Monument record 869/1/0 - Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Leonard or the Hermitage of the Rood

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, vol.II p.236-7 (Book). SCH1389.

Documents dating from 1225 onwards refer to two oratories or chantries; 'The Free Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Leonard' or the 'Hermitage of the Rood near Tarporley', though the references appear to refer to one place. Whilst ploughing up a field called the Hermitage Field, labourers discovered the stone foundations of a small cell, built with red ashlar. The foundations were so slight that the plan of the building could not be traced. Nearby they found a stone coffin containing the remains of a human skeleton (thigh bones and skull intact).

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .III p.296 (Book). SCH3228.

Various references to 'The Herimtage', 'The Free Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Leonard' and 'Hermitage of the Rood near Tarporley' predominantly derived from Ormerod (see 1).

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 56 SW 1 (Index). SCH2487.

Report that in the dry summer of 1935 the footings of sandstone building were observed in a dried up pond situated in the centre of Hermitage Field. A 1964 site visit noted no trace of a building in the pond at SJ 5450 6266.

<4> Clay R M, 1914, Hermits and Anchorites of England, p.208-209 (Book). SCH1340.

The chapel is listed along with the other Cheshire cells. Hermit John is recorded in 1287 and Adam in 1301.

<5> Harris, B E (ed), 1980, A History of the County of Chester: Volume III, p.127 (Book). SCH6524.

The chantry chapel is decicated to the Virgin and St Leonard was also known as the Hermiatge of the Rood.

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 384/2 c.1849 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

There are three fields containing hermitage in their name (north to south): Feather Hermitage, Middle Hermitage and Nearer Hermitage. All are in the ownership of the Dean and Chapter of Chester Cathedral.

<7> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.2 p.39 Robinson D J (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Two fragments of small ionic capitals and several broken flagstones were turned up by ploughing in Hermitage Field, reputed to be the site of a hermit’s cell or the Chapel of St Leonard.