Description

TQ3574NE
636-1/63/116

SOUTHWARK
BRENCHLEY GARDENS (south east side)
Mortuary chapels, Camberwell New Cemetery

GV
II
Anglican and nonconformist mortuary chapels. Dated 1928. Designed by Aston Webb and his son, Maurice; Messrs Galbraith Brothers, builders.

MATERIALS: coursed rubble masonry with dressed stone; hipped roof with flaring eaves of green slate laid in diminishing courses.

PLAN: three part composition with tower in the centre, the bottom pierced by a round-arched carriageway; to either side the chapels, that to left, or east, Anglican, that to right, Nonconformist.

EXTERIOR: carriageway set in gable facing, from which rises a tower with a square lower stage, having buttresses of three setbacks; pierced by double lancet light bell louvres; top stage is octagonal in plan, with clock face; corner buttresses from below continue above parapet to lower stage to form corner, flying buttresses; the whole tower tapers slightly. Above the carriageway, set in niche of the gable, is a freestanding sculpture. Broad buttresses to either side of carriageway mark start of chapels proper, which have identical, mirror-image elevations: clerestory tucked below eaves of six windows set in stone band, all flat-arched. Gable facing cross wings at either end, each lit by a round-arched, two light, traceried window. To return of each cross wing a single-storey, gable facing extension which serves as a narthex to the chapel naves; entrances via one round-arched door, sub-ordered, the boarded wood door of original design.

The rear elevations are identical to the fronts, except for single storey vestries which flank the carriageway and have one round-arched entrance each; to side of each vestry entrance is a triple window with stone mullions. Gutters to eaves of original design, as are several rainwater heads.

INTERIOR: of former Anglican Chapel: furnishings intact, and include a reredos to tower wall; cross wings have quadripartite groin vaulting.

A stone plinth on the east return of the carriageway bears a commemorative inscription and dedication: Borough of Camberwell. This stone was laid by the Worshipful Mayor of Camberwell, Counsillor HC Thompson, JP, on the 6th of October,1928. Chairman Counc. W Brenchley, JP, Vice Chairman, Counc. CW Chessell. Aldermen, A Green, FJ Parce, HW Smyth, WFS Vicary, Cousillors, JW Akam, GF Bushelll, EH Davy, GE Deighton, AT Dyer MBE, C Galvin, JA Garner, WH Graham, JP, JW Lucas, E Miatt, GJ Maloney, JP, Elizabeth Morris, WO Bolger, AJ Percy, SAF Pulley, EG Watson, E Wray, Sir Aston Webb RA and Son, Architects, CE Newton, Town Clerk, Messrs Galbraith Bros, Ltd, Builders.

HISTORICAL NOTE: the cemetery opened in 1929, the result of three years planning. Initial estimates put the cost at £10,000. Webb was appointed architect by 11 January 1928.

Gothic in design, but with such a meticulous attention to detail, material, and workmanship as to belong, clearly and unmistakably, to an Arts and Crafts tradition.

Form a group with the Lodge and Waiting Room to the north, and the Entrance Gates from Brenchley Gardens (qqv).

Listing NGR: TQ3582474531

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26658796

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)