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A stone chapel with a thatched roof and pointed arched window frame on its gable end, captured in black and white in 1903.

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

A pencil drawing shows a stone building with a steeply pitched roof, a large pointed-arch window, and a wooden picket fence.

Chapel at Whittlesford (MoC)

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.

A monochrome print showing an arched stone window or door containing a tall, rectangular metal grate or gate with vertical bars.

Whittlesford Hospital, c.1902

A stone chapel with a steep thatched roof and a large pointed window set behind a low white picket fence.

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.

A stone chapel with a dark tiled roof, lancet windows, and an arched doorway set against a lawn and blue sky.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

An English Heritage information board for Duxford Chapel, featuring a photo of the interior and white text on a black background.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Interior of a stone chapel with an exposed timber truss roof, rough masonry walls, and arched leaded windows casting sunlight.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A framed information sign on a flint wall displays a historical drawing of a chapel floor plan and descriptive text.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

The interior of a medieval stone chapel with rough flint walls, arched windows featuring leaded glass, and exposed roof beams.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Interior of a stone chapel with weathered flint walls, two arched niches flanking a window, and exposed dark timber roof beams.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A tall, narrow arched window with diamond-paned leaded glass set into a rough flint and stone interior wall.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

An ornate stone niche with a pointed arch set into a rough-hewn flint and mortar wall, featuring a scalloped basin below.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

The interior of a stone chapel featuring a rough flint wall, exposed wooden roof trusses, and two tall Gothic-arched windows.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A stone column carved with historic graffiti, including letters and the date 1804, set against a rough, weathered stone wall.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A light-colored stone block set in a dark wall, carved with the date 1861, various initials, and faint linear markings.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A light-coloured stone block featuring faint, hand-carved markings, including a ladder-like grid and letters, set in a wall.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Roughly carved letters and dates, including BVB, JW, and 1860, are etched into a pale, weathered stone block in a flint wall.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Roughly carved letters I H and the date 1871 appear on a light-coloured rectangular stone slab embedded in a larger wall.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Carvings of initials and dates including 1861 and 19-7-06 scratched into the textured grey surface of a weathered stone block.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

Hand-carved stone inscription reading Apr 16, H A, and 1845 on a weathered, textured surface with a vertical edge.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

A stone surface features the carved numbers 1833 above a section covered in faint, overlapping graffiti and illegible marks.

Chapel of Hospital of St John the Baptist, Whittlesford (RGL2026)

 

Tags

  • church
  • hospital
  • Listed building
  • medieval

Projects

  • Whittlesford

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