The next meeting of Harrogate Archaeological Society will feature an illustrated talk by Dr Jennifer Crangle entitled ‘Rothwell’s bones; medieval curation of the dead’. Dr Crangle, together with Dr Elizabeth Craig-Atkins and Prof Dawn Hadley, established the ‘Rothwell Charnel Chapel Project’ based on the medieval crypt and collection of human skeletal material at Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Northamptonshire.
This subterranean charnel chapel houses one of only two remaining in situ medieval ossuaries (collections of human bones) in England. The Project aims to further the understanding of charnelling practices in the medieval period and in gaining insight into the role of human remains in medieval Christian religious practice.
The lecture will take place on Saturday 5th August at 2.30 p.m. at Harlow Hill Methodist Church, Otley Road, Harrogate HG2 0AG (£3 admission fee for non-members includes refreshments).
There will be an open event/soft launch for local people and the co-ordinating group behind the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Saint Robert on the afternoon of Sunday, 24th September 2017 in Knaresborough (2-5pm at Gracious Street Methodist Church Centre).
River Nidd at St Robert’s Cave, Knaresborough
Saint Robert was born in 1160 lived as a hermit by the River Nidd. Robert gained a reputation for his charitable works for the poor and redeeming men from prison, which upset the authorities. He spent some time at St. Hilda’s Chapel in Rudfarlington, and established an order of Trinitarian Friars at Knaresborough Priory. He died on 24 September 1218.
Remains of chapel of Saint Robert of Knaresborough
Also locally is St Robert’s Well on the York Road, just outside Knaresborough. It strtedas a well and was converted into a cold bath. This site is 400m from Robert’s cave and chapel to which it was connected by a track. More recently a business park has been built on the site of this well but people still make offerings of coins through a metal grid covering the well.
Interior of cave where Saint Robert lived, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
The event website is in early development, but you can visit it here where there are some photos of the cave occupied by Saint Robert during the reign of King John. I understand there are markings on the inside of the cave but it is not clear what their historical significance is. If you’re interested in finding out more about this locally and regionally important saint there are The Metrical Life of St. Robert of Knaresborough, edited by Joyce Bazire in the Early Text Society publications (1953) and Rotha Mary Clay’s The Hermits and Anchorites of England (1914). This link also includes a translation of a 13th Century Life of St Robert by Frank Bottomley.
Historical details of Saint Robert of Knaresborough
It would be good to organise a visit to Knaresborough for Medieval Section members next year to mark the occasion, perhaps ending with a visit to Fountains Abbey, whose monks tried to appropriate Saint Robert’s body after his death. Do let me know if this might be of interest. If you are local and a member of the Medieval Section perhaps you’d like to attend the launch event and tell us about the plans to commemorate Saint Robert’s 800th anniversary next year.
Thanks to Peter Lacy for bringing this to the attention of the Medieval Section.
Medieval Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society 