Friday 8 March 2013

Lindsey, Suffolk - St James's Chapel

Just down the road from St Peter is the C13th Chapel of St James. Maintained by English Heritage it is strongly reminiscent of three other chapels of similar age I've visited: St Helen in Wicken Bonhunt, Duxford Chapel and the Leper Chapel in Cambridge and, less so to Harlowbury and the Abbey Church in Cambridge.

It's always fascinating to see these early chapels and even more so when you can access them; the simplicity of the design, and the fact that they are still extant, lends them a special presence.

ST JAMES'S CHAPEL. Early C13, with lancet windows. The S wall is in its original state, with lancet windows and a doorway with one slight chamfer. Piscina late C13 (pointed-trefoiled arch). W doorway Early Tudor brick.

St James' Chapel (3)
St James, Lindsey

St Helen's Chapel (1)
St Helen, Wicken Bonhunt

The Leper Chapel of St Mary Magdalene (2)
Leper Chapel, Cambridge

Duxford Chapel
Duxford Chapel, Whittlesford

St James' Chapel (4)
St James, Lindsey

PA196715
Duxford Chapel, Whittlesford

Harlowbury Chapel (3)
Harlowbury Chapel, Essex

Abbey Church (3)
Abbey Church, Cambridge

LINDSEY. It has spacious views from its churchyard and from the moated mound called Lindsey Castle, a relic of the days when small places like this were fortified by such earthworks as are found here. It had a monastery of which something remains after 600 years, for not far off is a farmhouse built from its ruins, with the great beams in the kitchen, an old fireplace, and a little chapel which is a chapel no more, but has been neatly thatched and is much cared for. It is scheduled as a national monument and its thatched roof was paid for by the country.

Flickr.

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