An impediment . . .!

This is Keld Chapel, a tiny medieval building in the hamlet of Keld, near Shap. There are obvious links with Shap Abbey, which is close by, and some of the architecture is similar, but no one is really clear why the chapel was built. It is owned and maintained by the National Trust.The notice by the door of the house opposite explains that a previous system of being able to borrow a key to the Chapel is not now operational since someone didn’t return the key! The Chapel is now open from dawn to dusk every day.

Inside.

There is some information regarding an incident:

In 1917, Lord Lonsdale wanted to pull down the building because it was impeding his wagons taking luncheon provisions to his shooting parties on Raftland Fell. He disputed its origin as a chapel with the National Trust. Copies of the letters that can be found in the County record office in Carlisle give a flavour of the argument, which was at times acrimonious. Fortunately the views of the National Trust prevailed.