Monument record 402/1 - Onley Chapel

Traditional site of chapel (unlocated)

{1} There is a tradition of a chapel having formerly stood in Chapel Field.

{3} Fieldname: Chapel Close.

{4} Chapel Farm marks the site of the former chapel which was attached to Onley manor.

{5} No evidence of archaeological features which might be associated with the presumed former chapel were identified by the fieldwork.

{6} The location of the medieval chapel at SP510710 seems unlikely given that ridge and furrow earthworks extend over the site. If a chapel did lie within the fields known as Chapel Close, it must have lain elsewhere and it is possible that it was destroyed by the construction of the motorway.

{7} Neither Chapel field nor Chapel farm were located in proximity to the deserted site at Onley (SP 57 SW 11) A Chapel farm falls in SP 5469 but this would seem to be too far away to warrant consideration.

{?} It lay just on the east side of the motorway, on the spot where a modern bridge crosses the carriageways; some excavation of this site was attempted when the M45 was under construction, but no significant remains or solid foundations were found, suggesting that the chapel was a very simple building, either of timber or mud, with little or no stone in its walls or foundations.

<1> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.26 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP57SW16 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> 1932, Fieldnames Overlays (general-needs sorting out into OS quarter sheets), (unchecked) (Map). SNN10076.

<4> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.14 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<5> Holmes M., 1995, Draycote to Barby Watermain, Archaeological Evaluation: Stage 1, p.1-2 (checked) (Interim Report). SNN72060.

<6> Soden I., 1995, An Archaeological Watching Brief on the Draycote-Barby Pipeline, Barby, Northants, p.1-3 (checked) (Report). SNN75649.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 13-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:12PM