A SMALL chapel and its unusual sculptures will be open to the public on three open days this year.

Scotch Corner Chapel, near the village of Oldstead in the North York Moors National Park, was created as a war memorial to those who died in the Second World War.

It was built by local man and Ampleforth College master John Bunting and in particular pays tribute to former Ampleforth pupils who fought in the war.

The remote chapel will be open to the public on Sunday, April 27, Saturday, July 12 and Saturday, September 13. People are invited to drop by any time between midday and 4pm and there is no charge for entry. The nearest parking is at Sutton Bank National Park Centre, a mile-and-a-half walk from the chapel.

Mr Bunting acquired the land on which the chapel sits in 1956. It is built on the ruins of an old farmstead, though the history of the plot goes back much further – the Battle of Byland between the English and the Scots took place here in 1322 and there are two Bronze Age burial mounds nearby.

Scotch Corner Chapel is home to many of John Bunting’s sculptural works.

The National Park Authority has been working with the Bunting family for the last few years to provide chances for people to see inside and talk to John Bunting’s descendants.

Directions to the chapel can be obtained from Sutton Bank National Park Centre, which can be contacted on 01845-597426.