IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
BERKHAMSTED, HP4 3UQ

According to the notice board at the nearby ruined chapel, Marlin Chapel Farm stands on the site of a medieval moated house. The name "Marlin" is derived from "Magdalen", the original name of the chapel.

Marlin Chapel Farm occupies the site of an old moated farmhouse probably contemporary with Image The moat is now fragmented and this is one of the remnants, at the north-western corner, viewed from the public footpath.

A ruined chapel close to Marlin Chapel Farm.

I think that these brambles conceal the ruined Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, the so-called Marlin Chapel. They are certainly in a regular rectangular pattern, with this being the long south side, and in the correct location according to the map. The chapel was probably built in the 13th century, for Sir Lawrence de Broc, and Sir Richard de Berchamsted was a chaplain there. Many similar chapels were built at this time due to a rapid increase in the population, and St Mary Magdalene is one of as many as 43 that served this part of the Chilterns. This and other private manorial chapels were often not granted the right to carry out baptism, marriage or burial rites, as the larger parish churches were unwilling to lose the income received by carrying out these ceremonies. The remains of a medieval moated site, and its associated fishpond, lie a few yards east of the chapel. These may well have been built at the same time as the chapel. It is unknown when the chapel fell into a ruinous state. However the 1884 edition of the Ordnance Survey's 6" to the mile mapping shows the chapel and describes it as "Remains of".

This house stands just in front of the chapel ruins.

The ruined chapel of St Mary Magdalane. Due to the site being very overgrown it is not possible to get a photo of the site from the angle shown in the sketch on the information board Image] . This is the view from the opposite end.

This is a dog's view of the bridleway to Marlin Chapel, which is behind the photographer, looking back in the direction of Berkhamsted. The conical dark roof of Image can just be seen under the overhanging vegetation.

The ruined chapel of St Mary Magdalane. Probably constructed for Sir Lawrence de Broc in the mid thirteenth century. The de Broc family were the owners of the large manor of Maudelyns: the medieval version of the word “Magdalane” and is also the derivation of the word “Marlin” used today.

A detail from the notice board at the ruined chapel. The board has fallen down, and is currently resting against a tree almost out of view behind the fence that surrounds the site. This detail from the badly faded information board is the best I could manage. Photo of chapel site at: Image]