St. Edmund's Chapel, Lyng facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Edmund's Chapel |
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The fragmentary ruins of the chapel
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Christianity |
| Status | Ruin |
| Location | |
| Location | Lyng, Norfolk |
| Country | UK |
The ruins of St. Edmund's Chapel are found in a field near the village of Lyng in Norfolk, England. This chapel was once one of two important religious buildings in Lyng. The other was St. Margaret's Church.
St. Edmund's Chapel was part of a Benedictine nunnery. A nunnery is a place where nuns, who are women living a religious life, live and pray. It is believed the nunnery was started to remember a battle. This battle was fought against the Danes in the 800s. The famous Edmund the Martyr died during this time.
The nuns moved from Lyng to Thetford in 1176. However, the chapel in Lyng was still used until at least 1250. In 1287, the Prioress (the leader of the nuns) from St. George's Priory, Thetford held a fair at the site. The nuns kept some land and a house in Lyng. They used the money from this land to pay a chaplain to look after the chapel. In 1438, the land was given to the village church after a legal case.
Contents
What is St. Edmund's Chapel?
St. Edmund's Chapel is a very old building. Today, only parts of it remain. It is located in a field in Norfolk, England. The chapel was once part of a nunnery. Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to God. They lived and prayed together in the nunnery.
Why was the Chapel Built?
The chapel was likely built to remember an important battle. This battle happened in the 800s. It was fought between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. Edmund the Martyr, a king, died during this period. The chapel helped people remember those who died.
When was the Chapel Used?
The nuns moved away from Lyng in 1176. But the chapel was still used for many years. Records show it was active until at least 1250. A fair was even held there in 1287. This fair was organized by the nuns from Thetford.
Miracles and Stories of the Chapel
There is an old book from the 1370s that talks about the chapel. This book mentions seven miracles that happened there. These miracles took place over five years. Most of them happened in nearby villages. These villages included Bylaugh, Scarning, and Sparham. One miracle involved a man from Kent. His wife was cured of paralysis, meaning she could move again.
The Chapel's Later Years
By 1730, the chapel was already in ruins. The bricks we see today are probably from the 1400s. It is possible the chapel was used until the Reformation. The Reformation was a big change in the church in the 1500s. It might have been a "chapel of ease" for a nearby hamlet. A chapel of ease is a smaller church for people who live far from the main church.
Today, the ruins are very "fragmentary." This means only small pieces are left. A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner saw a surviving arch in the 1950s. This might have been the north doorway. Now, only part of that arch remains. Plants and trees cover much of the ruins. Many old objects have been found at the site. These objects date from Roman times to after the Middle Ages. In the 1800s, human skeletons were found near the chapel.
Folklore and Local Legends
A newspaper article from 1939 shares a story about the chapel. People believed the chapel was built for nuns to pray. They prayed for the souls of those who died in a battle. This battle was between the Danes and King Edmund's Anglo-Saxons. It may have happened close to the chapel.
The Great Stone of Lyng
South of the chapel is an area of woods called The Grove. On old maps, it was called King's Grove. An "ancient" hollow way runs through these woods. A hollow way is an old path that has been worn down over time. It connects a small village called Collen's Green to the main road.
Next to this path is a large rock called the Great Stone of Lyng. This stone is a "glacial erratic." This means it was moved by a glacier long ago. It is about 2 meters long and 1 meter wide. Many stories are told about this stone. People have linked it to "druids, devils, sounds, the stone moving or growing, burials and treasure." Some even say the stone would bleed if pricked with a pin!
The Annual Fair
When the nuns left Lyng in the 1100s, they still earned money from an annual fair. This fair was held every year on November 20th. This day is also St. Edmund's Day. The fair continued for a very long time. It was still happening in the late 1800s. Even Parson Woodforde mentioned it in his diary. There was also a group called the Guild of St. Edmund in the village.
Images for kids
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The fragmentary ruins of the chapel
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The Great Stone of Lyng
