Sandham Memorial Chapel

SU 46 SE BURGHCLERE HARTS LANE 2/33 Sandham Memorial Chapel

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The Oratory of All Saints, Burghclere. 1926, by Lionel Pearson (of Adams, Holden, and Pearson). Built for Mr and Mrs Behrand, as a memorial to Lieut H W Sandham (a brother of Mrs Behrend), who died in 1919 from an illness contracted in Macedonia. The building is a plain rectangular block, with shallow regular panels and a symmetrical front, having a wide window flanked by narrow windows, and a central doorway. Hipped tile roof behind a parapet, with coping stone and broad stone 'eaves' band; there is a lower band tied to the head of the stone doorframe; there are thin stone frames to the windows and a stone plinth. Red brickwork with brindle panels. Panelled double doors. The front (south) is arranged in symmetry with a single-storeyed almshouse on each side, the main part being projected forward of the links to the front of the chapel. Each dwelling has a central doorway with a window on each side; hipped tile roofing, red brickwork with a plinth, brindle recessed panels. Sashes. ½-glazed doors. The chapel building is famous for its series of mural paintings, covering the 3 unglazed walls, by Sir Stanley Spencer, carried out between 1926 and 1932, from designs created earlier and based on his own RAMC experiences and later war service in Macedonia. The pictures have scenes connected with life in army hospitals, and include a large Resurrection on the 'east' wall.

Listing NGR: SU4638160413