Dyffryn Chapel

Dyffryn Chapel

A classical-style chapel constructed in 1841 and rebuilt in 1893, now a Grade II listed building. The principal gable end facade is a striking two-storey composition in three bays, executed in snecked rock-faced grey stone with prominent Bath stone dressings.

The centrepiece is a grand square-headed doorcase of Bath stone, flanked by flat-headed 4-pane horned sash windows with margin glazing and triangular stone heads above corbelled sills. The doorcase features pilasters with scrolled and foliate capitals and a moulded entablature with recessed panels and raised fields. The doorway itself has a segmental head with roll moulding and a large scrolled foliate keystone, and is fitted with double panelled doors beneath a traceried overlight with Art Nouveau glass.

The facade is divided by four prominent Corinthian pilasters at first floor level, supported on a moulded string course. The two inner pilasters are fluted to their upper halves. These pilasters support a wide dressed architrave containing an inscription recording the dates 1841 and 1893. Below the pilasters, the three bays each contain a high moulded round arch with highly ornate foliate keystones, beneath which sit roundels and 6-pane windows with margin glazing and corbelled sills. These windows have flat heads with curved top angles, surmounted by small recessed circles. Stone tablets below the arches read 'Capel, Trefynyddion, Calfinaidd'. The gable is finished with a dentilled triangular pediment, within which sits a triangular Bath stone panel containing a circle with four small circular vents and flanking foliate decoration.

Dressed quoins mark the angles of the facade. The lower sides of the main facade are flanked by lower, slightly set-back single-bay elements on each side, each two storeys high. These side bays have horned sash windows with margin glazing throughout. The lower windows sit within Bath stone surrounds with triangular heads; the upper windows are flanked by pilasters and feature moulded round heads with keystones and impost bands. Each side bay is topped by a balustraded parapet with short pinnacles at the angles and a hipped rooflet behind, with a dentilled architrave below.

The north and south walls of the chapel are rendered, continuing the string course and plinth from the front facade. These elevations are two-storey and five-window. The lower storey has flat-headed windows containing horned sashes with margin glazing. Above are similar windows with round heads, set within wide recessed panels. Two cupolas are retained on the roof.

To the rear is a single-storey vestry in three bays, positioned at right angles and projecting slightly to the north. This is rendered with a slate-covered roof (partly missing), with four-pane horned sashes under segmental heads and margin glazing. A small lean-to porch is positioned at the north end, to the right of which is a 3-light segmental-headed window, partially boarded. In the gable apex of the chapel above is a small 2-pane window. A tablet in the south gable is dated 1841, with a late 20th-century 3-light window below and a small lean-to structure to the right.

The interior was not accessible at the time of inspection on 26 October 1999.