Description

SE 22 SW HECKMONDWIKE UD HIGH STREET

4/6 Upper Independent Chapel
7.6.78
G.V. II*

Congregational chapel. Opened 15th October 1890. By A A Stott of
Heckmondwike. Masons: W & J Milner of Mirfield. Joiners:
Fothergill and Schofield of Batley Carr. Plumber, gas fitter,
heating and ventilating engineer: E Walker of Heckmondwike.
Plasterer: S Crawshaw of Batley. Slater: Jonas M Thornton of
Heckmondwike. Painter: H Taylor of Heckmondwike. Iron founders:
W McFarland & Co. of Glasgow, and Marsden & Co. of Heckmondwike.
Mosaic work and carving by Haworth Bros. of Manchester. Pulpit and
communion: Bickens & Co. of Dewsbury. Communion furniture:
S Sheard of Heckmondwike. Carpeting: T F Firth & Sons.
Cushioning: T Wood of Heckmondwike. Stone from Ringsby quarries.

Very fine ashlar front. Slate roof-with dentilled and bracketed
eaves cornice. Two storeys. 7-bay hall. Highly elaborate 5-bay
facade and return bay to each side. The central 3 bays break forward
and form giant tetrastyle portico in antis with broad flight of steps.
The Composite order is repeated as flanking pilasters to outer bays.
The portico is surmounted by dentilled and bracketed pediment with
oculus in tympanum and anthemion ornament at apex. The frieze has
"UPPER INDEPENDENT CHAPEL" in raised sans-serif letters. Behind
portico are 3 double doorways, and the same to each inside return,
all with good panelled doors and elongated and decorated keystone, the
centre 3 having fanlights. 1st floor windows are round arched with
scrolled architrave and keystone. Side bays have round arched
windows, those to ground floor with rusticated apron, moulded
sill and carved console brackets supporting cornice. 1st floor
windows have blind balustrade. Left bay is surmounted by octagonal
tower with round arched windows with flanking pilasters, entablature,
pierced balustrade with ball finials, and octagonal leaded dome.
Right bay is surmounted by octagonal leaded dome. Both tower and dome
are flanked by large vases. Side elevations have further 6 bays of
segmental headed ground floor windows, and round arched 1st floor
windows, all with architrave and decorative keystone.

Interior: Rounded gallery to 3 sides, with decorative plaster panels
to front, supported on slender, cast iron, fluted Composite columns.
Gallery and hall are box-pewed throughout. Flanking organ chamber are
paired Composite pilasters which are painted to resemble marble. Organ
has been removed along with choir stalls which were just below organ.
Oak and walnut pulpit with small Composite colonnettes, reached by flight
of steps to each side. Pedimented doors. Moulded plaster ceiling.

The 4th chapel on or near this site.

Listing NGR: SE2224323716

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17547882

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)