Tuesday 23 August 2022

Cute little chapel at Ripon.

Following a street map, there is time to visit the Chapel of Mary Magdalen, also known as The Leper Chapel. It looks interesting. The medieval Chapel is grade 1 listed and has stood on the northern edge of the city for over 900 years. It has seen little change over those years. It was built about 1135 as part of a small community because it offered hospitality. 
I was pleased to see the 'Open' board at the front, and found that a lady called Anne was inside doing her weekly polishing, keeping it spick and span. We had a lovely chat. There is a plain and simple alter. Everything inside is very basic, natural stonework, solid wood, and a brick laid floor. 



If you click on this to enlarge it, you should be able to read it. 
There was a door opposite to the main front door, it looked as if it was sealed shut. I asked about it, and Anne was happy to show me that it opened. There is some kind of rubber seal which has been attached to the edges to keep the draughts out. 

I asked Anne about the bell, does it work. You can see the bell pull in this picture. She gave me a bell ringing lesson and started it off, then let me take over and continue ringing. That is the first time I have ever rung a church bell. I might take it up as a hobby. They sometimes ask for people to join the bell ringing team at our church. It would be interesting to learn that. 

Tim Barber has written a very interesting blog post about the Leper Chapel. You can read it here. Also in Wikipedia. I loved the simplicity of it, I could see me setting up home here. A kitchen in one corner, a toilet in another corner, and a bed in the third corner. 
Then it was time to go back to the car. I needed to eat. A few more campervans have arrived. £2 for a 24 hour park, it is surely a bargain. The lady in the blue VW camper was good fun. Her mates arrived and they all went off to the town. 
I was on the edge, nobody on the other side of me. 

Time to get dinner on. 
It starts getting dark about 9pm now. I was happy to go to bed at that time, after a busy day. Wonder what tomorrow will bring. I studied the map and made a plan. See you soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

9 comments:

  1. Good morning from Australia, thank you for the tour of Ripon Cathederal and the church of St Mary Magdelane, just stunning, if those walls could talk, oh the tales they could tell, amazing to think those buildings have been around for 900 odd years, your couscous tea sounded nice, I love your free spirit, just stopping and camping where ever, the old posts you included sound just like what is happening here in Australia at the moment, there is record homelessness, and the cost of living is becoming more unafordable each day, so our new labour government thinks they will bring in at least 40000 overseas workers, yet we have so many people unemployed, the older you get the harder it is to get a job, and just read Klaus and his gang are talking about microchipping children, for their safety, that stinks of what nazi Germany did all those years ago, but I.m not worried I too can see what is happening with their so called new world order, I have more veggies to plant and see a bright future being a non conformist, keep up the fight for freedom people, regards Elizabeth from down under.

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  2. Replies
    1. I am quite liking the idea. Our bell ringing practice is on a Thursday. I might go and have a look at that.

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  3. That's a lovely little Chapel, I like old buildings, the older the better, it's like going back in time. Imagine standing there for 900 years! If only those stones could tell the stories of things they've seen!
    Liz from Wales.

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    1. Hello Liz. The old buildings certainly have lots of character.

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  4. Lovely little chapel

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    1. I felt really at home there. I don't need any fancy fixtures and fittings.

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  5. elizabeth creek cottage25 August 2022 at 17:41

    Good morning from Australia, thank you for the tour of Ripon Cathederal and the church of St Mary Magdelane, just stunning, if those walls could talk, oh the tales they could tell, amazing to think those buildings have been around for 900 odd years, your couscous tea sounded nice, I love your free spirit, just stopping and camping where ever,

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    1. Hello elizabeth. My wanderlust is a throwback from the years of lorry driving I did. I didn't have the freedom to go wherever I pleased, but as long as the load was delivered I could choose which route to take. Thank you for your comment, I have edited it.

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