Chapel of St. James, Lindsey (Suffolk)

A small 13th century thatched chapel. Free admission.

Summary Free admission Art and sculpture

Introduction

A little 13th-century chapel with thatched roof and lancet windows. The chapel was a chantry to Lindsey castle, was used as a barn for hundreds of years. This site is maintained by English Heritage.

Open all year round 10am-4pm, seven days a week.

History to the present day

St James' chapel is not far from the White Rose, on the road to Kersey. There was probably an inn on the same crossroads site when this chapel was in its heyday as a chantry to nearby Lindsey Castle. All that survives of the castle today is the traces of the motte and bailey earthworks, but this chapel survived the Reformation to become a barn, a use to which it was put for nearly 400 years.

In 1930, the owner gave it to the nation, and it is now in the care of English Heritage, who, remarkably, do not charge an entrance fee.
The chapel is hidden from the road by trees and hedges, although a view may be obtained across the garden of the adjacent cottage. You approach along a lane between high fences, and enter through the south door. Inside, you find a bare, rectangular space, with an earth floor.

Much has been patched up over the years, but the lancet windows and piscina in the south wall show it to be original, probably mid-13th century.

The grill in the west door remindes one of the one at Badley. Corbels support the crossbeam of the roof; worn as they are, it doesn't take much imagination to make out faces on them.

Once, so many churches must have been like this. The additions of chancel, tower and porches would convert it into the more familar shape of a parish church.