Building record 1842/8/1 - Medieval Hermitage/Chapel of St Thomas The Martyr

The hermitage or chapel of St Thomas the Martyr existed by 1231-2 at the end of Chapel Lane in Islip, next to Thrapston Bridge. In the mid-16th century the ruins were described as well-built There is some uncertainty as to the exact location of the Hermitage buildings but it may prove to have a good archaeological potential. It is significant in relation to its association with the bridge as well as with the town.

{1} Documentary evidence suggests that the site of the chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury was located at the Islip end of Thrapston Bridge; Leland says "A very large Heremitage" standing in ruins; Bridges says a chapel in Hermitage close; it was extant in 1231-2; Leland states it was recently supressed; in 1313 Bishop Dalderby granted indulgence for the fabric of the chapel of St Thomas the Martyr next the Bridge of Thrapston; Chapel Lane is in Islip; Kings Free Chapel or Hermitage 1400. Documentary evidence also suggests there were medieval fishponds in the close of the Chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury.

{3} The site of the Chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury was at the Islip end of Thrapston Bridge; Chapel Lane, Islip, led to it (area SP 9905 7863). In Leland's time it was in ruins, following the Dissolution; he called it "a very large hermitage". Bridges calls it the chapel of St Thomas, The Martyr, which lay in a close called Hermitage Close on the right hand from Thrapston"; in the close were several fishponds. The chapel was extant in 1231-2, and in 1400 was known as the king's free chapel or hermitage at the end of the bridge of Islip.

{4} Fieldname: Hermitage Close.

{5} The hermitage or chapel of St Thomas the Martyr existed by 1231-2 at the end of Chapel Lane in Islip, next to Thrapston bridge. It was one of two chapels to Islip church and lacked burial rights or tithes. There are further C14th and C15th references to the chapel. In 1400 it was described as the king's free chapel or hermitage at the end of Islip and it was still in existence in 1492 when Henry Veer of Addington gave 10/- to the chapel in his will. According to Leland, writing in the mid C16th, it had only recently been suppressed. He records ruins of a very large hermitage 'and principally welle buildid' at the end of the bridge. These ruins were, according to Bridges, at the right hand side coming from Thrapston, ie the north side, in Hermitage Close which also contained several fishponds or 'stews'. However Hermitage Close is recorded in 1800 as being on the south side of the bridge while the newly enclosed meadow and former open field immediately to the south are at that time called Chapel field and Chapel Meadow closes.

{7} Leland wrote in c 1545 'At the very end of Thrapston bridge stand the ruines of a very large hermitage welle builded but a late discovered and suppressed and hard by is the Towne of Islep on Avon as upon the further Ripe'.
Gray writes' Much older foundations were discovered in the grounds [of Islip House] at the same time [in 1972], possibly part of a monastery that was known to exist somewhere near the spot in the 12th century, dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury'.

{9} No trace of this site was discovered during field investigation.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97NE13 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Clay R.M., 1914, Hermits and Anchorites of England, p.237 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1156.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.215 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<5> Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Thrapston (Medieval + Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100460.

<6> Islip Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100469.

<7> Thorne A., 2003, Thrapston to Islip Flood Alleviation Scheme: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment, p.10 (checked) (Report). SNN103620.

<8> Islip Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100469.

<9> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 30-OCT-69 (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Jun 13 2023 12:18PM