Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Saron Old Chapel
Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Rhyd-y-fro, Swansea, Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, designated on 29 March 2000.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 29 March 2000
- Locality
- Rhyd-y-fro
- Town
- Swansea
- Community
- Pontardawe
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.73744, -3.86567
- Cadw reference
- 23081
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 230 Ammanford (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 230 Ammanford (Outline) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Situated in Rhyd-y-fro on the E side of the A474 next to former manse and some 100m S of the new Saron chapel.
History
Independent chapel of 1843, used as schoolroom after new chapel was built nearby in 1904. Chapel cost £320 and originally had no gallery. Gallery inserted later, at an unknown date, possibly the 1860s. A long-wall facade, with the interior aligned on the front wall, but there was never a second door on the front wall. Such asymmetrical chapels are an occasional feature of the period c 1830-50, e.g. Sardis, Cwmcanlais, Brecs (1835). The present front wall door was reopened in the C20, previously entry was from a door in the right end wall. There were outside steps on the left end wall to the gallery, since removed.
Exterior
Chapel, whitewashed rubble stone with slate roof. Long wall front of 2 large arched windows with stone voussoirs and stone sills, single plain flat-headed door to left with stone voussoirs. C20 hardwood windows, framed boarded door. Plaque between windows 'Saron Capel yr Anymddibynwyr Adeiladwyd AD 1843'. Right end wall has blocked door.
Interior
Interior has been mostly stripped of fittings, but gallery survives. Three-sided gallery on 2 thick cast-iron columns with painted marbling. The gallery front in long panels with shorter panels in curved angles. Panelled ground floor dado, No internal access to gallery. Two blocked windows rear of gallery, former gallery door to left wall. Pulpit was on front wall between windows.
Reason for designation
Included as an early surviving chapel in the region, one of a relatively small group of chapels with a single asymmetric door to a long-wall facade.
Nearby in the register
- Church of Saint CiwgReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Gate and gatepiers to Church of St CiwgReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Alltycham HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Carn Llechart Stone CircleRound Cairnunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.