Mystery
The Wonder
The hill moved for three days and took the chapel with it.
Stand where it happened
- What's there
- Landslip ground and banks beside a lane
- Legend from
- 1575 event
- Tone
- Curious
For three days the hill roared and walked, carrying a chapel down with it.
On the evening of 17 February 1575, on the eastern face of Marcle Ridge about three miles north-north-west of Much Marcle, the hill began to move. A landslip of around 60,000 cubic metres slid for three days, until 19 February, 'with a horrible roaring noise', carrying trees, hedges and cattle with it. It overthrew Kynaston chapel, and full-grown trees on one farm ended up on the property below. It was named The Wonder, and Victorians came from far and wide to see it. Around 1840, ploughmen on the slip unearthed the chapel bell, which was hung in the tower of Homme House.