Keld Chapel

Last updated on April 24th, 2024 at 09:46 am

Keld Chapel, chantry chapel, National Trust, Cumbria


The key to Keld Chapel is hanging by the front door of the house opposite.  It’s that kind of place, if you know what I mean.  Keld is a tiny Cumbrian hamlet, just outside the straggling village of Shap and a little south east of long abandoned Shap Abbey.  Travellers on the M6 will be familiar with Shap Fell – not the kindest place to be driving in bad weather, but offering spectacular views on a clear day.

Keld Chapel, Keld in Cumbria, Shap Abbey


Keld is generally thought to derive from kelda, old Scandinavian for spring, or well.  Do not confuse the Cumbrian Keld with the slightly larger North Yorkshire village of the same name about 30 miles to the east.  The hamlet was possibly once larger than it is now and may well have existed in Roman times.

Keld, Cumbria, Scandinavian, Roman, settlement


Back to the chapel; no one knows a great deal about it.  It is probably 16th century and thought to be a chantry chapel – set up purely as a place to say masses for departed souls.  It was common practice in pre-reformation Roman Catholic Britain for those with enough money to pay a priest or church for masses to be said for them, or their nearest and dearest, and there could be so many of these that there was a danger of prayers for the dead overwhelming a church timetable.  Hence, setting up a dedicated chapel was a good plan.  It has been suggested that Keld Chapel was associated with nearby Shap Abbey before the latter was dissolved in 1540 – which would make sense.  It has also been suggested that the chapel was set up during the brief reign of Mary Tudor (1553-58), when England had an official, but transitory, re-flirtation with Catholicism.  Perhaps, some say, the window over the altar table came from the ruins of Shap Abbey.

River Lowther, Keld, Cumbria


In short, I can tell you very little of Keld Chapel except that it’s an intriguing and charming place to see if you happen to be somewhere in this part of north west England and a little off the popular tourist track.  You could combine it with touring the skeletal ruins of nearby Shap Abbey – or just pop in if you feel in need of a ten-minute dose of quirky heritage.  The ABAB team spotted a red squirrel – a rare privilege – on their visit.  The chapel was actually a dwelling for some time – and was also used to house navvies working on the construction of the nearby railway.

Post box in a wall, Keld


We almost lost it.  In 1917, Lord Lonsdale wanted it demolished because he claimed it obstructed his carriages on their way to his shooting lodge on Rafland Moor.  Outrageous.  Fortunately, it seems the peasants won on this occasion.

Now, Keld Chapel is in the care of the National Trust; and I’m glad to say there isn’t a useless ornament, tea-towel or over-priced scented candle in sight.

36 thoughts on “Keld Chapel”

  1. This is very interesting. I had no idea there were chapels dedicated to masses for the departed. I love the fieldstone. I assume it would have been local?

  2. Loving this blog that the AtoZ Challenge included. Here is another example of why this blog is a great example of how to do it. Well presented, lovely photography support, short enough to actually take the time to read while hopping from blog to blog. THANK YOU.

  3. beatingthebounds

    I’ve often driven past the end of the road on my way to Haweswater and the hills of Mardale and I’ve stopped at Shap Abbey in the past, but not at Keld – I shall have to make an effort. Thanks for the nudge.

  4. Mike, so interesting. I love Cumbria, though I haven’t actually seen much of it but the area surrounding Ullswater, the area my mother’s family is from. Generally speaking, roads with “spectacular views” are a bit much for my motion sickness and nerves!

  5. Thanks for that one, Mike. It reminded me of the little church me and the missus were married in back in ’63. Called Turnastone it was across a river (actually little more than a brook) from Vowchurch. Legend has it that someone decided the hamlet needed a church. His (her in some versions) rival said something like ‘Pah! I vow I’ll build a church before you so much as turn a stone’. Hence they ended up with two churches, both of them delightfully simple in appearance. Last time I looked, about 6 years ago, there had been only a handful of marriages in Turnastone church since ours all those years ago.
    Don’t know if your travels have taken you into Herefordshire yet, but there is plenty there worth photographing and writing about. (Having said which, I’d better have a look and see if you have already posted something about the county of my birth!)

    1. Sounds wonderful, Frank. No, sadly, Herefordshire is currently a little unrepresented – along with other chunks of the country; we’ll get there…adding places to the directory whenever I get the chance!

  6. I think I would enjoy a little contemplative respite there. It’s inviting, in its monkish and natural way, tho I wouldn’t be thinking about dear departed souls, more about my connection with Nature.
    Yes, I’m glad Lonsdale didn’t get his way.

  7. Some places are like that: very little is known about them, but you can still quietly absorb their atmosphere even so.

  8. How strange that it made it to Chaple status after being a home, and I was all for doing it up to live in – or I would if 40 yrs younger and a job in Penrith.

  9. My kind of place! But a bit too far off from my usual Ripon-based holidays, so your blog may well remain the only time I’ll ever get to “visit” Keld Chapel.

        1. Oh, OK! Postman Pat (your humorous post gave me a good giggle) and Catherine Parr, old Henry’s wife, is my limit. The mint cake sounds delish Mike; have you had some! I was hoping for a response from Mr Kendall re some insight into his surname. Oh well!

  10. Hi Mike – I must say it looks bleak – but that’s what’s picturesque about the Lake District … yet the views are stunning along the side roads – and yes I’m so glad the red pillar box (wall box) is still there – I love seeing them set into the walls … cheers Hilary

  11. Well thank goodness Lord Lonsdale was overruled. And good thing you set me straight, for I was already thinking Keld in NYKS. Looks like a very dreary day.

    1. artandarchitecturemainly

      Too bad for Lord Lonsdale. 1917 was the later part of the world’s most catastrophic war and he was worried about his hunting parties?

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