North Gosforth Chapel, burial ground
North Gosforth Chapel, burial ground
HER Number
13404
District
Newcastle
Site Name
North Gosforth Chapel, burial ground
Place
North Gosforth
Map Sheet
NZ27SW
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
Site Type: Broad
Cemetery
Site Type: Specific
Churchyard
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Form of Evidence
Structure
Description
The evidence for burials consisted of coffins, grave covers, plain and decorated, medieval and C17, and 4 skeletons found in the chancel. Burials suggest it was a parochial chapel. Burials possibly into 18th century. The medieval chapel probably fell into ruins in the 17th century but its attached burial ground remained in use. In the 1780s a clergyman read a burial service there. Several medieval grave slabs and later gravestones lie scattered around the ruins in the grass. The most easily read is to William Hedley, yeoman, who died in 1664. He, his wife and their 12 children are buried here. 'IN CHRISTAIN HOPE ONE RESTS HERE, OBSCURE YET TENDER SHED A TEARE, HE WAS A GODLY ZEALOUS YOUTH, NEVER DESERTING FROM THE TRUTH, HUMILITIE LOVE HONESTIE, EACH VERTUE OF HUMANITIE, DID IN HIM FLOURISH, WHILE HERE HE LIVED IN FAITH HOPE AND CHARITIE, ENDING THIS LIFE IN GODLY SORT, YIELDING TO THE WORLD A GOOD REPORT'. His arms and crest appear below the epitaph. A less readable stone to John Robinson is adjacent. A watching brief in 2009 by the County Archaeologist during the installation of an information board recorded human bones.
Easting
424640
Northing
570110
Grid Reference
NZ424640570110
Sources
J. Brand, 1989, History of Newcastle I, pp. 321-2
J. Bell, 1832, An Account of the Remains of a Chapel,…near Low Gosforth House, Archaeologia Aeliana, 1, II, pp. 243-245
G.B. Richardson, 1841, Remains of the Old Chapel of So.(sic) Gosforth 184,1Northumberland Records Office
E. Mackenzie, 1825, History of Northumberland Vol. II, p. 470
Rev. R.E. Hooppell, 1882, On the Ruins of an Early Church at North Gosforth, near Newcastle… JBAA, Vol. 38, pp. 117-121
S. Holmes, 1883, Recent Investigations at the Ruined Chapel of North Gosforth, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, IX, pp. 205-210
R. Welford, (date unknown) A History of the Parish of Gosforth pp. 19-22
J.C. Hodgson,1916, Notices of Ruined Towers, Chapels, etc. in Northumberland circa 1715, Archaeologia Aeliana, 3, XIII, p. 12
M.H. Dodds, 1930, North Gosforth Chapel, Northumberland County History, XIII, pp. 338-9
Photo, Newcastle Planning Dept. City Engineers Reprographics, 1980, North Gosforth Chapel Neg. nos. 7925/1-4
W.W. Tomlinson, 1899, North Gosforth Chapel, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, VIII (for 1897-98), 227; Archaeological Services Durham University, 2005, North Gosforth Chapel, Kingsley Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne - geophysical surveys; Alan Morgan, 2004, Beyond the Grave - Exploring Newcastle's Burial Grounds, pages 161-2
J. Bell, 1832, An Account of the Remains of a Chapel,…near Low Gosforth House, Archaeologia Aeliana, 1, II, pp. 243-245
G.B. Richardson, 1841, Remains of the Old Chapel of So.(sic) Gosforth 184,1Northumberland Records Office
E. Mackenzie, 1825, History of Northumberland Vol. II, p. 470
Rev. R.E. Hooppell, 1882, On the Ruins of an Early Church at North Gosforth, near Newcastle… JBAA, Vol. 38, pp. 117-121
S. Holmes, 1883, Recent Investigations at the Ruined Chapel of North Gosforth, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, IX, pp. 205-210
R. Welford, (date unknown) A History of the Parish of Gosforth pp. 19-22
J.C. Hodgson,1916, Notices of Ruined Towers, Chapels, etc. in Northumberland circa 1715, Archaeologia Aeliana, 3, XIII, p. 12
M.H. Dodds, 1930, North Gosforth Chapel, Northumberland County History, XIII, pp. 338-9
Photo, Newcastle Planning Dept. City Engineers Reprographics, 1980, North Gosforth Chapel Neg. nos. 7925/1-4
W.W. Tomlinson, 1899, North Gosforth Chapel, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, VIII (for 1897-98), 227; Archaeological Services Durham University, 2005, North Gosforth Chapel, Kingsley Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne - geophysical surveys; Alan Morgan, 2004, Beyond the Grave - Exploring Newcastle's Burial Grounds, pages 161-2