More information : Chapel (GT) (Site of.) (1)
"Site of Chapel (GT) The site of this ancient Chapel is on the
outer side of the Moat a short distance east of the ruins of
the Castle..." (2)
"The bill of Pope Evgenius III in 1145 recites that at the
request of the monks he has confirmed to the monastry of ST
Mary Of Sherborne, - the following possessions:- - ; the church
of St Mary Magdalen by the castle with its two chapels &
appurtenances. (3)
The church of Castleton was originally a chapel of ease to
Oborne dedicated to St Mary Magdalen in the 1405 Dean
Chandler's Registar. It first stood near the castle, a little
to the E. of it, but was rebuilt by Sir W. Raleigh on a site,
supposed to be that of the present church which was erected in
1714.
The site of the original chapel is suggested by the field name
Maudlins Close which applies to six acres on the NE side of the
Castle. (4)
An unpublished excavation of the alleged chapel site was made
in 1932, and the site re-examined in 1951. The mound was found
to be artificial, probably a civil war defence platform. It
concealed a substantial 12th c. building lying E.W. 59ft x
17ft, with the remains of arches which carried the main N.
wall. There was a 7ft wide N. aisle. The masonry could be
equated with the main work of the castle attributed to Bp
Roger, 1101-1135. (5)
Further work exposed two more buildings, of a similar nature.
One E. of the original, also E.W., and another 96ft to the S.
of the original building excavated. Each had an internal aisle,
one on the N. and one on the S. respectively.
At the knoll to the NE of the moat are the remains of a
building of indeterminate character. (7). This building,
outside the curtain wall, was a little Norman chapel dedicated
to St Mary Magdalene, and built by Bp Roger (c1099-1148).
Partly excavated by Mr C.E. Bean, 1933-4 (8). (7-8)
It has not been possible to make a satisfatory deduction
regarding the sites of buildings outside the Castle Wall,
except that they appear to be of Bp Rogers time. The alleged
chapel site can neither be proved nor disproved. (9)
The area is completely covered with long grass and nettles, and
the excavations cannot be defined on the ground.
The sites A ST 64901685; B ST 64941685 ; and C ST 64921683, were pointed out on the sheet by MR Bean. (10)
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