Chapel Plaister Alan Payne Date
Interior of the chapel (courtesy Box Parish Council)
Medieval History
The story of Chapel Plaister church is well-known, although authoritative information is patchy. It has never been a church because it lacks a consecrated burial ground but was a chapel-of-ease, a building convenient for the local population to worship.
In 1340, the rector of Hazelbury Church, William of Rysindon, was granted a licence to preach by the bishop of Sarum (Salisbury) “in the chapel of Pleistede in the parish of Hazelbury”. The Church of Hazelbury had previously been granted to the priory of Bradenstoke, Lyneham, in about 1220 and it has been suggested that the priory may have built the chapel. The manor of Parva Rysindon (possibly the village of Little Swindon, Gloucestershire), where William of Rysindon may have been a successor to Henry le Tyeis and his wife Joan as they were installed in the parish by the bishop of Bath and Wells in 1282.[1] In 1346 the Hazelbury rector was instructed to pay to the new prior 3 shillings a year in respect of his dues.[2] Whatever the details, it is likely that the usage of the building fundamentally changed after the ravages of the Black Death in 1348.
The building was in regular use in the 1400s and the porch on the front is believed to be an addition dating from then. The architecture of the building suggests it was a one-storey construction, with a cell on the north side (possibly for monk or priest) which was later widened and incorporated into the structure. In about 1536, John Leyland visited the chapel, calling it a hermitage without any evidence. A more reliable visitor was John Aubrey, a local man from Kington Langley, Chippenham, who claimed in the 1680s that the chapel was a “known place on the Roade (London to Bath). It was heretofore a place of entertainment for Pilgrims that went to Glastonbury, to St Joseph of Arimathea’s Chapell. It is now an ale-house”.
The building was converted in the early 1700s into two residences each two stories with a straight exterior staircase added for access to the front cottage. In the 1750s, the area of Chapel Plaister was the haunt of a highwayman John Poulter, who frequented the ale-house, The Bell Inn next door. He was hanged in 1753. At some point afterwards, Chapel Plaister ceased to be dwellings and became a bakery and later a store for farm implements.
The story of Chapel Plaister church is well-known, although authoritative information is patchy. It has never been a church because it lacks a consecrated burial ground but was a chapel-of-ease, a building convenient for the local population to worship.
In 1340, the rector of Hazelbury Church, William of Rysindon, was granted a licence to preach by the bishop of Sarum (Salisbury) “in the chapel of Pleistede in the parish of Hazelbury”. The Church of Hazelbury had previously been granted to the priory of Bradenstoke, Lyneham, in about 1220 and it has been suggested that the priory may have built the chapel. The manor of Parva Rysindon (possibly the village of Little Swindon, Gloucestershire), where William of Rysindon may have been a successor to Henry le Tyeis and his wife Joan as they were installed in the parish by the bishop of Bath and Wells in 1282.[1] In 1346 the Hazelbury rector was instructed to pay to the new prior 3 shillings a year in respect of his dues.[2] Whatever the details, it is likely that the usage of the building fundamentally changed after the ravages of the Black Death in 1348.
The building was in regular use in the 1400s and the porch on the front is believed to be an addition dating from then. The architecture of the building suggests it was a one-storey construction, with a cell on the north side (possibly for monk or priest) which was later widened and incorporated into the structure. In about 1536, John Leyland visited the chapel, calling it a hermitage without any evidence. A more reliable visitor was John Aubrey, a local man from Kington Langley, Chippenham, who claimed in the 1680s that the chapel was a “known place on the Roade (London to Bath). It was heretofore a place of entertainment for Pilgrims that went to Glastonbury, to St Joseph of Arimathea’s Chapell. It is now an ale-house”.
The building was converted in the early 1700s into two residences each two stories with a straight exterior staircase added for access to the front cottage. In the 1750s, the area of Chapel Plaister was the haunt of a highwayman John Poulter, who frequented the ale-house, The Bell Inn next door. He was hanged in 1753. At some point afterwards, Chapel Plaister ceased to be dwellings and became a bakery and later a store for farm implements.
