Building record 638/5/1 - United Reform Chapel, Sheaf Street

Congregational chapel built in Sheaf Street in 1722, altered in 1959. Cement rendering, hipped tiled roof. 2 storeys, 6 leaded casement windows. Pair of 19th century doorways under cornices on consoles.

{1} Chapel. 1722, altered C19. Cement rendering. Steeply pitched old renewed tile roof. Double-depth plan. 2 storeys. 6-window range. 2 central entrances have 4-panelled door and overlights. Cornices on consoles. 3 renewed wood mullioned and transomed windows. Lead cames. First floor has six renewed 2-light fixed light windows with lead cames. Limestone plinth. Moulded wood eaves console. Rainwater goods dated 1722. Interior reported as being said to have C19 fittings. Interior not inspected.

{3} 1722, altered C19. Cement rendering, hipped tiled roof. 2 storeys, 6 leaded casement windows. Pair of C19 doorways under cornices on consoles. Interior said to have C19 fittings.

{4} Original building erected in Bake Lane and was used until 1722. New building erected in Sheaf Street - a substantial stone building 42 foot long and 40 foot wide with three galleries. The chapel was located to the rear of the Dissenting Academy and the Minsters House which was purchased in 1728. The building is still in existence today and appears to be used by the United Reformed Church. Film 4 photo 23-25; Film 8 photo1.
Sunday School rooms known as 'The Tunnel' erected in 1840 and replaced by another building in 1870. More class rooms were added in 1895

{5} The formerly Presbyterian Congregation which originated in the late 17th century bought a house on the NE side of Sheaf Street in 1722 and built the present meeting house behind it which was placed in trust in July 1723. The chapel has rubble walls and a hipped tiled roof originally with a central valley but altered since 1959, resulting in a raised ridge at the front. The south-west front wall, of six bays with two tiers of windows with renewed frames, was rendered in the late 19th century and two doorways previously in the penultimate bays were re-sited in the adjacent centre bays. The rear wall, mostly covered by later buildings, had two windows flanking the pulpit, now blocked but with the timber lintels still in position, and upper windows at the ends of the galleries. The side walls are each of three bays with two tiers of windows.
The interior has two timber posts, supporting a valley-beam parallel to the front, of circular section with octagonal bases and small moulded capitals. The gallery around three sides was largely reconstructed in the late 19th century when a major refitting took place; a seating plan of 1775 indicates a single gallery at the south-west end, side galleries being added c 1820.
Fittings include early 18th century clock, altered 18th century pulpit and rainwater head dated 1722 with monogram of GR.

{6} Photo possibly 1947;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/81 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), D06B (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, Ongoing, National Heritage List for England, (checked) (Website). SNN107872.

<4> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<5> The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1986, Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-Houses: Northamptonshire & Oxfordshire, p.138 (Report). SNN2902.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Daventry (Photographs). SNN112541.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2022 12:04PM