Site of medieval chapel, St James's, St James Street (EHER 6789)

A chapel formerly stood in a field of about an acre in extant, opposite a spring.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Supposed site of St James's Chapel (NR). <1> St James's free chapel stood opposite the spring (at TL 78823558) in a field of about an acre, now a hop-ground (TL 787355). <2> Between 1221-1263 a hospital was founded by the de Veres 'at the gates of the castle', presumably the origin of the 'chapel' recorded in the late 16th century at the market place's eastern end. <3> 1950. Field visit. This is a small pasture field, the surface of which is somewhat uneven at this point and therefore may indicate buried features. <4> <5> October 1995. Geophysical survey. A resistivity survey carried out in Oct 1995 failed to present any conclusive evidence for the presence of any remains of the hospital in the area surveyed, although an area of higher readings were noted on the eastern side outside the town defences, and linear features relating to the town defences were discovered. <6> <7> 2016. Information update. Information from local historian, Charles Bird, suggests that the playing field is part of the site once occupied by the New Abbey, built by Hugh de Vere, about 1240. At the Reformation the buildings fell into disuse. The burial ground is thought to be east of the site. The abbey had an infirmary or hospital and the presence of a well made it a place of pilgrimage. The main street in Castle Hedingham was called New Abbey Street, then High Street and since about 1900 St James Street. <8>