Chapel, Melsetter House, Hoy

Chapel, Melsetter House, Hoy

This single-storey rectangular chapel was designed by W R Lethaby in 1900. It is built of random rubble sandstone with a harled east gable, dressed quoins, and dressed surrounds to openings. A dressed eaves course runs along the north elevation, while roll-moulded eaves courses decorate the gables.

The north (principal) elevation features a timber boarded and studded door to the right, set within a roll-moulded, round-headed surround with thick plinths to the base. The arch apex displays a circle (representing the sun), a crucifix (representing Christ), and a crescent (representing the moon). Two steps lead into the chapel. To the right of the doorway is a cross-incised slab with an inscribed plaque. To the left of the door stands a quadripartite window with chamfered stone mullions, and a narrow stained glass window further left, with a buttress to its left.

The east elevation contains a tripartite chancel window with moulded stone surrounds and mullions, and above it a small star-shaped window with a square sandstone surround. An anchor and crucifix finial crowns this elevation. A tall harled wall (part of the kitchen garden) extends eastwards from the left gable, and exposed long and short quoins mark the left quoin of the chapel above this wall.

The south elevation has two narrow windows to the right, with garden walls extending from both gables.

The west elevation is dominated by two rows of three grouped lancets at the centre, set within moulded stone surrounds and mullions. A square-plan bellcote surmounts the west gable, with arched openings in the west and east faces and small rectangular openings in the south and north faces. The bell is housed in an upturned boat-shaped curved roof structure. The roof throughout is asymmetrically pitched stone slate with flat skews and moulded skewputts. A chimney vent protrudes from the left of the south roof slope. The windows throughout feature leaded glass, with outer casements and inner fixed lights to the quadripartite window.

The interior is floored with flagstones and red tiles. The walls are harled with exposed sandstone surrounds to windows, sills, and a band course. A pointed barrel vault spans the interior. A central moulded column rises in the recess of the quadripartite window. Pointed-arch surrounds frame the stained glass windows in the north and south walls. The north wall contains a stained glass window depicting the Crucifixion, designed by Edward Burne-Jones and made by Morris & Co. An exposed stone arch with a flat head spans the width of the chapel, dividing the chancel from the nave. A chamfered stone band course extends from the base of this arch eastwards into the chancel.

Metal heart-shaped lamp holders are mounted to the north chancel wall and south nave wall. An aumbrey to the left of the altar has a stone surround and two studded timber doors. Two steps with black and white tiles to the second step lead up to the chancel. The chancel is dominated by a central stone altar on a plinth, decorated with a St Columba cross that projects from the chamfered top. Above the altar, a tripartite window with roll-moulded surrounds and two moulded mullions to the front of the sill extends along the length of the gable wall. This window contains stained glass depicting the Nativity, designed by Ford Madox Brown and made by Morris & Co. The gable apex is slightly recessed and contains a star-shaped window. To the right of the altar is a stained glass window of St Colum by Christopher Whall. A small carved ivory panel depicting the Adoration of the Magi hangs on the south wall. Also on the south wall, to the right of the chancel, is a stained glass window by Christopher Whall depicting St Margaret.

A plain timber screen with a central doorway encloses the vestry at the rear. Within the vestry is a small stove, and a circular blocked hole for the bell rope with a square stone surround. A central round-headed arch frames two rows of lancets with sandstone tabs to the surround.

A cylindrical font on a base stands in the chapel, with roll moulding to its shaft, a circular basin, and wavy bands to the base.