Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 14 August 2023 to correct the name and address, remove superfluous source details from text and to reformat the text to current standards.

SO8454NE
620-1/16/151

WORCESTER
CHAPEL WALK
Huntingdon Hall

(Formerly listed as Huntingdon Hall, BELL SQUARE, CROWNGATE, previously listed as: DEANSWAY, Countess of Huntingdon's (Connexion) Chapel)

22/5/54

GV
II*
Formerly known as: Countess of Huntingdon's (Connexion) Chapel BIRDPORT. Includes: Huntingdon Hall CROWN GATE.

Chapel, now concert hall. Built 1804, enlarged 1815. For the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. Restored and converted to a concert hall and arts centre by the City of Worcester Building Preservation Trust and re-opened 1987. Original block to west (left) of pinkish-brown brick in English Garden Wall bond with renewed stone sills, and hipped plain tile roof; range at east is brick with painted stucco to front facade scored in imitation of ashlar with concealed roof. T-shape on plan with rectangular block to right with facade angled to follow line of street, ovoid range added to east includes full-height bows at front and rear. Single tall storey,1:1:1:3 windows. Left range: entrance to centre of bow has double sixteen-raised-and-fielded-panel doors in Roman Doric porch with columnar reveals, Dentil frieze with incised Greek fret, Modillion cornice. To either side of entrance a tall, round-arched 48/72 pane sash with radial glazing bars to head, curved on section, in plain, stepped reveals. Frieze and ovolo-moulded cornice. Low coped parapet. Range to right: lower stage has three 24-pane fixed light windows in near-flush frames (renewed) with renewed sills, under segmental arches. Above each of these a round-arched, 24/24 replacement fixed light window in near-flush frame and with round arches of gauged brick. Cogged eaves band.

Rear of west range similar to its front facade; further entrance to west return has double panelled doors. Left return: two round-arched 30/18 fixed-light windows(truncated) with radial glazing bars to heads, with sills and in stepped reveals under renewed round arches. Bow to rear has two 30/36 round-arched sashes curved on section, with radial glazing bars to head. Stepped band. Right return: projecting porch to 3/4 height, double panelled doors in segmental-arched surround with plain arch on imposts and with keystone. Above this an 18-light window and inscription plaque on corbels inscribed: "The Countess of Huntingdon's Hall". At right, steps to gallery entrance, six-flush-beaded-panel door in similar surround. To either side of main entrance are round-arched, multi-pane windows.

INTERIOR: a fine, intact survival of its type. The ovoid block forms the east end, divided from main block by three arches on cast-iron cluster columns and corbels to responds, the outer arches are four-centred, the central arch is cambered. Panelled gallery on slender cast-iron column-clusters running full circuit and curved around bows. Panelled box pews to lower stage, stepped benches with panelled backs to gallery. Dado has raised-and-fielded-panelled dado to lower stage, sunk panels to upper stage. To west end a part-glazed screen and clock in front of gallery. East end has organ with four towers of pipes; pulpit on four fluted Doric columns stands before it with twin staircases having ornate cast-iron balusters and wreathed handrail, carved tread ends; two eagle lecterns; ornate cast-iron communion rails. Four-panel doors. Original stairs curve around east bows with curved mahogany handrail. To upper stage are two boards recording 'Benefactions'. East end has two stained glass windows, otherwise some stained glass panels. Quatrefoil inscription tablets to east end. Plain ceiling with oval and circular Adam-style ventilating grilles. Some marble wall tablets, mainly late C19 and early C20.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Lady Huntingdon visited Worcester in 1769 at which time her Connexion had 200 followers. Forms one unit with No.16 Deansway (qv).

NMR photographs. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Worcestershire: Harmondsworth: 1968-1985: 322; RCHME: Non-Conformist Chapels and Meeting Houses in Central England: London: 1986-: 258-9).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Huntingdon Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17548093

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)