Possible site of chapel dedicated to the Virgin, in All Saints' Churchyard, Ulting (EHER 7955)

A chapel dedicated to the virgin, and said to be founded by Thomas Halkyn (died 1455) once stood in the churchyard of All Saint's Church (EHER 38983). Geophysical survey in 2007 and an excavation in 2010 sought to locate the remains of the chapel, but the results were inconclusive. Summary from record 47624: It is recorded that a chapel was built within the Ulting churchyard in the 15th Century and was demolished after the reformation.

A chapel dedicated to the virgin, founded by Thomas Halkyn (died 1455) once stood in the churchyard of All Saint's Church (EHER 38983) and is referred to by Morant. According to Fitch, it had gone by 1893. <1> <2> 2007. Geophysical survey. The location of the chapel is unknown apart from a historical reference to it being to the west of the church. It is not known if it was separate or part of the church. If it had been entered via the church, such trace of a connecting doorway would have been lost, as the church west wall was rebuilt in the 19th century. Upon observing parch marks on the ground in 2007, Jim Page and Geoff Austin determined to locate the site of the chapel, and a resistivity survey was carried out by Dr. Tim Dennis from which a plan was prepared. From this plan, four positions of interest were noted and a request put to the Diocese to allow excavation by Maldon Archaeological and Historical Group (MAHG). In Sept 2009 permission was given to excavate at two specific points (hereinafter UC1 and UC2) of limited extent and depth. By this time MAHG owned resistivity equipment for taking cross sections (pseudo sections) and this was used prior to excavation, to give an insight into the likely findings at the two positions. The feature of most obvious interest on the resistivity plan is a line running west from near the south-west corner of the church. This had also been the line of the parch marks. It was thought possible that this could indicate the south wall of the chapel. Pseudo sections confirmed that a solid feature extended over 5m from near the church to a point where two successive brick covered graves lie on almost the same line, preventing further investigation. A pseudo section taken to the west of the graves shows no continuation of the feature, therefore its original length can not be determined. Neither resistivity plan nor sections have given any sign of matching north or west walls. <3> 2010. Archaeological excavation. In 2010 investigations were carried out to find the chantry chapel which was documented in the 15th century. Two test pits were excavated on two of the four areas of interest identified in the geophysical survey. One of the test pits found an unmortared wall foundation in the right position but it was more typical of 11th-13th century than 15th century. It may be that the chapel reused an earlier structure. The ground to either side of the foundation was much disturbed, probably as a result of grave digging. The other test pit recorded a deposit which yielded 'artefacts' including brick, tile, mortar, nails, some worked flint, pot sherds, and painted window glass which was provisionally dated to the 15th/16th century. Also recovered was a plain iron cross, approximately 250mm long. <4> <5>