In his will Bennet requested a pilgrimage to Eldernale. The collator of the wills suggest this is a hamlet close to Higham Ferrers that no longer exists, where nothing of note appears to have happened. We need to move further afield. Bennet meant the modern hamlet of Eldernell, not far from Whittlesey. Today there is only a farm and a few houses, not much different to when Bennett was alive, with one exception. There was once a chapel there, where fairly recently, a miracle had occurred that Bennett must have heard of.
The chapel was reconsecrate by Abbot Blythe of Thorney in his capacity of Bishop of Down and Connor in 1525. Yet the chapel must have existed before that date, because the records of Thorney Abbey note that William Clopton who was abbot between 1305 to1323, built a chapel of stone at Eldernall to replace the previous one of wood. The chapel survived unto the 18th century. The picture at the top of the page, at Wisbech museum, is the only one that exists. The chapel had become a farm building, close to where Chapel Farm stands today. The site where the chapel once stood is marked on OS maps, but on private land.
There is a public carpark nearby, next to the river that is used by bird watchers. Drives to Coates from Whittlesey, and as you have left the village, take the first turn on the left and keep going to the end of a narrow road.
The Miracle of Our Lady of Eldernell
Be it known to all Christian men and women, that the Thursday before the feast of the holy Apostle St Jude, (28 October) the year of our Lord a thousand five hundred and five, almighty Jesus of his great mercy has pleased to show a gracious and merciful miracle.
The miracle was shown to a man Robert White dwelling in the town of Whittlesey in Saint Mary parish in the diocese of Ely.
The said Robert, being so feeble of nature that he was not able to go from his bed to the fire, nor yet rise out of his bed without the help of two persons.
The Thursday before said of ten of the clock, the said Robert, lying in a trance as dead, woke and spoke a few words, saying that he blessed Lady of Eldernell had kept him from thirst, hunger and pain, and that the blessed Lady had commanded him to shew this to the vicar of Whittlesey.
The said Robert lay in his trance from Thursday until Monday. On Monday morning the said Robert rose from his bed, cast off his foul shirt, making signs for a new shirt, and with bare head, and bare feet, with a pair of beads, and a staff in his hands, took his pilgrimage to our Lady of Eldernell, sparing now way, but went through thick and thin in that cold frosty morning, feeling no pain, the space of three miles between.
And the vicar of the same town of Whittlesey and many other of his neighbours of the same parish followed him to Eldernell. And the said vicar, with all the neighbours saw tears of water upon the visage of our blessed Lady, big as leeches.
And this aforesaid man, by the help of God, turned again to good health and is alive.