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
7380
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
24/10/1951
Date of Amendment
01/02/1988
Name of Property
St John's Chapel
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Powys
Community
Hay
Town
Locality
Easting
323012
Northing
242406
Street Side
Location
On an island site with St John's Place to right; set in the slope.
Description
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
History
Medieval guild chapel said to have been founded in 1254; used by the guild of the Tradesmen of Hay and dedicated to St John the Baptist; also served as chapel to the castle, as the Parish Church was outside the town walls. Dissolved by Edward VI in 1547 and transfered to Vaughan family in 1567; it was a ruin when John Wesley preached here in 1774. A lock-up was built out of it in 1811 and used until the building of the Police Station in 1875; subsequently it was used as a Fire Station and various shops as well as a house. In 1930 the site was bought by Mary Louisa Dawson and presented to the Parish after major restoration. The structure is largely of that date.
Exterior
U-plan with chapel to left and schoolroom/reading room to right. 2-storey rubble elevations with plinth, slate roof and brick chimney stack. Gable parapet and broad kneelers to schoolroom repeated on right side and rear elevations. Timber frame leaded windows, 1 cross frame to right side; voussoir lintels and Tudor labels. Pointed entrances, with voussoirs and keystones, to schoolroom and chapel boarded and studded doors. L-plan single storey extension to left with small forecourt. Pointed arch bellcote to left over chapel aligned N-S; crucifix to N end. Bell inscribed "Edward Wellington CW 1718" - by Henry Williams. Rounded SE corner and outside steps to rear.
Interior
Interior of the chapel has a reredos of Jacobean richly carved oak from Chipford and formerly of domestic use. The oak alter is from Whitney. To right is a portrait sculpture (style of Donatello) signed B Wilson, Florence 1898. One grilled opening retained in schoolroom.
Reason for designation
Group value with other listed items in Lion Street and St John's Place.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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