Independent Methodist Church Including Steps And Railings To Street

The Independent Methodist Church, dated 1892, features an ornate facade with a gable front, a pediment, and an urn. The symmetrical design includes two central doors with fanlights and segmental heads set on pilasters. Four Corinthian, partially fluted pilasters support a frieze decorated with a fleuron and the words 'Independent Methodist' in relief. Above this, a dentilled Renaissance balustrade is adorned with urns and a panel displaying the date. The ground floor has two windows with segmental heads, while the upper storey boasts five arch-headed windows, with the central three grouped above the balustrade. All windows feature margin glazing. The church is complemented by cast-iron railings and stone gate piers, although the gates are modern.

Inside, there is an oval gallery supported by fluted timber columns with Corinthian capitals. The curved gallery beam showcases decorative plasterwork on the beam soffit, with cantilevered brackets that hold the gallery front, which is decorated with blind arcading. Below the gallery, the chapel features a full set of fixed curved benches with scroll decoration on the ends. The side and end walls are finished with vertical dado boarding topped with panels, and at both ends, there are half-glazed panelled doors with plasterwork segmental pediments above the overflights. The reading desk includes turned baluster dogleg stairs on each side, with curved and moulded handrails and elaborate finials. The lower section of the desk is panelled with a segmentally-arched recess, while the upper part is arcaded and features tall metal lampstands at the corners. The gallery also contains a full set of curved fixed benches. An organ case flanked by plaster pilasters has doorways leading to rear stairs. Double-doored vestibules at the entrance lead to the gallery stairs, with half-glazed doors featuring margin glazing. The ceiling is coffered and panelled, adorned with a decorative plaster cornice and beam soffits, while ribbed plaster decoration on the panels includes some pendant finials.