22134

 

II  

Designated  

30/07/1999  

30/07/1999  

Carmel Independent Chapel  

 

Blaenau Gwent  

Beaufort  

 

Carmeltown  

316221  

211561  

W  

Prominently located on the W side of Church Crescent, within a small graveyard.  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

Built 1865. The architect was Rev. Thomas Thomas of Swansea, who designed several chapels for the Independents, many characterised by a bold Classical facade with a giant arch breaking into the pediment.  

Classical facade of rock-faced sandstone with grey ashlar limestone quoins also applied around openings. Slate roof. Pedimental gable broken by central giant arch; ashlar quoins. Within arch is round-arched entry, which has C20 doors. Tripartite ashlar window above with segmental head; round arched lights, very narrow to sides. Above is a large tablet inscribed ‘Carmel Independent Chapel 1865’. Outer bays each have a tall round-arched window with simple timber glazing. Ashlar sill-band. West side (facing road) is rendered with five tall round-arched windows set within round-arched recesses: glazing similar to front. Single storey rear vestry.  

Four-sided gallery with long panels set between pilasters: applied grained finish, typical of the 1860s. Gallery stepped down behind pulpit for organ. Gallery has thin iron posts with applied marbled finish. Box pews, some dismantled to rear of ground floor. Serpentine-fronted pulpit of mahogany, with turned balusters in outer bays, and sweeping side stairs. Flat painted ceiling, boarded and ribbed to centre with large central rose. Large pipe organ in gallery behind pulpit. Chapel is currently only partially used.  

Listed as an impressively designed Independent Chapel, designed by a leading later C19 chapel architect in Wales.