Old Independent Church

This is an Old Independent Church, built in 1884 by Charles Bell of London. It is a red brick building with stone dressings and slate roofs, set on a cruciform plan. The main rectangular body of the church is flanked by three gabled transeptal projections to the north and south. The west front features a central five-light window with geometric tracery, flanked by polygonal turrets topped with pinnacles. Below the window, a blind six-bay arcade is present. To either side of the turrets are tall, pointed windows with two bays of blind arcades. Gabled porch entrances are situated to the right and left of these, each with a trefoiled doorway. A four-stage tower with lancet windows at each stage and engaged colonnettes to the triple belfry openings rises from the south-west corner. The tower is topped by an octagonal spire with four pepper-pot pinnacles at its base. The transeptal projections on the flanks each feature four trefoiled lancet windows on the ground stage and two pairs of pointed two-light windows above; cusped octofoil lights are set in the gable apexes. The interior has a four-bay arcade, with the centre two bays opening into the eastern pair of the three transeptal projections, and the outer bays being blind. A centre pier is constructed of marble, featuring an annular ring and stiff-leaf capitals. Pointed arches are moulded. The outer bays have clustered piers and stiff-leaf capitals. A gallery extends across the two centre open arcade bays, with continuous arcade panelling. A further gallery is present at the west end, featuring similar arcading to the parapet. The roof displays prominent panelled ashlaring and two registers of arched braces. An arched recess is defined by marble columns with stiff-leaf capitals resting on corbel carvings of angels at the east end, and houses an organ within. The original pulpit, reading desk, and benches remain intact, alongside the original tinted stained glass.