Unitarian Chapel

BRISTOL

ST5873SE LEWIN'S MEAD 901-1/11/128 (North side) 08/01/59 Unitarian Chapel

GV II*

Meeting-house, now offices. 1788-91. By William Blackburn. Converted to offices in 1987 by Fielden Clegg architects. Limestone ashlar, rendered rubble sides and hipped slate roof. Open plan. Neoclassical style. 3 storeys; 5-window range. The 3-window central pedimented block breaks forward of lower flanking blocks, with a rusticated ground-floor to a plat band, flat sill and impost bands; a semicircular portico of paired Ionic columns and respond pilasters, with a plain entablature, on curved Pennant steps, over a tall doorway and moulded architrave; either side is an almost-square window with incised voussoirs, with similar plain windows to the side blocks; above the portico is a tall 3-light window with 2 column mullions with acanthus capitals and responds to an entablature, and a large lunette above, with palmettes in the C19 glazing bars; either side are rectangular first-floor windows, and similar ones with moulded architraves in the side blocks, and blind windows flanking the lunette. Similar single tripartite windows to lunettes to each side and 3 to the rear. INTERIOR: galleried sides and front on cast-iron shafts, and a coffered ceiling, supported from the roof by chains, with large foliate paterae; a curved, panelled screen to the lobby; stone semicircular winder stairs both sides of the entrance. FITTINGS: central mahogany 3-decker pulpit to the N side with ramped steps up, a tester on console brackets, curved communion rail in front with turned balusters. Box pews either side of the entrance and the pulpit. Memorials include various C18 and C19 wall tablets. HISTORICAL NOTE: the chapel was built by the Unitarians as a meeting house to hold 400 people, with stables and coach-house, a lecture room added in 1818, and schoolrooms in 1826. It was converted to offices in 1987 by Fielden Clegg architects. (Gomme A, Jenner M and Little B: Bristol, An Architectural History: Bristol: 1979-: 190; An Inventory of Nonconformist Chapels...in Central England: Stell C: Gloucestershire: London: 1986-: 70).

Listing NGR: ST5866873294