St James' Chapel, Lindsey, Suffolk
There is no documentary evidence for the foundation of the Chapel of St James the Apostle at Lindsey. However, the chapel was almost certainly built to serve the nearby Castle of Lindsey, the earthwork remains of which are visible some 250 metres to the south-east. It was probably founded by the de Cockfield family, who owned the castle. In 1240 Nesta de Cockfield gave the churches of Kersey and Lindsey to Kersey Priory, but reserved the right to appoint the clergy for Lindsey, all of which suggests the present chapel was well established by that time. In 1242 she imposed a special tithe on parts of Cockfield – known as the Lindsey Tithes – to pay for continual lighting in the chapel. It remained in use until the Dissolution. In 1547 the King’s Commissioners reported that its yearly value was £5, and it was one of the numerous ‘free’ chapels that were dissolved the same year. The king eventually granted the chapel to Thomas Turner and thereafter it was used as a barn until 1930. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2011). Read more.
