Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

St Marys Chapel
Hob Uid: 397544
Location : Greater London Authority Kingston upon Thames Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ1788069110
Summary : Site of a pre-conquest chapel which may have also been dedicated to All Hallows. A fragment of 8th century cross, now in the present church suggests that the chapel was established by this date. A stone alleged to be the Coronation Stone is now in the Guildhall. It was used for the consecration of the kings of Wessex and England, from Edward the Elder (902) until Ethelred II (978). The chapel was demolished by 1730 and its site is marked by inscribed paving slabs on the south side of the south transept of the present church (TQ 16 NE 93). It measured 60 feet by 25 feet and had walls 2 feet 6 inches thick. Evidence supports Kingston having the status of a minster, possibly from the Middle Anglo-Saxon period.
More information : [TQ 17906930] All Saints Church [T.U.] St. Mary's Chap. [G.T.] (Site of) [TQ 17886911] Coronation Stone [T.I.] All Saints Church, built C.1125, but restored in the 19th cent, contains 14th & 15th cent. work. [See AO/LP/63/66] The shape and size of the nave and the part under the tower suggest that it may be standing on the site of a pre-conquest church, probably dedicated to All Hallows. A fragment of an 8th cent. cross (now in the church) suggests that the church was established by this date: Athelstan (924) and Ethelred (978) and probably others were consecrated as Kings here, and the church was presumably associated with a possible 9th cent. episcopal palace which Biden (a) sites by the riverside [TQ 16 NE 7], and a 9th cent. Royal palace in the Bittons (3) [TQ 16 NE 13] The site of a late pre-conquest chapel of S.Mary (erroneously known as "The Chapel of the Coronations) is marked by a low wall adjacent to the S. Transept. [See AO/LP/63/67-8] A 'Coronation Stone' on which the Kings are said to have been crowned, is alleged to have been preserved in this chapel, but it is not mentioned by Leland or Camden. Subsequent to the collapse of the chapel it was placed outside the Town Hall and used as a mounting block until 1850, when it was placed on a pedestal. [It is now outside the Guildhall] All Saints Church, in normal use. The site of the Saxon church which stood until 1730 is marked by inscribed paving slabs placed in 1936 on the South side of the South Transept. The chapel was 60ft. x 25ft. with walls 2ft.6ins. thick. The door stood in the W.wall and faced the Bishop's Palace (TQ 16 NE 7). The site of the Altar is also marked. Site surveyed at 1/1250. The Coronation Stone stands at TQ 17886907. GP/AO/65/228/4.

Sources :

Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 25" 1932
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 487-8
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Source Number : 2a
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Source details : Biden. History of Kingston, 10
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : (WE St Lawrence Finny)
Page(s) : 01-Sep
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Vol(s) : 48, 1943

Source Number : 4
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Source details :
Page(s) : 211-9
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Vol(s) : 37, 1927

Source Number : 5
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Source details :
Page(s) : 98-104
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Vol(s) : 35, 1924

Source Number : 6
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Source details : Whitelock D. 1961. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 68, 80
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F1 FGA 06-JAN-66
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Source Number : 8
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Source details :
Page(s) : 99-101
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : C8
Monument End Date : 799
Monument Start Date : 700
Monument Type : Cross
Evidence : Structure

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Late Saxon
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 841
Monument Type : Coronation Stone, Minster
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence, Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : C10 or earlier
Monument End Date : 1000
Monument Start Date : 900
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Demolished in 1730
Monument End Date : 1730
Monument Start Date : 1730
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 203096
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 16 NE 11
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1966-01-06
End Date : 1966-01-06

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

Historic England Research Records

St Marys Chapel