Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
18627
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
30/07/1997
Date of Amendment
30/07/1997
Name of Property
Bethania Capel y Bedyddwyr (Welsh Baptist Chapel)
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Bridgend
Community
Garw Valley
Town
Locality
Blaengarw
Easting
290274
Northing
193040
Street Side
S
Location
Situated near the centre of Blaengarw, the head of the Garw Valley, on rising ground just E of The Strand.
Description
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
History
Founded 1890 rebuilt 1912 by W Beddoe Rees. No longer in use as a chapel. Very similar to Mount Calvary Manselton Swansea by same architect.
Exterior
In late Gothic style. Two storeys high at front and 3 at back. Built of coursed rock-faced sandstone with generous ashlar dressings, rendered to side and rear with some yellow brick dressings; a Welsh slate roof, terracotta ridge tiles and ridge ventilator. The two storey gable end facade comprises a central bay flanked by two slightly recessed 5 sided two storey bays with hipped roofs which abut the main chapel at eaves level. Central bay has attached polygonal embattled turrets to apex height on each corner enriched by moulded string courses. It is dominated by a large and wide first storey Perpendicular style window of 5 lights with cusped tracery. Above is an inscription band and plaque with narrow light in apex. Ground floor has main entrance doorway with multiple mouldings to pointed arch running out into plain jambs; the arch is flanked by a shallow canopywork panel of 3 blind arcades and one light on each side; arched double boarded door with decorative hinges. Below the sill band are dedication stones with a smaller row above plinth. Each side bay has similar though narrower arched entrance, with steps up to right, but the doors are square headed with enriched tympanums. Above are 3 light square headed staircase windows with decorative heads under overhanging eaves, with similar on the other frontages, similarly glazed to central bay. The turrets abut the pavement but the 3 shallow gaps formed by each bay are separated from it by iron railings and gates. Side elevation of 5 bays has quarry glazing similar to front windows; some are broken or blocked.
Interior
Chapel is closed and due for conversion to community centre. Interior fitting partly survives though in neglected and in some cases damaged or unsafe condition. Curved ceiling with 4 roses, moulded ribs, corbels and cornice; gallery supported on 7 cast iron columns, high rear gallery, fronts removed; curved pews, set fawr and pulpit removed; moulded reredos arch to recess, organ dismantled. Basement hall has an unusual aisled layout with supporting cast iron columns.
Reason for designation
Listed especially for its fine frontage; the chapel which it much resembles in Swansea is also listed.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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