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Priory Chapel, Whittlesford, 1903 (photo F J Allen) (Cambridgeshire Collection)

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford

History of the Priory Chapel

Listed Building

Chapel of the Hospital of St 22.11.67 John the Baptist GV II* Chapel or hospital, founded by William de Colville (d.1230); C13, rebuilt early C14, and restored by Ministry of Works 1947-54.

The chapel was founded in 1200 as a small hospital run by a prior and monks. It was positioned by a bridge on a major route of the Icknield Way. It was rebuilt in the 14th century as a chapel and was in use until the Dissolution. The last prior was Leonard Cotton who received a pension of 30s when all such monastic foundations were suppressed in 1547. When visited in 1849 it was in use as an agricultural barn.

Whittlesford Hospital, c.1902

Whittlesford Bridge Chapel (WMPalmer pre 1924)

W M Palmer (1924) explains that the bridge here was once at the border of East Anglia and Mercia. He also adds that a hermit used to live at the chapel whose role was to help travellers to cross the ford. The vicar of Hinxton used to take a service at the chapel once a year and the hermit had to provide him with a suitable dinner.

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License

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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