Monument record 11033/2 - Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist - Chapel of St James

The Chapel of St James was situated within the precinct of St John's Collegiate Church, and it was shown as a rectangular building between the anchorite cells and the south door of the nave of the church on a plan of 1589 (Harl Mss 2073) (1). In 1662, the chapel was still standing and in use as a stable, but 'much ruinated'. By 1845, it had long been 'entirely destroyed' (2).

This, in addition to a chantry chapel to St Mary, was a subordinate institution to St John’s, and by the twelfth century was associated with an anchorite and believed locally to be the last refuge of King Harold after his defeat at Hastings. Its status is uncertain; described as a chapel and held by the dean in 1341 (2), in 1589 it was termed the ‘old parish or chapel’.

<1> Parker, John Henry, 1864, The Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist, Chester, Parker J H 1864 lst s/2/329-46 (Article in Journal). SCH5521.

<2> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /164 (Book). SCH946.

<3> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, 94/307-8 1937 (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

<4> Douglas J, 1872-5, The Abbey Square Sketch Book, 3/Nos.64-7 (Book). SCH3014.

<5> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /148-150 (Book). SCH3078.

<6> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /155-7 (Book). SCH394.

<7> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 1/306-317 (N) (Book). SCH1389.

<8> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richard R 1973 /103-110 (Book). SCH2309.

<9> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /1/215 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<10> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.