Chapel Plaister facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chapel Plaister |
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 15th-century chapel and hospice |
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 Chapel Plaister
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| OS grid reference | ST840678 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Chapel Plaister is a small village, known as a hamlet, located in the western part of Wiltshire, England. It sits on the B3109 road, which connects the towns of Corsham and Bradford on Avon. Chapel Plaister is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) south-east of the village of Box. It is also about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south-west of Corsham.
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The Story of Chapel Plaister
The name of this hamlet comes from a special little church. This church was built by the Anglican Church. It served as a safe place for travelers, called pilgrims. These pilgrims were on their way to a holy site in Glastonbury. They were going to visit the shrine of Joseph of Arimathea.
How the Chapel Began
The chapel was first built around the year 1235. It was later rebuilt in 1340 by a person named Richard Plaisted. He was from a nearby place called Castle Combe. This chapel was connected to another church in Hazelbury, which is now gone.
A Place for Travelers
In the 1400s, the chapel building was made taller. A porch was added to the front. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the side parts, called the transept, were made into two floors. The top floor of the nave was used as a hospice. A hospice is a place where travelers could rest and find shelter. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was used for church services.
Keeping the Chapel Strong
The chapel has been repaired and cared for over the years. Important restoration work happened in 1893 and again in 1999. In 1960, the building was given a special status. It was named a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected. Today, the church is part of a larger church area. This area includes Box, Hazelbury, and Ditteridge.
The Bell House
Next to the chapel is a building called Bell House. This building used to be an inn, which is like a hotel, back in the 1600s. Now, it is a private home. It is thought that Bell House might have also been a hostel. A hostel is a place that offers cheap lodging for travelers. This hostel would have been connected to the chapel, offering more space for pilgrims to stay.
