17919

 

II  

Designated  

12/04/1996  

31/01/2001  

Hen Gapel, including walls and railings to forecourt  

 

Gwynedd  

Llanuwchllyn  

Bala  

Dolhendre  

286850  

331016  

 

To the N of minor road from A 494 (near Llanuwchllyn) to Dolhendre, about 600m from junction with A 494.  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

Built in 1871, replacing chapel of 1810, itself a rebuilding of chapel of 1746.  

Large chapel in eclectic Victorian Renaissance style. Gabled front in snecked grey stone with bathstone dressings; rubble sides and rear, slate roof. Classical treatment of gabled front as pedimented facade with Tuscan pilasters, keystoned 'glorification arch' breaks up into pediment; geometric finial with surmounting obelisk. The outer bays have tall keystoned arched windows with simple tracery; to centre, central bay divided by pilaster; 2 keystoned arched windows at upper level below which are 2 keystoned arched entrance doorways, camber-headed double-leaf doors with simple tracery in overlights. Above the entrances are inset sandstone dedication plaques giving name, Yr Hen Gapel and foundation dates, 1746, 1810 & 1871. The east (R) elevation has 4 tall arched windows. The rear has 2 tall arched windows flanked by 2 arched windows at lower level. The west (L) elevation (rendered) has windows on 2 levels. The chapel is set back from the lane behind a forecourt with low rubble walls having tooled sandstone copings and surmounting decorative railings; central iron gates with slender iron piers and surmounting finials.  

Almost unaltered interior has boarded and panelled ceiling. Gallery on 3 sides supported on iron columns; balcony front with fretted ironwork. Set fawr with arched reredos. Pitch pine box pews.  

Listed as elaborate and well-preserved Victorian rural chapel, with earlier adjoining manse of c1810 retaining good late Georgian character.