celebrated its 900 th anniversary in 1988. It is the only church in England dedicated to this latter saint. The anniversary coincided with the restoration of the Howard chapel...one time Roman Catholic...owned by the Howards of Corby Castle, and annexed to this Anglican building.
     Look for Joseph Nolleken's sculpture 'Faith' which is to be found in the chapel.