Description

MORETONHAMPSTEAD CROSS STREET (south side)
SX 7586
Moretonhampstead
8/114 Former Wesleyan Chapel
-
GV II

Wesleyan chapel now in use as an annexe to No. 26 (q.v.)
Dated 1817, rebuilt or extensively repaired after a fire in 1866. Closed in 1976.
Granite rubble, faced in stucco with incised lining to resemble ashlar. Asbestos
slate roof with gabled ends and fairly deep eaves. Corners of eaves supported on
small shaped wooden brackets.
Plan: a rectangular auditorium parallel to road on an east-west axis with a gallery
over the entrance and passageway at the east (left) end. The entrance to the
chapel is reached via the passageway which gives access to a cottage and former
Sunday School at rear.
Single storey plus gallery. The north side is the main front facing Cross Street
and has 4 tall round-headed windows with stone cills, 2 top-opening lights and
glazing bars with margin panes containing stained glass. Under the eaves near
centre is a plaque engraved "Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1817" in upper case with
serifs and Arabic numerals. The left round-headed entrance to passageway, through
to rear, with ornate wrought iron gates at front and glazed and panelled double
doors at rear with margin panes. Inside passage to right, glazed double doors to
chapel.
Interior: the west end, liturgical east, has large pointed arch recess with nook
shafts. The timber gallery has gothick panelled front. The rest of the
furnishings and seating has been removed. The low-pitched roof is probably circa
1866, and has principal rafters with iron tie rods instead of collars.
This non-conformist chapel is interesting for the way it overcomes a very
constricted site by having the gallery over the passageway which gives access to
buildings at the rear. Its conspicuous front with large arched windows is an
important feature in Cross Street.
Source: C Stell's draft for RCHM book on non-conformist chapels.

Listing NGR: SX7543286035

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26440088

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)