Name: Odda's Chapel
Rating: 5.0

Odda's Chapel

Deerhurst, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL19 4BX, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Odda's Chapel One of the most complete surviving Saxon churches in England, this chapel was built in 1056 by Earl Odda, a relation of Edward the Confessor. It was incorporated into a farmhouse in the 17th century, with a kitchen in the nave and a bedroom in the chancel, and rediscovered in 1865. Nearby is the equally famous Saxon parish church.

Odda’s Chapel at Deerhurst is one of the most complete surviving Saxon churches in England. It lay undiscovered for centuries, its walls hidden amidst the rambling rooms of the 17th-century farmhouse known as Abbot’s Court. The nave had been made into a kitchen, with a fireplace and inserted windows, while the chancel had become a bedroom.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Odda’s Chapel: Odda’s Chapel at Deerhurst is one of the most complete surviving Saxon churches in England. It lay undiscovered for centuries, its walls hidden amidst the rambling rooms of the 17th-century farmhouse known as Abbot’s Court. The nave had been made into a kitchen, with a fireplace and inserted windows, while the chancel had become a bedroom.
Discovery of the Chapel: There is evidence of a Roman villa in the vicinity of the chapel and Deerhurst was an important place during the Saxon period. The present parish church, also a celebrated Anglo-Saxon survival, is part of a medieval priory founded in the 7th century.
The existence of this smaller Saxon chapel nearby was unknown until 1865 when the Revd George Butterworth rediscovered it. Two clues helped him. The first was an entry in the medieval chronicle of Tewkesbury Abbey describing a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity that stood opposite the gateway to Deerhurst Priory. The second was the famous Odda Stone that had been found in an orchard near the parish church in 1675. The inscription on it stated:
Description: The chapel comprises a square-ended chancel divided from the nave by a solid chancel arch. The main Saxon features are the alternating long and short quoins, the windows, the chancel arch and the north door of the nave. The nave walls are 17 feet (5.2 metres) high and are built of local blue lias stone.
There were originally two doorways facing each other but the one on the south side has been blocked. The window on the south side is near perfect, even containing some of the original oak framework. Traces of the fireplace of the later Tudor kitchen can be seen in the west wall.
The chancel arch is just over 10 feet (3 metres) high and slightly horseshoe-shaped. The chancel beyond has been extensively altered. The south wall was demolished and its position is now marked by the low wall. The upper storey was inserted when the building was converted into part of the adjoining dwelling.

Facilities

Parking: Parking not English Heritage, charges apply.
Food & Drinks: Shops and food outlets can be found a short drive away in Tewksbury.
Toilets: There is a toilet in the nearby St Mary's Priory Church yard.
Dogs: Assistance dogs only.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open daily.

Address: Deerhurst, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL19 4BX, UK

Post Code: GL19 4BX

Council: Tewkesbury

County: Gloucestershire

Road Access: Located in Deerhurst off B4213, at Abbots Court; south-west of parish church.
Bus Access: Astons service 351 serves Apperley. From there it is a 1 1⁄2 mile walk.
Train Access: Cheltenham eight miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Parking not English Heritage, charges apply.