Wooden scaffolding to repair the roof of the chapel (courtesy Chapel Plaister archives)
Restoration 1893
It is often asserted that the Rev Shirley Alan Spooner, curate at Box Church, took it upon himself to renovated Chapel Plaister in 1893. The truth is slightly different. Dr Spooner lived at Myrtle Cottage, Box High Street for only a few years, probably from 1893 to 1897. He was recorded as making considerable pastoral efforts in the village at the Flower and Vegetable Show and the Friendly Society Fetes. The reason for his appointment was the incapacity of the vicar Rev George Gardiner following a train accident (until Gardiner’s retirement in 1896). Rev Spooner was accustomed to the difficulties in restoring ecclesiastical buildings, having played a small part in the re-opening of the ancient Edington Church, Westbury, in 1891.[3]
It is often asserted that the Rev Shirley Alan Spooner, curate at Box Church, took it upon himself to renovated Chapel Plaister in 1893. The truth is slightly different. Dr Spooner lived at Myrtle Cottage, Box High Street for only a few years, probably from 1893 to 1897. He was recorded as making considerable pastoral efforts in the village at the Flower and Vegetable Show and the Friendly Society Fetes. The reason for his appointment was the incapacity of the vicar Rev George Gardiner following a train accident (until Gardiner’s retirement in 1896). Rev Spooner was accustomed to the difficulties in restoring ecclesiastical buildings, having played a small part in the re-opening of the ancient Edington Church, Westbury, in 1891.[3]
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Above Left: Repairs to the roof on the south wall and Above Right: Rev Spooner supervising work (photos courtesy Chapel Plaister archives)
There had been considerable interest in the renovation of the chapel with visits by the Wiltshire Archaeology and Natural History Society in the early 1880s.[4] The notables of the village joined in efforts to fundraise for the cost of the work, including Constance Northey, the eldest daughter of lord of the manor George Wilbraham Northey, and her husband Rev Walter Barlow.[5] In 1895, the distinguished architect Harold Brakspear led celebratory meetings to inspect the work.[6] Brakspear’s work legitimised the history of the building – this interesting little chapel – which he claimed showed evidence of a hospital which was widened in the 1400s, with a first floor accessed by an external twisted staircase. He attributed the blackening behind the altar as a bakery and asserted that later uses included as a lumber store. The outcome of his work was the re-dedication of the building for religious purposes. The 1893 restoration altered the building completely. It cut through the beams supporting the first floor, opening the roof timbers.
Later Restorations
Over the years, neighbours have often taken a lead in maintaining the chapel. Few did more in this respect than George Jardine Kidston, owner of Hazelbury Manor, a retired diplomat and keen amateur historian. He installed an underfloor hot-air system, removing and saving the medieval tiles (shown below left) and oak panelling to keep the building warmer.
Over the years, neighbours have often taken a lead in maintaining the chapel. Few did more in this respect than George Jardine Kidston, owner of Hazelbury Manor, a retired diplomat and keen amateur historian. He installed an underfloor hot-air system, removing and saving the medieval tiles (shown below left) and oak panelling to keep the building warmer.
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A number of other people were deeply attached to the little chapel as a place for contemplation and spiritual renewal (depicted above right, courtesy Carol Payne). The admirers included Rev Vere Awdry (below left), Henry Razey (middle) and George Hill (right), all of whom had a wall plaque dedicated to them.
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These brief details are the history of Chapel Plaister which can be verified. Other items are more speculative including the building of the chapel by Sir John du Plessis in the 1200s, the name being Anglo-Saxon for “play place”, and its purpose as a “pilgrim’s place of entertainment” on route to Glastonbury, and that the cavity outside was used as a holy water stoup. These stories give colour to the history but they aren’t really needed for what is already a magnificent Grade I listed building.[8]
References
[1] See Feet of Fines: CP 25/1/284/22 (medievalgenealogy.org.uk) document CP25/1/284/22 number 120
[2] Reported in Chapel Plaister brochure, p.2
[3] Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 3 October 1891
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 13 August 1881
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 29 December 1894
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 10 August 1895
[7] Parish Magazine, March 1998 and June and September 1999
[8] Julian Carosi intends to include a detailed timetable for the chapel in Corsham Revealed, volune 4
[1] See Feet of Fines: CP 25/1/284/22 (medievalgenealogy.org.uk) document CP25/1/284/22 number 120
[2] Reported in Chapel Plaister brochure, p.2
[3] Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 3 October 1891
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 13 August 1881
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 29 December 1894
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 10 August 1895
[7] Parish Magazine, March 1998 and June and September 1999
[8] Julian Carosi intends to include a detailed timetable for the chapel in Corsham Revealed, volune 4