Ruins at the Holy Ghost cemetery
In 1208, a dispute between King John and the Pope meant that burials in consecrated ground were forbidden for about 6 years. During this time, the townspeople of Basingstoke buried their dead on the slope north of the town. Later, the ground was consecrated, and became the town’s burial ground for the next 700 years, until the new cemetery opened in Worting Road in 1913.
The first chapel was built by 1280, with a Guild of Townsmen to oversee the site and collect offerings of money and land, left as bequests in return for prayers for life after death. What we see of the earlier chapel today is part of the west wall.
This photo shows the distinctive remains, tower and window arches of another chapel, added to the original one and built around 1525 by William Lord Sandys of The Vyne as a grand burial place for his parents and family [see Ian Richard’s Flashback, Gazette 10/12/2020]. The chapel was widely known for its great beauty, for its roof and above all for its painted glass windows. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Sandys’ family emblems are visible on the parapet and grave slabs. These include the hemp-breaker and cross raggulé.
Why did it fall into ruin? In the 1540s, Sandys’ chapel was caught up in the English Reformation, which saw the closure of all chantry chapels. Statues and other items used in worship were removed in what must have been a puzzling time for people. After the death of Edward VI, his sister Mary revived Catholic worship. In 1556 a charter was drawn up by Queen Mary, which established a school in the chapel. The schoolroom was attached to the west wall of the early chapel. Known as Queen Mary’s School, it survived as Queen Mary’s Grammar School for Boys and then, with comprehensive education, the name and endowment moved to Queen Mary’s College.
Mostly copied from an article in the Basingstoke Gazette 1st January 2021. www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18981455.history-holy-g...
Ruins at the Holy Ghost cemetery
In 1208, a dispute between King John and the Pope meant that burials in consecrated ground were forbidden for about 6 years. During this time, the townspeople of Basingstoke buried their dead on the slope north of the town. Later, the ground was consecrated, and became the town’s burial ground for the next 700 years, until the new cemetery opened in Worting Road in 1913.
The first chapel was built by 1280, with a Guild of Townsmen to oversee the site and collect offerings of money and land, left as bequests in return for prayers for life after death. What we see of the earlier chapel today is part of the west wall.
This photo shows the distinctive remains, tower and window arches of another chapel, added to the original one and built around 1525 by William Lord Sandys of The Vyne as a grand burial place for his parents and family [see Ian Richard’s Flashback, Gazette 10/12/2020]. The chapel was widely known for its great beauty, for its roof and above all for its painted glass windows. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Sandys’ family emblems are visible on the parapet and grave slabs. These include the hemp-breaker and cross raggulé.
Why did it fall into ruin? In the 1540s, Sandys’ chapel was caught up in the English Reformation, which saw the closure of all chantry chapels. Statues and other items used in worship were removed in what must have been a puzzling time for people. After the death of Edward VI, his sister Mary revived Catholic worship. In 1556 a charter was drawn up by Queen Mary, which established a school in the chapel. The schoolroom was attached to the west wall of the early chapel. Known as Queen Mary’s School, it survived as Queen Mary’s Grammar School for Boys and then, with comprehensive education, the name and endowment moved to Queen Mary’s College.
Mostly copied from an article in the Basingstoke Gazette 1st January 2021. www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18981455.history-holy-g...