|
Biddlestone Chapel
is a Grade II Listed building
and stands at the foot of the Cheviot Hills some ten miles north west of
Rothbury. It is one of the more remote chapels maintained by
the Historic Chapels Trust.. For almost eight centuries Biddlestone Hall
was the seat of the Selbys, one of the great Recusant Catholic families of the
area. In 1272 the Selby family was granted land in the borders and the chapel was built as a typical 13th Century Pele Tower. In the 17th century, the building was later extended to include a West Wing with a small courtyard and gateway to the south. In this form Biddlestone became the model for "Obaldistone Hall" in Sir Walter Scott's "Rob Roy". After a disastrous fire, the entire structure, with the exception of the ground floor of the original Pele was demolished and replaced by a completely new house in 1796. The present chapel was built in 1820 and designed by John Dobson as a first floor wing on top of the old Pele's remains. There is an upper gallery in the Chapel which allowed access by the Selby family and scars on the west wall of the chapel indicate the site of the Hall. The exterior measures some 32 ft x 42 ft and has space for a congregation of up to 50. Just inside the entrance of the rear doorway can be seen an example of an Anderson Shelter, a relic of the lWorld War II and in perfect condition, though it is doubtful if if would have afforded any more protection than the main building. In 1914 the estate was sold by Walter Selby and the farms later bought by their tenant. The hall and 50 acres of parkland were acquired by the Forestry Commission. In the late 1950's the hall was demolished but the Chapel wing continued to serve the local Catholic population right up to the 1970's. Biddlestone Chapel was acquired
in 1997 by the Historic Chapels Trust and used for Masses three or four times a
year. Major maintenance is
The Chapel is in a relatively good condition with extensive internal decoration completed whilst the exterior has been cleared and the grounds are in the process of being landscaped. For more information or access please contact: Dr. A.W. Henfrey
For more
information regarding other Historic Chapels please access web site: |
Not only is it an
important historic building in its own right but Mass has been celebrated there
since 300 years before the Reformation.
now
in their hands whilst minor repairs, cleaning and access are the responsibility
of the the 'Friends of Biddlestone Chapel' .