Dissenters Chapel

PORTSMOUTH

774-1/0/10029 HIGHLAND ROAD 09-JUL-04 Southsea Dissenters Chapel

GV II Cemetery chapel. Circa 1854 designed by Thomas Ellis Owen. Byzantine style. Built mainly of yellow brick in Flemish bond but has red polychrome bands providing a striped effect, some stone dressings and slate roof. Rectangular building of two bays with projecting porch to west and apsidal east end. EXTERIOR: The west end has a pediment with Star of David. There is a projecting porch with open pediment and round-headed arch with stone impost bands. On each side is a round-headed arched window with circular glazing bars with impost blocks. The north and south sides have full height arcading of five bays with stone impost blocks and brick pilasters. Three of the arches are blank, the others have cast iron circular glazing bars. The east end has a lower semi-circular apse with five bay arcade with red brick arches, stone impost blocks, brick pilasters and plinth. There are two boarded window openings, two blanks and a central doorcase, currently with C20 door. HISTORY: Highland Road Cemetery was the only cemetery to be built by Thomas Ellis Owen. This polychromic brick Byzantine style Dissenters chapel forms an interesting contrast with the Gothic style stone Anglican chapel. Unusual Byzantine style brick cemetery chapel by Portsmouth architect Thomas Ellis Owen, one of a series of cemetery buildings.