Bethel Welsh Baptist Chapel

Cadw's description

Location

Set back on the corner with, and side elevation to, Portland Street.

History

Dated 1888; opened October 1889, by Thomas E Morgan of Aberystwyth (d.1933) and similar in style to Tabernacle and Seion Chapels.

Exterior

Italianate classical 2-storey 3-bay front with raised advanced and pedimented central 3-window bay. Bull-nosed rubble with Bath stone dressing and part dressed plinth band and quoins. Slate roof with tiled cresting and steeper hipped cross roofs with ironwork cresting to front outer bays; cement render chimney stack. Central attic datestone in bulls eye roundel over bracket cill; bracket cornice and plain entablature. Paired polished granite Corinthian pilasters flank linked arched headed windows with keystones and dividing fluted pilasters; marginal glazing bars and quatrefoil oculi. Balustraded apron below with faceted panels to ends. Paired raised gabled porches with finials carried on granite column with heavily foliated capitals; arched recesses, punched tympani and panelled doors; reached by single flight of steps. Balustraded parapet with urn finials and ‘machicolated’ cornice over outer bays and wraps around the corner. Similar arched headed 1st floor windows with keystones and impost and cill bands; square headed ground floor windows with cambered lintels and cill bands.

2-storey and basement cement render side elevations with continuous cornice and banding; rusticated basement. Sash windows with marginal glazing bars and keystones; arched heads to 1st floor, architraves to ground floor, and cambered heads to basement. Scribed cement render NE end with louvred roundel.

Interior

Exceptional classically detailed rectangular galleried interior. Plaster ceiling with coved cornices deep foliated ribs radiating from central large foliage roses and 4 surrounding smaller roundels, ribs curve downwards to dentil cornice with advanced corbels. Curved and panelled gallery front, bracketed and carried on cast iron cylindrical composite capitals, raked seating. Full height classical reredos behind stepped platform; surrounds rose window to the top with volute brackets over advanced dentil cornice; paired fluted Corinthian pilasters below flanking blind arched panels. Ornate ironwork parapets with panelled bases to great seat; richly foliated arched panels under pulpit (carving by Messrs Powell and Son of Abergavenny). Raised panelled doors to either side; organ against front wall. Stained glass window to entrance hall dated 1889. School room etc in basement with plain cast-iron columns.

Iron railed paved forecourt to front with pediment capped piers; taller gate piers with ‘pineapple’ finials to graveyard at right.

Reason for designation

Group value.