Friends Meeting House, attached boundary wall and gravestones

Friends Meeting House, attached boundary wall and gravestones

This is a two-storey Friends Meeting House, constructed in coursed sandstone with ashlar detailing and stone slate roofing. The building is aligned roughly east-west and comprises two distinct sections: a two-storey, two-bay range to the west and a taller double-height hall to the east, both beneath gabled stone slate roofs with coped gable ends and kneelers. Ventilation turrets crown each section, whilst the hall incorporates truncated stone gable stacks to either end.

The exterior displays rusticated ashlar quoins to the south-east and south-west, with flush inserted quoins to the north-west. The south elevation incorporates scattered windows and two doors with flat-headed openings to the west section. The hall features four tall round-headed windows and one entrance to the left, all set within painted stone squared surrounds. The windows are two-over-two pane horned sashes, whilst the two double doors to the right are panelled. The entrance to the left has been renewed with a modern door and window.

The north elevation contains two two-over-two horned sashes within surrounds and a ground-floor window without architrave, all positioned within the western section; the hall section is blind. Evidence of former quoins remains at the point where the building formerly extended further north, suggesting these sections were once tied together.

The east gable end displays two round-headed windows with horned sashes. A doorway to the left has a renewed door accessed via a ramp. An inserted first-floor door sits to the right, accessed via fire escape steps. A small wooden door close to the eaves, possibly for ventilation, and evidence of blocked windows with mullions at ground-floor level are also present. The west gable end incorporates two blocked windows.

Interior

The hall ceiling features panelled beams with stepped cornices separating the bays, with a ceiling rose to each bay. The hall space has been divided in two: the southern half remains largely open to the ceiling, whilst the northern half has an inserted floor with numerous partitions at ground level. The upper sections of this infill are glazed to preserve the ceiling fabric and views. Security grates have been attached to the windows.

The western section has been entirely modernised with numerous partitions inserted to both floors. A straight-flight modern stair occupies the south side. The first floor retains decorative cornicing running around the entire perimeter, suggesting it was once open plan.

Access between the two first-floor areas is provided via a modern door; however, a blocked double door to the north remains, indicating there may once have been a gallery serving the hall.

Boundary wall and gravestones

A boundary wall runs from the north-east corner of the hall along the north, east, south and west perimeters of the plot. The north perimeter and northernmost half of the east perimeter feature round-headed capstones. The capstones to the southern half of the plot are triangular, whilst those to the west are flat. A later building in separate ownership to the east incorporates a section of the wall, which has resulted in the removal of cap stones and the addition of later stone walling above perimeter wall height; this building is not included within the list entry. A section of wall with later flat capstones projects west from the eastern perimeter, terminating at roughly the easternmost extent of the hall. Two piers with flat cap stones stand to the west, with a renewed gate between them.

Gravestones dating from 1821 to 1893 are lined along the northern perimeter, with some positioned to the north section of the hall's gable end. These gravestones are included within the listing.