Description

CHIPPENHAM

ST9273SW CHAPEL LANE
930-1/10/17 (West side)
25/04/50 Old Baptist Chapel

GV II*

Formerly known as: Old Baptist Chapel GUTTER LANE.
Baptist Chapel. c1834 with late C19 wing to the right. Squared
and coursed limestone rubble facade with ashlar quoins and
dressings, rubblestone rear, stretcher-bond brick right return
and hipped slate roof.
Rectangular plan with shorter lean-to right wing behind ashlar
parapet.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; originally symmetrical 3-window range.
Painted ashlar surrounds to C20 6-over-6-pane sash windows to
original building; steps, with wrought-iron wreathed
handrails, over a high curved rubblestone plinth lead to late
C19 6-panel doors, one to the centre, one to the far right in
the right wing with a shallow overlight and substantial C19 or
C20 hood on brackets. Exposed sawn-off joists to the 1st floor
of the right return and the stretcher bond brick imply this
was formerly an interior wall.
Rear has tall semicircular-arched painted surrounds to two C20
6/6-pane sash windows to rear of original building. Right
return: two 6/6-pane sash windows to the 1st floor and 2 small
C20 windows high in the ground floor.
INTERIOR: virtually complete apart from late C19 pews and some
joinery. The woodwork is grained, probably original. A canted
panelled pulpit to the rear has steps to the right with turned
balusters and newel; on the wall behind it is a rectangular
wooden sounding panel with console shoulders. A panelled
gallery swept up to the rear wall is supported on each side by
2 cylindrical cast-iron columns and similar square columns to
the rear.
The roof of the extended gallery in the lean-to right wing is
supported by a cast-iron column. A central entrance has a
c1834 half-glazed door; to the left gallery stairs with stick
balusters have a late C19 4-panel door at the top.
Stairs in the right wing have stick balusters and a 6-panel
door to the top. In the centre of the ceiling is a circular
ventilation rose with moulded surround. Commemorative panels
include one to the 1st pastor William Mortimer d1869.
HISTORY: the Baptists have had premises in Chapel Lane since
1804.
A notable and substantially complete example of an early C19
Baptist chapel.

Listing NGR: ST9210773305

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5