The chapel was founded in 1826 by Sir William Vavasour, the first baron.
It is a fascinating little building. Despite being in the hands of a Catholic Family, it never suffered from despoilation nor were the Catholic worshippers ever persecuted. It is rumoured that this was because one of the Vavasour Family (who lived in the castle) supplied timber from his estate for the building of the fleet of ships which met the Spanish Armada.
Robert La Vavasour donated stone for the building of York Minster.
The chapel contains some fine marble tombs of members of the Vavasour Family.
On each side of the altar, which is very curiously carved and gilded, are two Corinthian pillars, supporting a frieze and pediment. A fine painting of the Crucifixion is above the altar.
Probably one of the most intriguing features is a glass fronted case situated on the north wall, quite close to the altar, with two human skulls in it!
Hazlewood was inhabited by descendants of the Vavasours for over 900 years, until it was sold in 1908. The site changed hands many times over the following years, serving as a maternity hospital during the Second World War and until 1953, and as a retreat for Carmelite Friars from 1971 until 1996.
In 1997 the house reopened as Hazlewood Castle Hotel. The site is reputedly haunted, which is hardly surprising when you can see two human skulls in the chapel!
The site of the castle overlooks the battlefield of the Battle of Towton.
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