Monument record 10854 - Chapel of St Thomas à Becket

The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket is first mentioned in St Werburgh's chartulary 1190 as 'Cemetery of St Thomas without the Northgate' at the northern extremity of Upper Northgate Street between roads leading to Eastham & Parkgate. Here Abbot of St Werburgh claimed & held once a year a leet court of residents within the abbey & in Northgate Street (1). However, in the 13th century, the abbot was indicted because the court 'held outside the Northgate (was) to the injury of the king's court in the city'. The abbot claimed he & his predecessors 'from time immemorial had held their free court belonging to their church outside the said gate' (2). During the reign of Edward VI (1549), when chapel leased, condition made that Dean & Chapter should have 'sufficient place to keep their court within ye said house or chapel'. A photo of an undated drawing shows chapel in very ruinous condition. 2 gable ends surviving, 1 with window. Possible chancel arch remaining. No roof. (1).

Following the Dissolution, the chapel was converted into a private residence called Green Hall (later Jolly’s Hall) and was demolished during the Civil War siege. It is possible that remains survived in a barn on the site until 1821. (5)

<1> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /167 (Book). SCH946.

<2> Burne, R. V. H., 1962, The Monks of Chester. The History of St Werburgh's Abbey, /42 (Book). SCH3213.

<3> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Alldridge N J 1981 64/5-31 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<4> Gastrell F, 1845-1850, Notitia Cestriensis, or historical notices of the diocese of Chester, Gastrell F 1845/121 (Article in Journal). SCH2290.

<5> 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, p159 (Book). SCH6522.