St Constantine’s Chapel and Well

Overview

St Constantine’s Chapel and Well have stood near the Cornish coast for hundreds of years. The chapel was first mentioned in 1390, though it’s believed a church may have existed here even earlier. The building was rebuilt in the 1400s, with a tower, nave and south aisle made from local slate. Over time, the sands around Constantine Bay began to shift, covering nearby homes and possibly leading to the chapel’s abandonment. During the Reformation, when many religious sites were closed, the chapel fell into ruin. Some of its stonework was taken and reused in nearby buildings. The holy well, just north of the chapel, was once visited by pilgrims who believed its water had healing powers. Although the site has been buried and uncovered by sand over the years, parts of the chapel and the well still survive today, offering clues to the area’s religious past.

St Constantine’s Chapel and Well was part of Cornwall National Landscape’s A Monumental Improvement Project, which aimed to ensure that 40 scheduled monuments across Cornwall National Landscape were better protected, identified and enjoyed by a wider range of people. Between 2022 – 2025, the Project delivered conservation repairs, installed new heritage interpretation signage, ran a range of community volunteering events and developed new website resources. The Project was primarily funded thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from our other partners – Cornwall Council, Historic England, The National Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust and Cornwall Archaeological Society.

Historical Significance

St Constantine’s Chapel and Well are important remains of Cornwall’s medieval past. The chapel was once a large and decorated church building, complete with a tower, nave, chancel and side aisle. Built from local slate and set among the sand dunes of Constantine Bay, it served the nearby community for religious services and gatherings. By the 15th century, the chapel had been rebuilt and was part of everyday life for the people living nearby. It was even linked to two local manors, Trevose and Harlyn, which were owned by families who shaped the history of this area. Over time, though, the sands began to shift and cover parts of the land, which may have forced people to leave the area.

The chapel was likely abandoned around the time of the Reformation in the 1500s, when many religious buildings were closed or destroyed. Later, it was turned into almshouses for the poor before falling completely into ruin by the mid-1700s. Some of its carved stone features were taken and reused in nearby places like Harlyn House and St Merryn Church. The holy well, found just north of the chapel, was once believed to have healing powers and was visited by pilgrims. It has been uncovered and buried again several times over the centuries as the sands around it shifted. Thanks to archaeological work and restoration efforts, parts of the chapel and well can still be seen today.

Together, the chapel and well give us a rare glimpse into how people lived, worshipped and cared for each other in medieval Cornwall. They also show how nature, especially the shifting sands and coastal winds, played a big part in shaping the lives and history of this community. Today, their survival reminds us why it’s important to protect these special places for future generations.