Public asked to shape future of historic Morpeth Chantry
A consultation is exploring options for the future of one of a town’s oldest buildings. Tony Henderson reports
The future of one of the oldest buildings in a Northumberland town is up for debate.
A public consultation is currently underway on the future of the Grade I-listed Morpeth Chantry, which dates from the late 13th century.
The building is adjacent to the site of the 13th-century bridge across the River Wansbeck at Morpeth.
It is home to an extensive bagpipe museum which celebrates Northumberland being the only English county with its own dedicated musical instrument – the Northumbrian pipes.
A tourist information centre, craft centre, and gift shop are also based in the Chantry.
The consultation is being carried out by consultancy Urban Foresight, and the appraisal will enable Northumberland County Council to select which options should be taken forward for a more detailed feasibility assessment.
“The Chantry is one of the most important buildings in Morpeth and is very valuable in its own right historically,” said Kim Bibby-Wilson, chair of Morpeth Antiquarian Society.
“It has had a very chequered history but from the 1980s it has served as a hub for local traditions, culture and heritage and this consultation is an opportunity for everyone to have their say.”
The collection of bagpipes owned by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle is part of the museum.
The society says: “This is a building very close to the heart of the society, holding our collection of bagpipes and dedicated to the celebration of the Northumbrian small-pipes, and the importance of the collection to the celebration of the history and heritage of Northumberland.”
The purpose of the appraisal is to identify “a sustainable future” for Morpeth Chantry, based on a partnership between its stakeholders, the town’s residents, and Northumberland County Council.
The bagpipe museum has over 120 sets of pipes in the collection from across Europe – including decorative sets from Scotland, Spain, Italy, France, Estonia and beyond.
It is home to the extensive collection of master clockmaker and pipe enthusiast William Alfred Cocks; ivory small pipes belonging to Robert Bewick, son of engraver Thomas Bewick; a set of bagpipes said to have belonged to King Louis XIV of France; a miniature set made for Queen Mary’s dolls’ house; and pipes from the Jacobite Rising.
There are regular live musical performances, ‘Learn to Play’ and ‘Meet the Piper’ sessions. The building is also home to the oldest window in Morpeth.
Morpeth Chantry was founded by Richard of Morpeth as a place for prayers to be said in memory of his parents and his benefactor, Lord of Morpeth John of Greystoke.
The building is a rare surviving example of a bridge chapel, where blessings would be given to the passing traveller in exchange for a small fee.
Through the centuries the Chantry has served as the town grammar school from the 1550s to 1846, council offices and concert venue in Victorian times, butchers’ shops, George Young’s Aerated Waters factory, Mechanics’ Institute, ladies’ toilet, Antiquarian Society museum, and the base for the Northern Poetry Collection.
To have your say in the future of the building, fill in the survey, which will be open until August 22.