"a spot admirably calculated for meditation"
Our Lady's Chapel was recorded in a drawing in 1772 which was convert to copper plate engraving and print by Francis Grose in his publication The Antiquities of England and Wales volume 5.
The ruins of Lady Chapel stand on the north bank of the River Wansbeck.The chapel, measuring only 21 ft by 12ft.
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| The ruins of Our Lady's Chapel |
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| Lady Catherine's Chapel 1752: Stone and carving found at the site. |
There is a variety of information about the origins of the site is thought to have been founded by Owen Ogle between 1472 and 1488 to commemorate his gaining of the barony of Bothal, including the castle.
This conflicts slightly as Owen Ogle died in 1486, if the chapel was completed after his death then it may have been completed by his son Ralph Ogle.
After the Abolition of Chantries Act 1547 was the chapel abandoned and left to decay. Some of the carvings from the chapel were taken to Bothal Castle in the early 19th century. this is said to include a Shield of the arms of Ogle and Bertram originally on the Lady Chapel, but now built into Bothal Castle.
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| Partially restored by the Victorian's |
On the sandstone outcrop near the remains of the chapel are some interesting carvings, including the Mulcaster family coat of arms. Richard Mulcaster was churchwarden at Bothal from 1856 -1860. This is the site of Lady Well, one of three similar wells on the site which were used by local people in the 19th Century despite their distance from housing.
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| Mulcaster coat of Arms Carved into rock along with the motto ‘Fidelis Servus’ (‘Faithful Servant’). |
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| Image of Lady Well / Chapel Well as it existed in the 19th Century |
There are also reports that this site was in important site for rare species of wild flower according to Doctor William Morris Orobanche grew in this site as well as the Chapel Flower or Herb Paris. The Herb Paris had been plentiful around the chapel but was removed by a collector.
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| Chapel Flower or Herb Paris |
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| Herb Paris |
Orobanche
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| Panel by David Hall for the William Turner Celebrations |
Bartram's Dirge
They shot him dead at Ninestone Bridge
Beside the Headless Cross.
They left him lying in his blood
Among the moor and moss.
They made a bier of the broken bough,
The sauch and aspen grey.
They bore him to the Lady Chapel
And waked him there all day.
A lady came to this lonely bower,
She cast her robes aside,
She tore her lovely golden hair
And knelt by Bartram's side.
She bathed him in the Lady Well,
His wounds so deep and sair.
She made a garland for his breast
And a garland for his hair.
They rolled him in a lily sheet
And bore him to his earth
And a greyfriar sang the Dead Man's Mass
As they passed the chapel garth.
They buried him at the mirk midnight
When the air was cold and still,
When the aspen grey forgot to play
And the mist clung to the hill.
They dug his grave but one foot deep
At the edge of Ninestone Burn.
They covered him over with heather flowers,
With moss and lady fern.
The greyfriar stayed upon the grave
And sang till morning tide
And a friar shall sing for Bartram's soul
While the Headless Cross shall bide.
I read this in a book some years ago, and it stuck in
my head even after the first reading.
Unfortunately I forgot what book it was. But I do
remember that the author is not known.
To me it feels like a Border Reiver Ballad...
