St Constantine's Cells (Wetheral Caves) and rock-cut Roman Graffiti

St Constantine's Cells (aka Wetheral Caves, Wetheral Safeguard, or Constantine's Hermitage) are three chambers cut into the cliff face about 40ft above the River Eden, south of Wetheral. They date from the early medieval period, documented to have been in use in the 14th century, probably for the Priory of Wetheral.^[1] They are popularly considered to have been used by St Constantine when he was a hermit. Access to the cells would have originally been by ladder, but now has a stone cut path. They were used by the Priory of Wetheral as a place of refuge during border raids and hence the name Safe Guards. Around 25 metres south of the caves are rock-cut Roman inscriptions, one referring to the 20 legion Valeria Victrix. St Constantine's Cells are a Scheduled Monument (including the Roman Inscription) and Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England.