Monument record 0221300000 - MUSWELL HILL, BRILL

Summary

Historical records of a medieval chapel and hermitage complex - Also known as Holy Cross Chapel. Founded by Ralph the Hermit before 1152, it was granted by Henry III to the Priory of Chetewode in 1252. It is last documented in 1428 and had disappeared by 1800. Traditionally sited to the North side of Muswell Hill, but field investigation has not located it.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Archaeological Notification Area: Site of a Medieval chapel and hermitage at Muswell Hill (DBC9388)

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Type and Period (2)

  • HERMITAGE (RELIGIOUS) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAPEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Description

REFERENCES EXIST TO HOLY CROSS CHAPEL, BUILT BY RALPH THE HERMIT, ON MUSWELL HILL, & TO MUSWELL HERMITAGE & HOLY CROSS CHAPEL (B6,B1).
OTHER REFS ARE TO ST WERBURGH'S HERMITAGE, THE LOCATION GIVEN AS MUSWELL HILL & BRILL/BERNWOOD FOREST (B5,B9,B2).
SAME /SEPARATE SITES? NGR APPROX - ?CHAPEL RUINS (B6,B7).



An ancient hermitage called St Werburgh's Cell was granted by Henry III in 1252 to the Prior and Convent of Chetewode. The site of the cell is situated on the N. side of Muswell Hill (SP 6415) and a house belonging to Muswell Hill Farm now stands on the spot. Near it foundations have been discovered and human bones dug up. (B3, B5, B9, B10)

Chapel of St Werburgh, hermitage at Brill (B11).

SP 641154. Chapel of the Holy Cross, before 1152, built by Ralph the hermit on Muswell Hill. Granted to Missenden Abbey. Served by the vicars of Ambrosden until 1428, the last ruins of the chapel disappeared in 1800. (b12) (B8).

The wide discrepancies in the details of the hermitage, date, dedication and ownership, could not be resolved during field investigation. There are almost certainly no remains of the chapel: the traditional site pointed out by the farmer are some foundations of Tudor brick at SP 64281549. These footings, in precincts, measure 6.0 m by 4.5m and probably represent the site of a building associated with the farm house (B12).

NRHE Insert 1998 (B14)

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.

Sources (14)

  • <1>SBC13877 Article in serial: H E Salter. 1930. 'BOARSTALL CARTULARY', IN OXFORDSHIRE HIST SOC 88 PP103-5,121,187, & VAR. ALSO SEE JENKINS, CARTULARY OF MISSENDEN ABBEY, IN BUCKS RECORD SOCIETY 1962.
  • <2>SBC26951 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 1). Volume 1. pp105-106.
  • <3>SBC19727 Bibliographic reference: James Joseph Sheahan. 1862. History and Topography of Buckinghamshire. p334.
  • <4>SBC4401 Unpublished document: DRYDEN COLLECTION, NORTHAMPTON LIBRARY (FOR MS NOTES RE HERMITAGE).
  • <5>SBC20460 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1905. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume I. Volume 1. pp287, 380.
  • <6>SBC16252 Bibliographic reference: VCH OXON 5 PP 252-3, 257-8.
  • <7>SBC10552 Unpublished document: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. OS FIELD INVESTIGATOR.
  • <8>SBC11459 Unpublished document: Oxfordshire County Council. OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HER RECORD PRN 3077.
  • <9>SBC20463 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1927. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume IV. Volume 4. p18.
  • <10>SBC5708 Bibliographic reference: R Gibbs. 1891. THE BUCKS MISCELLANY. p224.
  • <11>SBC28518 Bibliographic reference: R M Clay. 1914. The Hermits and Anchorites of England. p206.
  • <12>SBC28519 Verbal communication: Nicholas J Attrill. 1977. Field Investigators Comments - F1 NJA 09-FEB-77.
  • <13>SBC28520 Bibliographic reference: Mary Lobel (ed). 1964. A History of Oxfordshire (Victoria County History) Volume 5: Bullingdon Hundred. Volume 5.
  • <14>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference SP 643 155 (point)
Civil Parish BRILL, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Event - Survey: Site visit (EBC14178)

Record last edited

Dec 3 2025 2:57PM

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