St Catherine's Chapel, Lydiate

The chapel was built some time in the late 15th or early 16th century, primarily for the private worship of the Ireland family, who held the Lydiate lordship at the time. The parish church was located in Halsall, over 3 mi away from Lydiate Hall, making a local chapel considerably more convenient. Although no definitive records are available, it is believed that construction of the chapel was initiated by Laurence Ireland, who named it in honour of his wife, Catherine Blundell. Catherine's initials ("C. I.", following her marriage), along with those of Laurence, were engraved on the church. Although Laurence may have started the chapel's construction, it is possible that it was only…

The chapel is built of sandstone in a perpendicular style, with buttresses and battlements on the north and south walls. The building had no windows on the northern wall—the reason is unknown—though it did have exterior doors on both north and south walls, with the southern door covered by a porch. The square tower had three stories. The east window was stained glass, but the colour had been lost from glass remains found nearby, so the pattern or image is unknown.