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Visitor information

location

Biddlestone Village
Nr Netherton
Northumberland
NE65 7DT

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Contact the office for access details: email us / call us: +44 (0)204 520 4458 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

OS grid reference

NT955084

A Gothic Revival church built on the remains of a medieval pele-tower with a World War II bomb shelter in the basement

About Biddlestone Roman Catholic Chapel

Built on the foundations of the pele tower dating to the 14th century, the current Gothic Revival chapel was formerly a private chapel to demolished Biddlestone Hall.

In about 1820, when the Roman Catholic Selby family were rebuilding Biddlestone Hall, they repaired the remains of the tower and constructed the chapel over the undercroft. The chapel is furnished in a mid-Victorian Gothic Revival manner, with a three-light east window containing stained glass, which dates from 1862. In the gallery is stained glass displaying Selby heraldry. A corrugated iron bomb shelter in the undercroft, of WWII vintage, completes the story of this fascinating little building.

Previously in care of the Historic Chapels Trust, Biddlestone Roman Catholic Chapel was transferred into the ownership of the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2025.

 

Friends Biddlestone-16
Friends Biddlestone-51

Highlights

  • Grade II* listed chapel. Its pele tower foundations are also a Scheduled Ancient Monument
  • Original mid-Victorian fittings include stained-glass windows linked to William Selby and dating back to 1862
  • Historic England’s entry mentions its ‘isolated and extremely picturesque location’

Further information

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