History in Structure

Bethesda Chapel

A Grade II Listed Building in Llangattock, Powys

More Photos »
Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.8493 / 51°50'57"N

Longitude: -3.1507 / 3°9'2"W

OS Eastings: 320831

OS Northings: 217373

OS Grid: SO208173

Mapcode National: GBR F0.TM2Q

Mapcode Global: VH6CH.BSP5

Plus Code: 9C3RRRXX+PP

Entry Name: Bethesda Chapel

Listing Date: 21 October 1998

Last Amended: 21 October 1998

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 20688

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Also known as: Bethesda Independent Chapel

ID on this website: 300020688

Location: Located in a prominent position in the fork of two roads, between the centre of Llangattock village and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

County: Powys

Community: Llangattock (Llangatwg)

Community: Llangattock

Built-Up Area: Llangattock

Traditional County: Brecknockshire

Tagged with: Chapel

Find accommodation in
Crickhowell

History

Congregational chapel built in 1835 on a site given by Sir Joseph Bailey of Glanusk Park. It replaced an earlier chapel built to the S of the village in 1768, which survives as a ruin with a burial ground. The new chapel is shown on the Llangattock Tithe Map of 1845. The vestry is not depicted, so must be later. The central doorway in the lateral side is no longer in use but was originally for manoeuvring coffins in and out of the chapel.

Exterior

Simple Gothic style chapel with wide 3-bay gable-end facade. Constructed of large blocks of coursed grey rock faced stone, under a half-hipped slate roof. Characterised by pointed arched openings and Y-tracery. The window glazing has been replaced. There is a single storey vestry to the W with a masonry gable stack. The facade (S) has a central entrance with square headed C20 planked double doors under a round arch with a plain overlight. Short walls project a right angles to support the porch which appears to be later. The porch has a half-hipped roof supported on timber posts. It is slate covered except for the bottom of the front pitch which is in timber latticework. The entrance is flanked by tall pointed arched windows with Y-tracery and transoms. Above are 3 shorter windows in a similar style but without transoms, lighting the gallery. In the gable above the central window, is a blind oculus with voussoirs containing a slate plaque. This bears the inscription: BETHESDA / CONGREGATIONAL / AD1835. The E side is also 3-bay and contains a central entrance of C20 planked double doors under a pointed arched head. The entrance is flanked by tall pointed arched windows and the upper storey has 3 shorter windows, all as in the front facade. The N gable end has 2 windows, at a slightly higher level than those elsewhere and lighting the pulpit. These are pointed arched with Y-tracery and coloured glass in the apex. In the gable is a blind oculus with voussoirs. The W side is slate hung. The vestry has a rendered gable end. Its S face has 2 cross windows and a C20 door with overlight to the R. The N face has 2 similar windows, but the L one has been converted to a wood planked door with a lean-to roof.

Interior

Three-sided gallery supported on gold painted columns composed of clustered shafts. The panelled gallery front has blind Gothic arches. The gallery has 3 rows of pews with decorated bench ends, and a timber wainscot. There is a vestibule at the entrance, with gallery stairs to each side and 2 doors into the ground floor which has 3 columns of panelled box pews and a timber wainscot. The panelling to the rear, to each side of the door has a curved brace. The pulpit is polygonal and has the same blind arches as the gallery front. Pulpit steps with turned balusters. The front of the gallery has a late C20 raised platform and a set fawr with twist balusters and square newel posts. Previously, the rows of side pews continued to the front. The ceiling has wide moulded coving and an ornate ceiling rose in the centre. Some of the windows contain coloured lights. The vestry has a collar truss roof with moulded brackets in the angles of the collar, a black stone fireplace at the W gable end and a timber wainscot.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a good and promiently sited example of an earlier C19 chapel.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Pen-y-Pentre (aka The Old Factory House)
    Located in a prominent position in Llangattock village, at the fork of 2 roads and opposite and to the N of Bethesda Chapel. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is a short distance to the SW.
  • II Upper Yard Bridge (Canal Bridge No 115)
    The bridge carries a lane which runs WSW from Llangattock village towards Beaufort. It is 0.75km from the Church. Llangattock Wharf is located between bridges Nos 114 and 115.
  • II Lower Yard Bridge (Canal Bridge No 114)
    The bridge carries a lane which runs SW from Llangattock village towards the Llangattock quarries. It is 0.8km from the Church. Llangattock Wharf is located between bridges Nos 114 and 115.
  • II Limekiln
    Located between Lower and Upper Yard Bridges (Canal Bridges Nos 114 and 115) on the W side of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal; to S of the large bank of limekilns at Llangattock Wharf.
  • II* Bank of Limekilns
    Located immediately N of Upper Yard Bridge (Canal Bridge No 115), on the W side of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
  • II Canal House
    Located N of Upper Yard Bridge (Canal Bridge No 115) and the Brecknock Boat Company’s limekilns, on the W side of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, near Llangattock Wharf. The front faces E.
  • II Llangattock Park House
    Set within Llangattock Park which is situated on the SE side of the village. The house is towards the S end of the park. A nursing home adjoins to the SW, partly occupying former outbuildings.
  • II Glanonney
    Located on the NW side of Hillside Road, just SW of the centre of the village. The house is fronted by a circular driveway, and the Nant Onnau runs immediately to the rear of the property.

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.