Capel y Ton

Cadw's description

Location

Prominently located in the centre of Tonyrefail. Set back behind forecourt walls and railings within a graveyard containing numerous monuments.

History

Calvinistic Methodist chapel built in 1863 and renovated in 1905. It succeeded a chapel of 1791 which was located elsewhere in Tonyrefail. There were 300 members in 1904.

Exterior

Chapel in minimal classical style. Single range with 3-bay 2-storey gable-end facade. Rendered and whitened under a slate roof on a coursed stone plinth, with pale stone dressings. Detail includes quoin strips, rusticated to the lower storey and with recessed panels to the upper storey, a plat band at 1st floor level, and a simple moulded band defining the gable. A central gabled stone doorcase with kneelers and dressed stone quoins appears to have been added in 1905. It contains a round-arched doorway with hoodmould and tall keystone, under 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 3 small windows with round-arched heads and raised surrounds, a plain sill band and plain impost band. All the front windows are cross-windows retaining their original small panes, radial glazing under the arches and coloured margin glazing. In the gable is a rectangular tablet with moulded surround inscribed 'Methodist / Chapel Erected / 1863'. Beneath is a further tablet on 2 corbels reading 'Adnewyddwyd 1905'.

The plat band at 1st floor level continues around the sides of the chapel which are 3-window. The windows have round-arched heads to the upper storey and segmental heads below and contain horned sash windows with margin glazing. The rear wall has 2 small vents to the outer sides of the gable.

Interior

Narrow entrance vestibule with stairs to either side leading to gallery. Panelled doors leading into chapel, between which is a 6-light window with Art Nouveau stained glass. Coloured tile floor and ceiling rose with foliage decoration. In the chapel is a 3-sided gallery on narrow cast iron columns with necking rings. Wooden gallery front with recessed panels and gold paint, with dentilled frieze to underside. Deep gallery with 5 rows of panelled pews. Three banks of planked pews with carved bench ends below. Octagonal wooden pulpit with recessed panels including pilasters and round arches to the front. Straight stairs to either side with moulded balustrades and large newel posts with circle designs to faces. Panelled set fawr in front. On the wall behind the pulpit is a moulded plaster arch with round head set between pilasters with recessed panels and capitals with dentils and bosses. These support a broken segmental pediment, through which a stylised finial rises. Within the arch is a marble wall tablet with pointed arched head to the preacher William Evans of Tonyrefail (born 1795). Flanking the central archway are 2 blind round arches, the mouldings with foliate bosses, which sit on a band at gallery level. These appear to have been windows originally. Moulded plaster coving with flower bosses and margin ceiling panelling, inside which is a wood panelled surround. There are 3 highly ornate ceiling roses, that to the centre the largest with concentric bands of flowers and foliage. Small marble tablet on E wall, a 1914-18 war memorial, and marble tablet on W wall to Margaret Edwards of Porthcawl (d.1905).

Reason for designation

Listed as a well-preserved chapel of late classical type with elaborate interior detail. In a prominent position in the village.