Capel Salem including front wall and railings, Corris, Gwynedd

Entry Name: Capel Salem including front wall and railings

Listing Date: 6 December 1999

Last Amended: 6 December 1999

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 22728

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Also known as: Salem Welsh Independent Chapel

ID on this website: 300022728

Location: The chapel, which is the last surviving working chapel in the town, stands well back from the main street in the centre of Corris.

County: Gwynedd

Town: Machynlleth

Community: Corris

Traditional County: Merionethshire

Tagged with: Chapel

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History

The Independent Chapel in Corris was built in 1868, at the time of the rapid development of Corris as a small town, and the growing prosperity in the valley as a whole, particularly due to the production of slabwork from the Narrow Vein, a 60ft (18.288m) wide deposit 18 miles (28.96km) long with a vertical strike, which yielded material of the very best quality.

Exterior

The chapel is built in a simple Classical style, of rock-faced quarry slate with contrasting features in a hard grey slate. The facade has 6 attenuated pilasters of grey slate, the centre four slightly set forward and rising to a simple block string course carrying the pediment and bracketed eaves. At the centre, a wide pair of false-fielded and panelled doors with 2-pane overlight. Above, a round-headed margin glazed window with blue flash and yellow stained margin glazing. To either side of the door, shorter but similar windows, and elongated similar windows to the end bays. To each side, 3 round-headed windows with a central hopper vent. No windows on the W end.

The front wall to the street has rock-faced stone piers rising from a low wall, and a central pair of gates, the railings and gates with arrow terminals, the gates with dog rails.

Interior

The chapel is rectangular, with walls plastered above a matchboarded dado. Flat ceiling divided into diagonally boarded compartments by moulded ceiling beams. The outer sides are coved above a moulded cornice. A gallery of 5 tiers of raked pews runs around 3 sides, with splayed corners, carried on cast iron columns, the front of which is elaborately panelled and supported on modillion brackets. The W end contains the pulpit, which is raised and approached by balustered stairs. It is octagonal fronted, with bookstand and brass light fittings either side. Below, the set fawr is set in a panelled enclosure. Behind the pulpit a large panelled reredos, the centre section rising higher to a modillion cornice and shell cresting.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a well designed and elegantly proportioned urban chapel embedded in the urban fabric of the town, built during the early period of its rapid development, and making good decorative use of local materials; of historical significance in the contemporary rise of Corris as a small quarrying town. A chapel with a good interior.

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.

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Other nearby listed buildings

II Idris House
The building stands in a conspicuous position in the main street of the village, adjoining Capel Salem on the right.
II The Slater's Arms
The inn is on the corner of Bridge Street and the road running up from the bridge over the Afon Dulas crossing Bridge Street and continuing to the NW.
II Pant-y-celyn
The building forms a short row with No 1, at right angles to Minffordd Street, at the centre of Corris, and facing E across a small garden to a roadway running down to the river.
II Railway Overbridge
The overbridge carried the former Corris Railway over the Nant Deri, in the centre of Corris village.
II Pant-y-celyn
Nos 1 and 2 Pant-y-celyn are two cottages in a row off Minffordd Street, behind the properties fronting Bridge Street in the centre of the village.
II Corris Institute
The Institute is built at the lowest point of the main street, on the W side of the road and near the S bank of the Afon Deri, at the centre of the village,
II Tan-y-bryn
The house is built across the slope, end on to the street, facing NW towards Nos 1 and 2 Pant-y-celyn.
II Yr Efail
The house is built gable on to the road rising up from the crossing of the Afon Dulas to the centre of Corris.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Capel Salem including front wall and railings

A Grade II Listed Building in Corris, Gwynedd

Coordinates