Onneley Chapel |
| Hob Uid: 74501 | |
Location :
Staffordshire
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Madeley
|
| Grid Ref : SJ7508044100 |
| Summary : A pilgrimage chapel recorded in 1549 as two miles from the parish church. The Knights Templar Preceptory of Keele (Staffordshire) held land in Onneley from 1185 granted by Henry II and valued at 2s, with later lands donated by William Dodde. In the later 14th century the Chapel of the Virgin is documented at Onneley, by which time it was in the hands of the Hospitaller Order. The Knights Templar lands were passed to the Hospitallers following the supression of the Templar Order in 1308. The Hospitallers would also have been supressed by 1549. The pilgrimage chapel site may therefore be that mentioned in the late 14th century. It is probable that this was the site of an earlier Templar church given that it was one of the earliest royal grants to the order in this region, and because the Hospitallers soon began leasing the old Keele estates from their centre at Halston in Shropshire. A small staff of chaplains based at Keele were continuing to maintain the chapel in the late 14th century when it is first recorded. The chapel was not recorded in the ecclesiatical return of 1563 although this is not proof that it was no longer extant as many chapels were left off the list, and the chapel at Onneley was not attached to the parish church. Onneley Chapel was recorded on Saxton's map in the later 16th century, and again as Onneley Church in John Speed's re-drawing in 1610.The site itself is represented by a distinct raised platform in a field opposite a second field called Chapel Field off of a lane running north from Onneley to Betley. |
More information : (Area SJ 75154390) Onneley Chapel. (1)
"Onneley Chapel. Not mentioned in the 1563 return. Forsett
reported on 5 June 1549 that this chapel was two miles distant
from the parish church and was no chapel of ease, but a pilgrimage
chapel". (2)
"Onnely ... Site of a Pilgrimage Chapel. The tithe map records
a chapel field on the lane running north from Onneley to Betley.
Opposite, and on the other side of the lane is a raised site
perhaps two feet above the level of the rest of the field and
the cultivation furrows end abruptly at the site. No doubt a
building stood here. The area is roughly 28 by 25 yards". (3)
(SJ 75084410) Possible site located on APs. (4)
Raised platform with measurements conforming to those given by
Authority 3. Possible site of Chapel. (5)
No change. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
Documentary evidence from Parish Records, Madeley Register of baptisms, possibly suggests there was a chapel in 1696. "Baptism on 19 Jul 1696 of Roger son of William & Alice Whittakers of Onneley chappel, born 29 Jun 1696" (9)
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