Whitewell parish hall

Cadw's description

Location

Fronting the road approximately 350m SSE of Whitewell church.

History

Built in 1887 and enlarged in 1898 (dates on building), although the present structure appears to be a unified build, and is probably therefore of the latter date. It was built as a pair with the Old Rectory, in a style strongly reminiscent of John Douglas, architect of Chester, although neither building has previously been attributed to Douglas.

Exterior

A single-storey parish hall comprising an entrance vestibule and a lower main hall offset behind, of hand-moulded brick with smoother and redder machine-moulded brick for dressings, quoins and moulded sill band, and tile roof. Windows have moulded terracotta mullions. The gable-end entrance faces the road. On the R side is a shouldered stone lintel with date inscription, to stone steps leading up to the double panel doors. To its L is a 3-light window and a 2-light window in the gable. The L side wall has a 2-light window, and then, set back, the buttressed 3-bay main hall with 3-light windows with ogee-headed lights. The R side wall of the vestibule has two 2-light windows, and the main hall a 3-light window with ogee-headed lights, and then a lower gabled projection with outshuts, which in its gable end has a 2-light window and segmental-headed panel door to a side entrance. The rear of the main hall has a 3-light transomed window with ogee-headed lights.

On the R side of the entrance is a brick wall with stone coping, incorporating a Victorian letterbox, to gate piers of the former Rectory.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special architectural interest as a prominent and well-detailed late C19 public building forming a pair with the Old Rectory.