41, Wells Road

Former Non-conformist Chapel, 41 Wells Road, Great Malvern

This former chapel, built in 1874 by architects George and Henry Haddon, stands on a steep slope on the east side of Wells Road. It is constructed in hammer-dressed ashlar with plain ashlar dressings to the walls, rendered below road level on the sides, with a slate roof and lead finish to the spire. The building is designed in Norman revival style and follows a T-plan arrangement, with a four-bay main body set at head to road, a wide gable facing the road, a three-stage tower and spire projecting to the left, and a lean-to structure on the right. Built on a steep slope, the building sits one storey below road level to the east.

The main facade facing the road features a three-stage tower on the left. The lower two stages have a recessed centre, flanked on either side by a low plinth with a tall, steep plain ashlar offset above and a string course. This string course extends as springing to an archway containing the doorway in recess, with a semi-circular head like the windows. Double boarded doors are fitted with a semi-circular light over, a single recessed order with a colonnette in the angle. Above, a further string course at window sill level marks the second stage, with a plain ashlar course above. A two-light window is set in recess, divided by a central column, both lights having semi-circular heads with roll moulding to the arris on each side, extending down the jambs. Above this is plate tracery with a central circular light, all within a semi-circular main arch. A tall plain ashlar offset rises above, topped by a three-light belfry window with lights divided by columns, each light containing two louvres with semi-circular heads and hoodmould. String courses on either side mark the springing level. Corbelled arched eaves in plain ashlar carry the spire above, which features a lucarne and a decorative wrought-iron weathervane on the apex.

To the right of the tower stands the main gable of the church, featuring three two-stage recessed arches with the centre arch wider than the sides. A low plinth, slightly projecting porch with offset returns, and a moulded string with corner capitals form the base, springing to a semi-circular arched doorway matching those of the tower. The porch is surmounted by a gable with stone coping roof and a foliate stone finial at the apex. On either side, two-light windows set in recesses have trefoil heads inside semi-circular arches with flat hoodmould above. A string course runs above, with a plain ashlar course extending from the tower and serving as the window sill in the gable. In the centre recess is a three-light window framed with a narrow plain ashlar band with roll moulding. The lights are separated by columns, all with trefoil heads, the side-lights under semi-circular arches and the centre light under a stilted pointed arch, all set within a plain ashlar arch with alternating red and cream voussoirs. The main arch above springs from a moulded string course extending that of the second stage of the tower. Recesses on each side contain two-light windows like those of the second tower stage but slightly narrower. At the centre of the gable is a plain trefoil with an arched hoodmould rising from corbels carved with figures, inscribed 'IN VIRTUTE VICTORIA'. The projecting verge to the gable has stepped corbelled arches with a slight saw-toothed projection above, plain copings with moulded edge, and a cross gablet at the foot on the right, topped by a steep cross gablet apex carrying a stone cross with circle.

To the right of the main gable is a low lean-to with plinth, a plain single-light window with semi-circular head, and plain copings with a cross-gablet at the foot.

The right return features a single-bay lean-to on the left with plinth and plain wall above, plain projecting eaves, and cross gablets at the feet of the gable copings. The plain wall of the main church body above is punctuated by a square, buttress-like projection with a cross-gablet trefoil to the offset. The lower part of this elevation was not inspected. Steps descend against the end wall of the lean-to to a lower level, where a half-glazed four-panel door with flat head is located on the left, with two sixteen-pane sashes and a dummy recess to the right. A string course marks the road level, against which the render stops. A further string course at window sill level runs the length of the facade. Three two-light windows are set between these courses, the lights separated by columns with central stone rings and capitals, each light having a semi-circular head with a circular light and glazed spandrels above, all within a semi-circular main arch springing from a plain ashlar string course. A projecting eaves course with small arches on corbels carries a decorative cast-iron gutter. Two chimneys have blue brick bases and yellow brick stalks with oversailing courses to the head. Plain copings with cross-gablet feet run to the ends, with a gable on the right featuring a steep cross-gablet apex as on the road end, though without the cross.

The roof slates are laid in six bands alternating green and blue, with a crested clay ridge, now largely broken. The left return has a plain tower base, above which is a double plinth. The second stage and above match the front. Beyond the tower, the detail matches the right return, except that the chimney bases are stone and the chimney heads are more heavily detailed.

The interior was not inspected.

The building occupies a prominent position on the outside of a slow bend in Wells Road and serves as a focal point for Wyche Road, which joins Wells Road a short distance to the south on the opposite side. The gable is also prominent from Abbey Road below, which reveals that the large arched east window is presently blocked.

The current building stands on the site of an 1827 Countess of Huntingdon Chapel. Windows below road level may derive from this earlier building. The chapel was described as a "reformed episcopalian church of Emmanuel" when constructed in 1874.