Chantry is still blessed with local support.

The Chantry in Morpeth began life as a bridge chapel and is one of only a handful to have survived.

Crossing water and travelling has long been an activity requiring good luck and blessings.

The Romans would habitually throw offerings from bridges into rivers to earn good fortune on journeys.

The priest in the bridge chapel would also bless travellers. The Chantry is believed to have been founded in 1296 by Richard of Morpeth.

The original bridge was only 11ft wide and this, with its humped design, made it dangerous for mail coaches with at least one, together with its passengers, ending up in the river. It was replaced by the present bridge, built in 1831 by Thomas Telford.

The various uses of the Chantry included that of a grammar school for boys.

After the Dissolution of the monasteries, the intention had also been to close chantries but Morpeth successfully petitioned to be allowed to continue with the school in the building. The school stayed put until 1846, with part of the building in use as a chapel.

When the school moved out, the Chantry was sold to private individuals and, at one time, housed a pop factory or, more formally, George Young's Aerated Waters Manufactory, established 1872.

In 1965, Morpeth Antiquarian Society opened a small local history museum in what had been the ladies' loos. Later, the Chantry was bought and restored by Castle Morpeth Council. A move last year by the council, to gauge if the Chantry could or should be used for commercial purposes, caused uproar.

Now a Morpeth Development Trust, consisting of a range of partners, is being set up to look at issues surrounding culture, heritage and the environmental and economic enhancement of the town, and it will be based at the Chantry.

Council regeneration and culture manager Guy Beauchamp said that a review of the future of the Chantry and of the 18th Morpeth Century Town Hall was imminent. He said that the two buildings were strongly linked. "We are very much aware of the desire for a local history museum," he added.

"The council undertook a review of the Chantry to see if there was any commercial interest in it but clearly there was strong local opinion about the issue and the general feeling was that it fulfilled an important role in the cultural heritage of the town."