| Summary : A chapel, dedicated to St Catherine, is known to have existed at Hylton since 1157. Nothing remains standing of this early structure but its remains, and those of subsequent medieval chapels, will survive beneath the present ruined chapel which was built in the early 15th century and altered by the insertion of an east window in the late 15th or early 16th century and the addition of two-storey transepts in the late 16th century, after the Reformation. The first chapel was founded by Romanus of Hylton and, in the 13th century, permission was given for members of the family and household to be buried there. This led, in the 14th century, to the founding of chantries in the chapel. In 1322 there was one chantry, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and, in 1370, there were three chantry priests. The last chaplain was appointed in 1536. After that, the chapel may have continued in use as a burial place, but it had clearly gone out of use by 1728 as an engraving by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck shows it as roofless. The last Baron Hylton, who died in 1746, carried out some repairs and temporarily restored it to use, as did the early 19th century owner, Simon Temple. During the 19th and 20th centuries, however, it fell into disrepair. Scheduled. |
More information : NZ 3584 5882. Chapel (NR) (Rems of) (NAT) (1)
Remains of St Katharine's Chapel at Hylton, mentioned in 1157
according to Boyle, who stated that a considerable amount of masonry
in the lower part of the E wall may be original. Pevsner, however,
described the chapel as C15th which probably served as hall or summer
residence after the Dissolution, when the wide transeptal bay windows,in two tiers, were provided on the N and S sides. These may date from circa 1560 or later, although the building is still mentioned as a chapel in 1558. In the mid C18th a blank arch and doorway were built on the W front.
(2-3)
The remains of the chapel consist of chancel and nave, together
measuring 18.2m long x 6.6m wide with the double storied N and S
Transepts. The walls of the chapel stand to roof height. (4)
Hylton Chapel grade 2*. (5)
Though the name is apparently not well known or used nowadays the
chapel was dedicated to St Catherine. It was not possible to verify
the exact spelling of the name but the authorities consulted gave the
following versions: St Catherine (2), St Katharine (6a), St Katherine
(6b), S Catherine (6c) and S Katherine (6d). Although the building is
a ruin that which remains is in good condition. See ground
photographs. (6)
NZ 3579 5880. Hylton Castle fortified medieval manor, chapel &
eighteenth century house. Scheduled RSM No 23230. Nothing remains
standing of the 12th century chapel of St Catherine, but elements
will survive beneath the present ruined chapel of the early 15th
century. The earliest chapel was founded by Romanus of Hylton and
permission was given in the 13th century for members of that family
to be buried there. There was one chantry in 1322 and three chantry
priests by 1370. The last chaplain was appointed in 1536 and Buck
shows the building as roofless in 1728. Repairs were carried out
in the 18th and early 19th centuries by the then owners, but the
building had fallen into disrepair before being rescued from
demolition in 1950, when it passed into State care. (7)
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