Former Chapel Block

This is a former chapel dating to around 1860, originally part of the Herrison Hospital. It is now used as storage and general purpose rooms. The building is constructed of red, blue, and cream brick in a Flemish bond, with limestone dressings, and a slate roof. It demonstrates a Ruskinian Gothic style, considered an early example of the movement.

The symmetrical front elevation has a full-height central gable and is arranged over two storeys, with a 2:1:2 bay arrangement to the upper level and a 2:2:2 bay arrangement to the lower level. The lower level features paired sash windows set in stone surrounds, with a central colonette and shouldered lintel. Below a mid-band of yellow and blue diaper pattern brickwork, the upper level has a large, five-light decorated window flanked by two smaller, three-light windows, all with Venetian voussoirs over pointed heads and a continuous moulded drip course. The central and end gables are steeply pitched with saddle-back raised copings and kneelers. The returns are largely hidden by adjacent buildings. The front has angle and diagonal buttresses, constructed from a stepped plinth with sloping offsets, stone cappings, and blue brick bands; the brickwork throughout is of high quality. The rear of the block is concealed by other buildings and is not of special interest.

The interior features an original six-bay arch-braced tied hammer-beam roof of high quality, with decorative brick end gables. The roof is partially concealed by a later dropped ceiling. Doors have flat, pointed segmental heads with heavy roll moulding, and retain their original doors. The building represents an important early example of Ruskinian architectural influence.