Towards the latter end of the reign of William, the Norman conqueror,
Gamel, the Saxon Thane, Lord of Recedham or "Rached," being left in the
quiet possession of his lands and privileges by the usurper, "minded,"
as the phrase then was, "for the fear of God and the salvation of his
immortal soul, to build a chapel unto St Chadde," nigh to the banks of
the Rache or Roach. For this pious use a convenient place was set apart,
lying on the north bank of the river, in a low and sheltered spot now
called "The Newgate." Piles of timber and huge stones were gathered
thither in the most unwonted profusion; insomuch, that the building
seemed destined for some more ambitious display than the humble edifices
called churches then exhibited, of which but few existed in the
surrounding districts.
The foundations were laid. The loose and spongy nature of the soil
required heavy stakes to be driven, upon and between which were laid
several courses of rubble-stone, ready to receive the grouting or
cement. Yet in one night was the whole mass conveyed, without the loss
of a single stone, to the summit of a steep hill on the opposite bank,
and apparently without any visible marks or signs betokening the agents
or means employed for its removal.
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