Baptist Chapel

The Baptist Chapel, built in 1734 with early 19th century and mid-19th century additions, is a significant building located on Carpenters Lane in Bratton. Constructed of Flemish bond brick, it features a stone slate hipped roof for the chapel and tiled hipped roofs for the flanking schoolrooms, along with brick stacks that have toothed bands. The chapel is a single-storey structure with a gallery, while the schoolrooms are two-storey.

The main entrance is marked by a central round-arched door with eight panels, set within a bolection-moulded architrave that includes a keystone and imposts. It is topped by a semi-circular stone hood and flanked by 12-pane round-arched sashes, also with keystones and imposts. Above the door, there is a keyed rose window and a square sundial. The building features moulded stone eaves and plain stone pilasters. The schoolrooms on either side have four-panelled or six-panelled doors, with one 12-pane sash window on the first floor. The left return has three sashes on both the ground and first floors, with a datestone from 1858, while the right return has two sashes on each floor. The rear of the chapel includes two round-arched 12-pane windows and a keyed rose window above, with a dentil brick eaves cornice. An extension at the rear is noted by a datestone from 1786 on the first floor, and the rear of the schoolrooms also has sashes.

Inside the chapel, there is a gallery from 1807 that wraps around three sides, featuring recessed panelling supported by octagonal wooden columns. The plaster ceiling has a cornice, and the ground floor and gallery contain box pews. A reading desk is situated on a raised dais at the north end, and the doors have four fielded panels. The west schoolroom on the first floor includes a marble fireplace. The Baptists had been gathering in Erlestoke since 1662 and in Bratton since 1701, prior to the construction of this chapel, which was built through public subscription.