The Chapel of Our Lady on Rotherham Bridge

 Chapel of our Lady on the Bridge location map

The Chapel on the Bridge in Rotherham is one of only four surviving examples of a medieval Bridge Chantry. It has enjoyed a long and chequered history.

It was built in 1483 with money from local people. It is possible that much of the cost was borne by Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York. It was very richly decorated. In about 1500 Leland wrote 'I enterid into Rotheram by a fair stone bridge of iiij arches, and on hit is a Chapel of stone well wrought'.

The Chapel was popular with travellers, who used it to pray for a safe journey, or to give thanks for a safe arrival. With the Act for the Dissolution of Colleges and Chanceries in 1547 the Chapel was closed. It survived only because it was an integral part of the bridge.

1n 1643, during the English Civil War, a great battle was fought on the bridge, between the Earl of Newcastle's Royalist troops and a spirited resistance led by a Colonel Gill of Carr House. Thirty grammar school boys and their cannon played a notable part in the towns defence, but the Royalists won the day. The town was taken by nightfall, and was occupied for three days.

By the 1680's the Chapel was in ruinous condition and, apart from minor repairs, remained that way for nearly 100 years. In 1778 work began on converting the chapel to a prison, at a cost of around £136. The Chapel was turned into living quarters and the crypt became the town gaol. The gaol closed in 1826.

Following the departure of the Constable and his "guests" the Chapel was rented as a dwelling house until 1888, when it opened for business as a tobacconist and newsagent's shop. In 1901 a petition signed by almost 1000 Rotherham residents called for the restoration of the Chapel. The tobacconist's was bought out in 1913 by Sir Charles Stoddart, and closed down. He died before the restoration could be completed but the vicar and churchwardens finished the repairs. The Chapel was reconsecrated on the 22nd of July, 1924.

In 1975 a new stained glass window was installed. It charts the history of the Chapel and town, and incorporates many family crests and the initials of people associated with the Chapel (and gaol!).

 Points of Interest