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The Great Britain Guide

Memorials & monuments · South East England

St Catherine's Oratory

Also known as: The Pepperpot

In or near Godshill.

Norman & medievalFree admission

St Catherine's Oratory is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

St Catherine's Oratory, memorials & monuments in South East England

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
15 min–45 min
Nearest railway station
Shanklin · 9.9 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly

About

St Catherine's Oratory is a public memorial or monument in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1328. Also known as: The Pepperpot. Coordinates: 50.5931°, -1.3040°.

Photo gallery

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Isle Of Wight

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

St. Catherine's Oratory is a medieval lighthouse on St. Catherine's Down, above the southern coast of the Isle of Wight. It was built by Lord of Chale Walter de Godeton (sometimes spelled "Goditon") as an act of penance for plundering wine from the wreck of St. Marie of Bayonne in Chale Bay on 20 April 1313. The tower is known locally as the "Pepperpot" because of its likeness to a pepper shaker.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

De Godeton was tried for theft in Southampton, before a jury from the island, and fined 287 and half marks on 27 February 1314. However, he was also later tried by the Church courts, since the wine had been destined for the monastery of Livers in Picardy. The Church threatened to excommunicate him unless he built a lighthouse near Chale Bay. There was already an oratory on the top of the hill, dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. This was augmented by the construction of the lighthouse, with a chantry to accommodate the priest who tended the light, and also gave Mass for those at peril on the sea. Although de Godeton died in 1327, the lighthouse was nevertheless completed in 1328. It…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
50.5931, -1.3040
Parish
Chale
Postcode
PO38 2JB
Parliamentary constituency
Isle of Wight West
Established
1328
Nearest railway station
Shanklin9.9 km

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is St Catherine's Oratory?
St Catherine's Oratory is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode PO38 2JB), in the parish of Chale.
What is St Catherine's Oratory?
St Catherine's Oratory is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to St Catherine's Oratory?
The nearest railway station is Shanklin, about 9.9 km away. Drivers can use postcode PO38 2JB.
When was St Catherine's Oratory built?
Built or established in 1328.
Is St Catherine's Oratory a protected site?
Yes — St Catherine's Oratory is part of the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Isle Of Wight National Landscape (AONB).
Is St Catherine's Oratory free to visit?
Yes, St Catherine's Oratory is free to enter.
How do I get to St Catherine's Oratory?
Drivers can navigate to postcode PO38 2JB. It sits within the Isle of Wight West parliamentary constituency.