Unitarian Chapel is a Grade II* listed building in the Dorset local planning authority area, England. First listed on 28 November 1950. Chapel, school. 3 related planning applications.

Unitarian Chapel

WRENN ID
grey-cellar-gilt
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
Dorset
Constituency
West Dorset MP: Edward Morello (LD)
Country
England
Date first listed
28 November 1950
Type
Chapel, school
Address
Unitarian Chapel, East Street, Bridport, DT6 3JX
OS grid reference
SY 467 929
Coordinates
50.7338, -2.75536
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Unitarian Chapel, built in 1794, is a Grade II* listed building located on the north side of East Street. It features colour-washed brick and a hipped slate roof, rising to two storeys. A band displaying "Unitarian Chapel" is inscribed in contemporary serif lettering, and the building has a moulded eaves cornice. The façade includes three ranges of round-arched sash windows with glazing bars. The entrance has doors topped with an oblong fanlight and is framed by a semi-circular bowed portico supported by Ionic columns with a full entablature.

An elevation facing Rax Lane was constructed as a school in 1840 and consists of three storeys. It has three ranges of casement windows with glazing bars, and two sash windows with glazing bars on the ground floor. The other ground floor windows are adorned with ornamental iron grilles.

Inside the chapel, galleries extend on three sides, supported by columns with high bases, marbled shafts, and Composite capitals. There is a full entablature featuring a dentilled cornice, and a parapet with fluted principal muntins. Ornamental iron balustrades separate the corners of the galleries. The pulpit is decorated with fluted pilasters at the corners and a moulded cornice, while the steps and communion rail date from the mid-19th century.

The chapel, along with Nos 37 to 47 (odd), the Public Library, and Nos 53 to 57 (odd), forms a cohesive group.

Local climate

Unitarian Chapel receives an average of 800 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 54% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 74% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 19 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 80% of listed buildings. Of these, 7 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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  • No EPC on record for this property
  • No sale records on file
  • Related listed building consents — 3 applications
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
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Nearby listed buildings

  1. 3 and 5, Rax Lane Grade II 13 m
  2. Perle School of Dancing Grade II 35 m
  3. 13a and 13b, Barrack Street Grade II 38 m
  4. 7, Barrack Street Grade II 40 m
  5. 3 and 5, Barrack Street Grade II 42 m
  6. Former Literary and Scientific Institute Grade II* 43 m
  7. No 55 Including Railings Ringstead House Grade II 46 m
  8. Seven Stars Public House Grade II 48 m
  9. 20, Rax Lane Grade II 48 m
  10. 57, East Street Grade II 52 m