Finally in print more than 80 years after it was written, the Pilgrim’s Way is a unique chronicle of one woman’s efforts to save the historic Lady Chapel near the village of Osmotherley, North Yorkshire.

The Pilgrims’ Way is the journal of Flora Margaret Morrish, who came upon the ruined chapel and its adjoining cottage in 1916 and subsequently led its restoration, before living there herself for many years. The original manuscripts were handed down the generations and have now been published as a short book by her granddaughter, Flora Dysart.

Renaissance
Prior to 1916, the Lady Chapel and its cottage, which is located on the hillside above Mount Grace Priory, had been allowed to fall into decay and their existence was largely forgotten outside the village. It was Mrs Morrish who discovered the ruins while out walking in 1916 and who persuaded the local landowner, Sir Hugh Bell, to restore the cottage and allow her to take a lease on the building, a process documented in humorous detail in the book.

"My own mother had spent many happy summers at the cottage when she was growing up and often spoke of it, but I came here myself for the first time just a few years ago and realised what a special place it is," says Flora Dysart. "My grandmother’s journal, written in 1923, had been handed down to me and I decided that, with the great public affection that exists for the Lady Chapel, it should be made into a book."

After Flora Morrish had succeeded in restoring the cottage, it was a further 40 years before the chapel itself was rebuilt and re-consecrated, but it was arguably her efforts that prevented both buildings from disappearing completely. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbot of Mount Grace retired to a small annex behind the cottage, but by 1916 the whole complex had become a cow byre.

Historic
Despite its declining condition, the chapel had remained a place of pilgrimage for devout Catholics following the destruction of the larger priory, so much so that a local byelaw forbade anyone from climbing the hill without official permission. Today, following its restoration in the 1950s, the Lady Chapel is once again open to people of all faiths and is looked after by the monks from the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Grace in Osmotherley.

"Much of the history of the chapel itself is well documented, but the period from 1916 had remained a mystery until The Pilgrims' Way was published. The book gives a unique insight into the family life and motivation of my Grandmother, who was a strong and driven woman, as well as very persuasive by all accounts," says Flora. "It also brings to life real people who have played a role in the history of the building, such as ‘Charlie the Tramp’ and the ‘Old Gamekeeper’, who are all lovingly described."


The Pilgrims’ Way is published by Dysart Associates. It is available from local bookstores, from www.amazon.co.uk or contact the publisher@dysart-associates.co.uk

Another book by the same author. Bishop’s Rest

...