North Eastern Chapel

North Eastern Chapel. The Church of St John the Baptist. This was the view through the tall arch to the east end of St. John's in the late 18th century. At that time the ground level within this chapel was much higher than it is now., Great mounds of soil and rubble were removed in 1871, when the ruins were displayed as we see them today., This ruined side chapel dates from the 15th century. It was the last part to be built before the Dissolution and replaced a Norman chapel which was probably smaller and semi-circular in plan. The lofty proportions and large window spaces make this chapel quite different to the heavier Norman and Early Gothic parts of the ruins., The two niches or alcoves set high into the wall are very typical of the 15th century, when church walls were covered with panelled decoration. These are not in their original position, but seem to have been moved from another part of the chapel., Both side chapels at St. John's were chantry chapels. Chantries were bequests left to churches for prayers to be said for the soul of someone who had died.