Deerhurst was once the principle monastery of Hwicce, the Saxon kingdom of the lower Severn. Its 9th century church still survives as the priory church of St Mary. In 1056 AD a local ealdorman, Earl Odda, built a modest chapel within view of the existing church. It was consecrated by Bishop Ealdred of Worcester on 12th April 1056. Then came the Norman Conquest, and Odda’s small chapel vanished from history.
In 1675, its dedication stone was dug up in an orchard in the village, but no clue was given as to where the lost chapel had been. The mystery was solved in 1885 when it was discovered that Odda’s chapel actually still existed – it had been built into (and totally consumed by) a medieval farmhouse. After chipping off all the plaster which covered it, the original Saxon building emerged; a 46ft long two-part stone chapel with a typical Saxon horseshoe arch separating the nave and chancel. It had been damaged in its conversion to a domestic dwelling: the nave had been used as a kitchen with a big fireplace punched through the west wall, while the chancel had had a wall removed and an upper floor put in, which was used as a bedroom. The original chapel was lit only by the two tiny windows in the nave and would have been very dark, but extra windows were inserted in the chancel during the Tudor period. Despite the alterations, the chapel is remarkably intact.
So who was Odda? Very little is known about him, but he was probably born around 990 AD and may have been a kinsman of Edward the Confessor. He owned lands in Deerhurst and is recorded as having been a kindly benefactor to the community and a generous champion of the poor and oppressed. He is known to have helped to rescue Pershore Abbey after it was destroyed by fire and abandoned by its monks, and he took holy orders towards the end of his life. He died in August 1056, only four months after the completion of his chapel, and was buried in Pershore Abbey.
Odda’s Chapel is a protected ancient monument, but is open daily to visitors, free of charge. You can park by St Mary’s church (free) or by Odda’s Chapel itself (50p in honesty box). The cache is accessible whether the chapel is open or not.
For more about the chapel's history, see my local history site.
Congratulations fastdebbie, FTF!
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