The Hanging Chapel
Encyclopedia
The Hanging Chapel in Langport
, Somerset
, England is a 13th century archway, bearing a Perpendicular building known as the hanging chapel. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument
.
Excavation in the 1990s showed that the gateway and chapel had been built on the site of a Saxon
bank around the town. The archway is all that remains of the east gate of the defended town. The archway which goes over the former main road takes the form of a pointed barrel vault
.
After the Reformation
, having served as the chapel of the tradesmen's guild of Langport who also formed the Corporation, it became the Town Hall in 1570, and courthouse
.
It was given by the corporation to the trustees of Thomas Gillett's free grammar school
, and underwent repairs in 1706 and 1716 to house the towns grammar school, which had been founded in 1675. The grammar school used the premises until 1790, and the chapel was then used as a Sunday school from 1818 to 1827.
It then became the Quekett museum, named after John Thomas Quekett
(1815–61) the histologist, and master of Langport Grammar School. It has also been an armoury
.
The hanging chapel became a masonic
hall in 1891, and is currently leased by the town council to the Portcullis Lodge.
In 1998 long scars, 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) to 15 millimetre (0.590551181102362 in) deep, were left in the archway when it was hit by a lorry, although no structural damage occurred.
Langport
Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067. The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England is a 13th century archway, bearing a Perpendicular building known as the hanging chapel. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.
Excavation in the 1990s showed that the gateway and chapel had been built on the site of a Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
bank around the town. The archway is all that remains of the east gate of the defended town. The archway which goes over the former main road takes the form of a pointed barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
.
After the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, having served as the chapel of the tradesmen's guild of Langport who also formed the Corporation, it became the Town Hall in 1570, and courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
.
It was given by the corporation to the trustees of Thomas Gillett's free grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, and underwent repairs in 1706 and 1716 to house the towns grammar school, which had been founded in 1675. The grammar school used the premises until 1790, and the chapel was then used as a Sunday school from 1818 to 1827.
It then became the Quekett museum, named after John Thomas Quekett
John Thomas Quekett
John Thomas Quekett was an English microscopist and histologist.Quekett studied medicine at the London Hospital in 1831. He became a licentiate of the Apothecaries' Company and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons....
(1815–61) the histologist, and master of Langport Grammar School. It has also been an armoury
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
.
The hanging chapel became a masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
hall in 1891, and is currently leased by the town council to the Portcullis Lodge.
In 1998 long scars, 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) to 15 millimetre (0.590551181102362 in) deep, were left in the archway when it was hit by a lorry, although no structural damage occurred.