Adscombe Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adscombe Chapel |
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View of the site of the chapel
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| Type | Church |
| Location | Sedgemoor |
| OS grid reference | ST 18414 37782 |
| Area | Somerset |
| Official name: Chapel E of Adscombe Farm | |
| Designated | 30 March 1977 |
| Reference no. | 1006133 |
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Adscombe Chapel is what's left of an old chapel from the Middle Ages. It is located about 280 meters (919 feet) east of Adscombe Farm in Somerset, UK. You can find it on the side of a prominent hill.
This chapel was built in the 1200s by monks from Athelney Abbey. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The earliest official mention of the chapel was in 1535. A person named Johan Broke from Over Stowey left one sheep to 'Our Lady of Addescombe' in his will.
Contents
What's Left of the Chapel
In 1903, a tall wall, reaching roof height, was still standing. It had a high window with a door below it. Today, only small parts of the chapel remain.
Even with just a few pieces left, we can tell it was a single-room building. It measured about 16 meters (52 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide. The remaining walls are up to 0.6 meters (2 feet) thick. They stand about 1.3 meters (4 feet) high. You can still see parts of door frames and windows.
The chapel sits on a flat, terraced area. This area is about 25 meters (82 feet) long and 15 meters (49 feet) wide.
Building Materials and Age
The chapel was built using local Devonian sandstone. You can still see the strong bases of buttresses at the west end. Buttresses are supports that help hold up a wall. The west window had a simple carved stone frame.
Experts believe the chapel was built in the mid-1200s or early 1300s.
Adscombe Village and Its History
Adscombe is a small village today. It has an old farmhouse and a few cottages. These buildings are across the lane from where the chapel stands. Adscombe is about 135 miles (217 kilometers) west of London. It is also about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Bristol.
The chapel's location is typical for many settlements in the Quantock Hills. It is at the bottom of a valley, next to land that used to be shared by everyone.
The Quantock Hills Area
The Quantock Hills are one of the few open moorland areas left in southern Britain. This region is very important for archaeology. Many ancient monuments show how people used the land in the Bronze Age and Iron Age. These include round burial mounds, stone piles called cairns, old settlements, and hillforts.
Adscombe in Medieval Times
Adscombe was a busy settlement during the medieval period. In 1327, four people from Adscombe were wealthy enough to pay taxes. By 1547, the village had two houses and one ruined building.
East of the chapel, there is a large raised area of earth. This was once the site of a big building. In the medieval period, it was likely the manor house for Over Stowey and Fryon (now called Friarn). This house was known as 'Chapel House' in the 1600s. The Rich family lived there. By the 1800s, it was called 'Chapples House and Barton'. The chapel itself was even used as a barn for a while!
Recent work to protect the chapel has been paid for. This funding came from a program called DEFRA's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Other Nearby Places of Worship
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is located in the nearby village of Over Stowey.
See also
- Over Stowey
- Quantock Hills
