The oldest church or chapel in Newcastle, this was probably built by the Grenville family, one-time Lords of Jesmond, early in the 12th Century.
The chapel is first mentioned in 1272 in an Assize Roll which records how five clerics helped a criminal escape from Newcastle Gaol - first to Jesmond Chapel and then to sanctuary at Tynemouth.
Division of the manor between three sisters in 1333 led to confusion as to ownership and, at one time, three separate chantries were maintained by their descendents; this culminated in vandalism and the theft of chalices and jewellery from the building, and in 1364 Edward III took it over.
By 1548, records show that the chapel was no longer in use and in 1549 the Mayor and Burgesses of Newcastle Corporation paid £144.13.4d to Edward VI to purchase the chapel and adjoining hospice for sick travellers. They in turn sold them to Sir Robert Brandling and the hospital was rebuilt as a house, with the chapel becoming a barn and stable. The site passed through several private hands before being eventually returned to the city by Lord Armstrong in 1883.
The chapel and the nearby St Mary’s Well were places of pilgrimage for centuries with many alleged miracles and cures happening here. Pilgrim Street in Newcastle city centre takes its name from the route followed by the pilgrims after crossing the Tyne and then proceeding to Jesmond. If you visit, you are still likely to see offerings here.
The Holy Well is situated 200 yards from the chapel. A stonehead is inscribed with the word Gratia; the full inscription is, however, said to have read: Ave Maria Gratia Plena (Hail Mary full of grace). The well was acquired by the Newcastle Corporation in 1932 and was renovated in 1982 when archaeological investigation dated it to the 17th Century, however there are known to have been at least two other springs in the vicinity of the chapel and it may be that one of these at least marked the site of the original miraculous cures.
The best place to park is on Reid Park Road.
Due to the tree cover and houses, the GPS signal is erratic, so I would recommend using the clue. Please feel free to post the co-ordinates where you find the cache to help others.
***Please Note: The cache is within the boundary wall of the chapel site (though not near the chapel itself) - it is nowhere near the houses or gardens.***
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