Capel y Ton

Capel y Ton is a Methodist chapel in minimal classical style, built in 1863 and substantially remodelled in 1905. It comprises a single range with a gable-end facade of three bays and two storeys.

The exterior is rendered and whitened under a slate roof, set on a coursed stone plinth with pale stone dressings. The design features quoin strips rusticated to the lower storey and with recessed panels to the upper storey, a plat band at first-floor level, and a simple moulded band defining the gable. A central gabled stone doorcase with kneelers and dressed stone quoins was added in 1905. It contains a round-arched doorway with hoodmould and tall keystone, beneath which are double panelled doors and an overlight with radial and margin glazing. The entrance is flanked by segmental-headed windows with eared architraves. The upper storey has three small windows with round-arched heads and raised surrounds, a plain sill band and plain impost band. All front windows are cross-windows retaining original small panes, with radial glazing under the arches and coloured margin glazing. In the gable is a rectangular tablet with moulded surround inscribed "Methodist / Chapel Erected / 1863", with a further tablet on two corbels below reading "Adnewyddwyd 1905".

The plat band at first-floor level continues around the sides, which are three windows deep. The side windows have round-arched heads to the upper storey and segmental heads below, containing horned sash windows with margin glazing. The rear wall has two small vents to the outer sides of the gable.

The interior contains a narrow entrance vestibule with stairs to either side leading to the gallery. Panelled doors open into the chapel, between which is a six-light window with Art Nouveau stained glass. The vestibule floor is of coloured tile with a ceiling rose featuring foliage decoration. The chapel itself has a three-sided gallery on narrow cast iron columns with necking rings. The wooden gallery front features recessed panels and gold paint, with a dentilled frieze to the underside. The deep gallery contains five rows of panelled pews. Three banks of planked pews with carved bench ends stand below. An octagonal wooden pulpit with recessed panels includes pilasters and round arches to the front. Straight stairs to either side have moulded balustrades and large newel posts with circle designs. A panelled set fawr stands in front of the stairs.

Behind the pulpit is a moulded plaster arch with round head set between pilasters with recessed panels and capitals with dentils and bosses, supporting a broken segmental pediment through which a stylised finial rises. Within the arch is a marble wall tablet with pointed arched head, commemorating the preacher William Evans of Tonyrefail (born 1795). Flanking the central archway are two blind round arches with foliate bosses in their mouldings, sitting on a band at gallery level; these appear originally to have been windows. Moulded plaster coving with flower bosses and margin ceiling panelling surrounds a wood-panelled interior. Three highly ornate ceiling roses are present, the central rose being the largest, with concentric bands of flowers and foliage. A small marble tablet on the east wall is a First World War memorial, and a marble tablet on the west wall commemorates Margaret Edwards of Porthcawl (died 1905).