United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church is a Congregational chapel built in 1811, with alterations made in 1888. It is constructed of red brick with random burnt headers, a stucco front designed to resemble ashlar, and slate roofs. The main block is three bays wide, and there is a single-storey, hipped-roofed vestry to the east. The west front has an open pediment with an anthemion at its apex, a recessed centre bay beneath a moulded round arch, and side bays with windows set within segmental arched recesses. A six-column Ionic porch with a modillion cornice is present. The main entrance consists of nine-panelled double doors flanked by similar single doors, all with pilasters and panelled reveals. Fine cast-iron fanlights adorn the entrance; the centre one is semi-elliptical, and the sides are round-headed. Above the porch is a round-arched window with a moulded architrave, pilaster jambs with a moulded string course, and margin glazing. The side bays are punctuated by two-light mullion and transom windows with moulded architraves and round-headed margin glazing. The side elevations feature modillioned eaves and ground floor and gallery windows in round-arched recesses with two-light mullion and transom windows, as previously detailed, all set beneath segmental rubbed brick arches. The east end wall has a rebuilt parapet and two two-light windows within arched recesses, detailed similarly to the sides. The abutting vestry has dentilled eaves, a margin-glazed sash window in arched recesses to the east, and a similar window and inserted door to the north. A porch with a slate roof and spiral columns is located to the south. Inside, a gallery is supported by cast-iron quatrefoil columns, a dentilled cornice, and a solid panelled front. An arched recess to the east wall features rosette moulding and fluted pilasters with stylised anthemion capitals. Vestry doors are framed by pedimented doorcases. A mahogany pulpit, originally 18th century, was remodelled and enlarged in the late 19th century, with the addition of barley-twist columns. The staircase retains an 18th-century handrail, alongside later balusters and newels. A mid-19th century dado rail features fluted newels with acorn finials. The dado panelling incorporates a dentilled cornice. A complete set of late 19th-century pews are present, with decorative carved ends, scrolled armrests, brass numbers, and umbrella racks. The vestry includes dado panelling and a cast-iron Art Nouveau fireplace. The church occupies the site of the original Meeting House of the Independent Congregation, founded in 1665.