Baptist Church And Attached Walls, Railings, Gates And Gate Piers

The Baptist Church on North Street in Crewkerne was originally built in 1820 and enlarged in 1830, with the present facade dating from 1880. It is constructed of coursed and squared limestone with Ham Hill stone used for quoins, pilasters, doorcases, pediments, and the plinth, and has a hipped slate roof.

The building has a square plan, with a two-story schoolroom behind and two late 19th-century rear wings featuring segmental arches with cream brick architraves. A connecting toilet range completes a small courtyard. The main facade is a single-story, symmetrical five-window range. Three tall, round-arched windows with margin panes are articulated by shallow pilasters and set beneath a stepped-forward, pedimented gable with a moulded cornice and antefixae. The tympanum displays the letters "1880 - NORTH STREET CHAPEL." Double two-panel doors are set within smaller projecting, pedimented porches on the outer bays, with tapered pilasters. Above, similar but shorter windows mirror the lower ones. A lower schoolroom range extends to the rear, with a manse located to the left.

The interior features late 19th-century pews and matchboarding up to the dado rail. A curved, bracketed gallery, supported by cast-iron columns, has fretwork and paneling. The pulpit, situated against the rear wall, has cast-iron balusters to the front and flanking stairs, the latter with chamfered newels, ball finials, and panelling. The organ, located in the rear left corner, is decorated with painted ornament on the pipes. The schoolroom has a simple coved ceiling.

Attached to the schoolroom's rear right side is a rubblestone flanking wall with central gate piers. Spearhead railings on an off-set Ham Hill stone plinth run along the front of the chapel and manse, with a matching gate incorporating long and short railings. Stone piers, panelled to the sides of the domed caps and with panelled shafts, support the gate, and extend to the sides. A rubblestone wall, backed by the schoolroom, runs to the right, with gate piers in the middle.

Historical records indicate the original chapel, built in 1820, could seat around 450 people and included galleries and a schoolroom.