Wykeham, Weston, Lincolnshire facts for kids

Chapel of St Nicholas, Wykeham

Wykeham is a special place in Lincolnshire, England. It's known as a "deserted medieval village." This means it was once a busy village long ago, but now no one lives there. You can find Wykeham in the area called South Holland.

Wykeham Chapel

Exploring Wykeham's Past

Wykeham is home to the remains of an old chapel and a grand hall. These ruins tell us about life hundreds of years ago. It's like a real-life history book!

The Chapel of St Nicholas

The most famous ruin here is the Chapel of Saint Nicholas. It was built a very long time ago, in the year 1311. Imagine how old that is! This chapel was made from strong limestone.

What Happened to the Chapel?

The chapel used to be part of Spalding Priory. A "priory" was a type of monastery where monks lived. The "Prior" was the leader of the monks. Wykeham Hall, which is also in ruins, was where the Prior of Spalding would stay when he visited the countryside.

Later, around the 1500s, there was a time called the "Dissolution of the Monasteries." This is when many monasteries and religious buildings in England were closed down. The Chapel of St Nicholas became a "free chapel" then, meaning it was no longer directly controlled by the priory.

Sadly, the chapel's roof fell in during 1782. Since then, it has remained a beautiful, roofless shell.

Protecting Wykeham's History

Today, the chapel is very important. It is a "Grade I listed building." This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England. The entire site is also a "scheduled monument." This gives it special protection so that its history can be preserved for everyone to learn from.