Interior looking East. Church of Saint Leonard, Chapel Le Dale, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe.
The 17th century church of St Leonard, whose interior measures only 48' x 22', hides in a wooded dell in the hamlet of Chapel Le Dale in the Yorkshire Dales. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the church is a Dent fossilised-marble plaque in memory of the men who died during the construction of the scenic Settle to Carlisle railway, which is 72 miles in length and was almost entirely hand-built by a labour force of 6,000 men. It was at Ribblehead that shanty towns grew to accommodate workers and their families whilst the line was being constructed from 1869-76. A large number of men, women and children died through epidemics and illnesses caused by the harsh living conditions and were buried at Chapel Le Dale in unmarked graves. A memorial plaque commemorating these men, women and children was erected in the graveyard in the Millenium year 2000. A chapel of ease is recorded in Chapel le Dale from the late 16th century when it was known as the ‘chaple of Wiersdale’. By the 18th century it was known as the chapel of Ingleton Fells or Fell Chapel. The dedication to St Leonard didn’t come about until the 1940s when a supposed ancient dedication was found in a 16th century document. It later turned out to have been referring to the parish church in Ingleton. The present building mostly dates to the late 17th century although some parts may be older. There are 18th century alterations and it was restored in 1869. Inside there is a mid-17th century wooden altar rail. A white marble memorial on the west wall of the nave reads: “To the memory of those who through accidents lost their lives, in constructing the railway works, between Settle, and Dent Head. This tablet was erected at the joint expense, of their fellow workmen and the Midland Railway Company 1869 to 1876”.
Size: 5100px × 3347px
Location: Church of Saint Leonard, Chapel Le Dale, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe.
Photo credit: © Stan Pritchard / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: altar, chapel, church, dale, england, interior, le, leonard, north, pulpit, saint, yorkshire
