Unitarian Chapel

Unitarian Chapel built in 1725.

MATERIALS: the building is of red brick, rendered to the north, west and south elevations, with limestone dressings and a slate roof covering.

PLAN: the building is rectangular on plan, and faces west onto High Street.

EXTERIOR: the chapel is a single-storey building fronting the High Street within slightly elevated and spacious grounds. The primary-phase, Georgian chapel is a single-cell, rectangular plan under a hipped roof with the main entrance sitting centrally on the west (High Street) elevation. A stone plinth runs the length of the north, west and south elevations. The principal, west elevation contains a central, Jacobean Revival entrance porch in ashlar limestone, with a pediment and entablature over a round-arched doorway with keystone. The porch is flanked by two round-arched, stone windows with later Gothic Revival tracery, surmounted by a moulded cornice and pediment with an orb finial.

The north and south elevations are of matching design, each containing two round-arched, stone windows with later Gothic Revival tracery matching that on the west elevation. The rear (east) elevation of the primary-phase chapel is largely concealed by a C19 extension, which cuts across two round-arched windows with tracery matching the other windows in their unblocked uppermost sections.

The rear (east) extension is a single-storey, red brick structure covering the full width of the original chapel, with a ridge chimney stack rising from the blank, gable end wall. Adjoining this extension to the south is a later extension of the early C20. It is of orange-red brick under a pitched roof and rendered on its south and west elevations. There is a doorway and casement window on the west elevation with leaded lights, and a blocked-in window on the south elevation.

INTERIOR: it is understood that the interior has a moulded band and cornice, and two central, wooden Doric piers. The ceiling has renewed plaster bosses and there is painted decoration on the north wall. Fittings include an oak corner pulpit and communion table, and plain benches. Memorials include a wooden war memorial board, of around 1920.

Listing NGR: SK9734070518