Oxhey Chapel

Oxhey Chapel is a proprietary chapel dating back to 1612, originally built for Sir J. Altham as part of the Oxhey Place estate (now demolished). It was repaired in 1852 for T. Estcourt, restored and given a narthex in 1897 by J.E.K. Cutts for T.F. Blackwell, and altered and repaired again in 1963. The building is constructed of knapped flint and red brick in a chequer pattern, with stone dressings and a tiled roof.

The chapel is a rectangular two-bay cell with a projecting narthex to the west. The entrance within the narthex features an original plank and muntin door set within a moulded Tudor arched surround with a square hood mould. Panels dated 1897 are set into the spandrels of the surround. Stone quoins return to flanking bays, which contain two-light windows with pointed heads, hollow moulded surrounds, and square hood moulds. A moulded stone cap sits atop a continuous flint plinth. A C20 octagonal timber belfry with an ogee headed cupola rises from behind the gable. The north and south sides each have two three-light windows similar to those on the west front, separated by a 19th-century brick buttress on the north side. The east end has a blocked entrance with a timber lintel, with 17th-century brick visible to sill level of a four-light window. A plaque with the dates 1612 and 1963 is set into the east gable. A four-light window with leaded, octagonal and hexagonal panes is positioned above the narthex on the west end.

Inside, the chapel features double rows of 1897 stalls arranged in a collegiate style. A late 17th-century doorcase with richly carved Corinthian pilasters and an entablature is located at the west end. At the east end, a late 17th-century reredos features twisted Solomonic columns framing panels depicting the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, and Credo. An open pediment with a cartouche, flame finial, and flanking pediments adorns the centre. The sanctuary is paved with black and white marble. The shallow-pitched roof retains moulded tie beams, purlins, and a ridge plate, alongside arched braces with cusped traceried spandrels. A 17th-century font with an octagonal base, panelled shaft, coved bowl, domical cover, rich foliate carving, and urn finial stands at the west end. An 8-branch candelabrum, 19th-century communion rails and lectern are also present. A wall tomb to the south commemorates Sir J. Altham (d.1616) and his last wife Helen (d.1638), featuring two praying figures in an alabaster and marble aedicular frame with arches, Corinthian columns, segmental open pediments, shields of arms, and flanking obelisks. A brass plate records the chapel's building, and a marble tablet to J.A. Bucknall (dated 1797, signed by C. Regnant) is accompanied by a female mourning figure with an urn in high relief, positioned above it on the south wall.