United Reformed Church, Castle Hedingham (EHER 25295)

The Congregational Chapel at Castle Hedingham was rebuilt in 1842, replacing an earlier building of 1708. The front and side walls are built from white gault bricks while the back walls are of red brick. It became a United Reformed Church in 1972.

Mid C19 chapel. The building was erected and completed in 1842 and there is a painted banner on the front of the building that proclaims: REBUILT AD 1842. However there is no evidence in the fabric of the building that a previous phase was retained. The walls are made from standard sized Victorian 65x110x225mm bricks. The front and side walls are built from white gault bricks while the back wall (facing north and the graveyard) is built from identically sized red bricks. This was partly to save money and partly to orient the hierarchy of the architecture. The front facade (SE elevation) has been widened to aggrandise the building and to provide stairwells on both sides. This also serves to give a cruciform plan much favoured in churches. The stairwells have bricked up windows on the ground floor and this may have been a later addition. The building was glazed on all sides with tall Roman arch headed and flat gauged arch headed windows with margin glazing – a feature much favoured by Victorian architects. However none of the frames or glass are original and likely dates from the mid 20th century when it is evident there was a large scale renovation. The two storey white and red brick building remains near complete and its appearance is unchanged externally from 1850 when a lithograph was made of it. Internally, it retains most of the original pews, the pulpit, fire safe, timber and brick floors. In 1901 a Harrison and Harrison organ was installed and upgraded in the 1930s with a Watkins and Watson Ltd DISCUS electric blower. The building has a timber-framed side chapel which is a late 19th century replacement (possibly 1853) for a smaller building and was probably originally a vestry and then a Sunday School. This building was heavily renovated in the 1930s with fresh lath and plaster and Crittall windows. In the late 20th century the extension containing the kitchen and store was added. The mezzanine floor was inserted in the late 20th century. <1> See also <2>. NRHE data transfer: Congregational Chapel. Around 1842, possibly by James Fenton, replacing an earlier building of 1708. Classical building of gault brick with stone dressings and grey slate roof. Two storeys, seven bays. The central five bays break forward with pediment, projecting eaves with moulded cornice, pilasters to right and left, and 3 forward centre bays. Central stone band. 1:1:3:1:1 window range to first floor, 1:3:1 window range to ground floor, small paned with glazed margins and gauged brick arches. First floor with semi-circular moulded stone heads and moulded stone labels to right and left windows. <2>