Memorial Baptist Chapel

Cadw's description

Location

On prominent corner site, opposite St Mary's churchyard, set behind low railed wall.

History

Foundation stone laid 8 September 1897. Opened 24 May 1899. Architects George Morgan and Son, Carmarthen. Contractor Henry Rice, Maindee Villa, Builth. Attached school at rear added 1929.

Exterior

Free lancet style Gothic. Slate roofs, snecked bullnose masonry, bathstone dressings. High shallow plinth.

Gabled entrance front faces roughly N. To E, 2 gabled bays, at NE corner, tower, rectangular in plan. At rear, vestry with tall octagonal chimney, and schoolroom.
Tall gable front flanked by stepped angle buttresses has, in apex, small rectangular window between bathstone bands. Group of 4 large lancet windows in bathstone at first floor level lighting gallery. Below this, shallow gabled porch with trefoil in apex and arched hood over entrance doorway.
East elevation has rectangular tower with steeply pitched hipped slate roof, supported on bathstone cornice, below this, stage with rectangular lights, then stage with louvred lancets. High lower stage with tall buttresses, and windows at 2 levels lighting stairs in tower. Doorway with segmental head. To left of tower, 2 gabled bays, buttressed and each with small rectangular window in apex, between bathstone bands. Three lancets to first floor and below these, 3 smaller lancets. Then to left, vestry area at lower level with 2 square headed windows and tall octagonal chimney.
Beyond this, school added in 1929. Single storey with deeply pitched slate roof local rubble masonry. Roof has glass skylights in ridge and metal ventilation louvre. Projecting gable with three-light mullioned and transomed window.

Interior

Chapel entered via lobby with staircase inside tower up to gallery. Body of chapel has 2 high side bays at each side with gothic arches. Bays have heavy corbels for unbuilt side galleries. Existing gallery over lobby supported on cast iron pillars with pierced wooden balustrade. High polygonal roof with classical cornice. At S, high arch encloses 3 arched bays, central of which holds organ below which is raised pulpit area with immersion font. Doors lead through to vestries and later schoolroom with high open timber roof.