Seion Fforest Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Blaenhonddan, Neath Port Talbot

Entry Name: Seion Fforest Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

Listing Date: 29 March 2000

Last Amended: 26 November 2003

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 23079

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Also known as: Seion Fforest Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

ID on this website: 300023079

Location: Situated facing S on the N side of the valley of the Afon Nedd, some 50m N of the junction of Forest Hill and the A465.

County: Neath Port Talbot

Town: Neath

Community: Blaenhonddan

Locality: Aberdulais

Built-Up Area: Neath

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Chapel

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History

Calvinistic Methodist Chapel of 1860, rebuilding of a chapel of 1839. Railings outside of early C20 suggest some alteration then, presumably to glazing. The chapel is associated with the Rev William Davies 1727-97, noted Methodist preacher and hymnodist.

Exterior

Chapel, coursed rock-faced sandstone in narrow courses with flush sandstone dressings and C20 concrete tiles to roof. Long-wall front of 2 arched centre lights, 2 upper arched gallery lights and 2 doors in gabled porches, set between inner and outer windows. All windows are long, with stone voussoirs, rusticated jambs and stone sills. Late C19 leaded glazing and unusual timber 2-light tracery, the bars intersecting ogee in heads, Plaque above and between centre windows. Porches are gabled with stone voussoirs to entrance arches. Inset doors. Raised plinth. Left end wall has 2-storey, 2-window range of 16-pane horned sash windows and paired brackets to overhanging gable verges. Two-storey, 2-window rough rubble stone rear wall with 16-pane sashes and stone voussoirs. Right end has single-storey vestry with sash windows to gable wall above vestry.

Interior

Three-sided gallery on 5 iron columns, painted front with curved angles, deep cornice and paired brackets. Brackets are under arch-panelled pilasters that separate long horizontal panels. Moulded top rail. Painted grained box pews to side and rear, raked up under galleries. Pine pews to centre block with shaped bench ends, and similar 3-sided set fawr. Broad platform in centre of entrance wall between 2 lobbies, solid pulpit front with serpentine balustrades each side curving back to balustraded stairs with ramped rails and slim turned newels. Frontal is panelled with inset bulbous columns at angles. Panelled back wall to platform. Various marble plaques including one of 1907 to the Rev William Davies of Neath, 1727-87, pioneer of Methodism in the area. Galleries have painted grained panel-backed pews and panelled dado. Ceiling has plain cornice and centre rose with acanthus and laurel rim.
Vestry has boarded roof with iron ties.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a well-designed and well-preserved long-wall chapel of 1860, built during the period of the Great Revival. Historical association with William Davies, preacher and hymnodist.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

II Railings at Seion Fforest Calvinistic Methodist Chapel
Chapel facing S on the N side of the valley of the Afon Nedd, some 50m N of the junction of Forest Hill and the A465. Railings on roadside and to S of chapel.
II Pont Gam
On the E side of the Aberdulais Basin at the junction of the Neath and Tennant Canals.
II Former Stables at Aberdulais Falls Tinplate Works
The former tinplate works are on the E bank of the Afon Dulais just N of Main Road.
II Chimney at Aberdulais Falls Tinplate Works
The former tinplate works are on the E bank of the Afon Dulais just N of Main Road.
II Aberdulais Basin at the head of the Tennant Canal
Approximately 0.4km N of Tonna village on the E side of the River Neath and W of the Neath Canal.
II Old Works Library at Aberdulais Falls Tinplate Works
The former tinplate works are on the E bank of the Afon Dulais just N of Main Road. The Old Works Library is on the S side near the road.
II Remains of tramroad bridge at Aberdulais Falls Tinplate Works
The former tinplate works are on the E bank of the Afon Dulais just N of Main Road. The remains of the tramroad bridge are attached to the E bank of the river.
II* Aberdulais Aqueduct (partly in Blaenhonddan community)
Spanning the River Neath W of Aberdulais Basin and approximately 0.4km N of Tonna church.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Seion Fforest Calvinistic Methodist Chapel

A Grade II Listed Building in Blaenhonddan, Neath Port Talbot

Coordinates