NHER 9993 (Building record) - St Mary's Chapel and Chantry House, Ashwellthorpe

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Summary

St Mary's Chapel was founded in the early 14th century within the parish church of Ashwell. The remains of blocked ecclesiastical windows have been found within the building, as well as the edge of a substantial tower arch, dating from the 15th century. The building was converted into a house in the 16th century, and the interior was substantially altered and another wing was added in the early 19th century. The extant building is probably the remains of the chancel of the original church, the nave having been demolished. Human inhumations have been found in the area around the chapel. The 'Chantry House' dates from the 17th century.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (II*) 1373555: ST MARY'S CHAPEL

Location

Map sheet	TM19NE
Civil Parish	ASHWELLTHORPE, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

2 private houses.
'Chapel' is chantry chapel founded 1311.
Fine 15th century roof remains and restoration in 1985 revealed 15th century full height windows (including East, inside later extension) and well carved corbelled tower arch, (more probably chancel arch, nave having gone).
Perhaps confirming story that this was the parish church of Ashwell.
Converted to house in ?1598 and altered in 18th/19th century but well preserves 16th century layout.
Chantry house, supposed to be priest's house, was in its present form dated to 17th century by (S1), now modernised. Burials found in garden of Chapel now in Norwich Castle Museum.
See report on chapel in file, and NARG (NARHG) survey of Chantry House, (S1), and (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 17 August 1986.

1989.
Inhumations found during construction of garage.
See notes in file.

2003.
Excavations for new porch revealed foundation of buttress and stripey ground, showing that the chantry was founded in an older parish church.
See (S3) in file.
See also (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 29 August 2003.

Associated Sources (14)

--- SNF13566 Aerial Photograph: TM1697 B-H.
--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF7576 Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 183.
--- SNF9290 Photograph: CSD 21-8, CQX 5-8 (HSR), CSN 31-4, CQH 7-12, CQW 30-37.
--- SNF53558 Photograph: Rose, E.. 2003. KKY 20-24.
--- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Ashwellthorpe.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TM 19 NE 1 [4].
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF59400 Unpublished Document: NARG. 1978. Building Survey.
<S1> SNF4620 Serial: Blomefield, F. 1806. An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk. Vol V.
<S2> SNF8012 Article in Serial: Rose, E.. 1988. St. Mary's Chapel, Ashwellthorpe. The Archaeological Journal. Vol 145 pp 255-256.
<S3> SNF52600 Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 2003. Excavation Report.
<S4> SNF81947 Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. 2004. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 2003. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt III pp 573-588. p 574.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (5)

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (0)

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Ashwellthorpe (Parish Summary)

Record last edited

Jul 15 2016 1:20PM