Name: Chichele College
Rating: 5.0

Chichele College

College Street, Higham Ferrers, Rushden NN10 8DZ, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Chichele College located in the attractive Northamptonshire market town of Higham Ferrers, Chichele College is a rare surviving example of a chantry college. It was founded in 1422 by the locally born Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury. Such colleges, common in England in the 14th and 15th centuries, were groups of priests who shared a communal life that was less strictly controlled than that of a monastery.

Chichele College was founded by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1414 to 1443 and the founder of All Souls’ College, Oxford. He was born in Higham Ferrers in about 1362. The gatehouse, chapel and other remains of the college buildings survive, and the chapel is now regularly used for events, and art and heritage exhibitions.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Chichele College was founded by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1414 to 1443 and the founder of All Souls’ College, Oxford. He was born in Higham Ferrers in about 1362. The buildings here were partly complete when the foundation ceremony took place in 1425.
The term ‘college’ was used at the time to describe a community of priests who shared a communal life that was less strictly controlled than that within a monastery.
Chichele is a rare surviving example of a chantry college, a type of institution common in England in the 14th and 15th centuries. The colleges’ prime concern was to offer prayers for the souls of the patron and his family, and often they also had an educational function.
Chichele College was provided with a master, seven chaplains, four clerks and six choristers. It had close links with the parish church, and the town’s school and bedehouse (almshouse), for the ‘deserving’ poor and elderly.
The college was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1542, and the building has been much altered since, so that many of the original features have disappeared. Parts of the south and east ranges were adapted to form a smaller building, which in the 18th century served as an inn.
By the early 20th century it was reduced to a single farm cottage with an attached granary.

Facilities

Parking: There is a small free car park on Saffron Road within a two-minute walk of the site.
Food & Drinks: The college is in the centre of the pretty, historic market town of Higham Ferrers with plenty of places to eat and shops nearby.
Toilets: There are toilets, including one suitable for wheelchair users, and baby changing facilities at the college. These are generally open when the chapel interior is open for events and art exhibitions.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome in the garden but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the college.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Free Entry.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chichele-college/opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Garden: Open any reasonable time during daylight hours. Interior: The college interior is open during the summer for events.

Address: College Street, Higham Ferrers, Rushden NN10 8DZ, UK

Post Code: NN10 8DZ

Council: North Northamptonshi

County: Northamptonshire

Road Access: College Street, Higham Ferrers.
Bus Access: Stagecoach 49, 50, 51, X46, X47; Expresslines of Fenlake ‘Rushden Higham Link’.
Train Access: Wellingborough 5 miles.
Parking: There is a small free car park on Saffron Road within a two-minute walk of the site.