Outbuilding approx 150m W of 39 North Street, former chapel for Rochford Union Workhouse (EHER 26426)

This rectangular, single-storey building of brown brick with a gabled slate roof, was originally the chapel for Rochford Union Workhouse (EHER 15383), and was constructed around 1865. It was listed at Grade II in 1988 and in the 1990s it was in use as offices.

Early/mid C19 building, possibly a former chapel. Possibly a former chapel. Early/mid C19. Gault brick, grey slate roof gabled to front. Double brackets to gable. Circular window to apex with circular and compass point glazing. Front wall breaks forward. 2 tall metal round headed windows with glazed margins, stone cills. Central doorway, painted stucco surround, frieze, dentilled flat canopy. The door boarded at time of resurvey, fanlight over. The returns each with 4 windows similar to front windows. Rear wall part plastered, circular window to apex. Central double doors. Rochford Hospital and 39 North Street. are not included. <1> Information from EHER 15012: Designed by William Thorold, the original workhouse was erected in 1837 following Sampson Kempthorne’s 'cruciform' model plan. An infirmary designed by Mr Stock, was added to the north-west in 1858 and the chapel in around 1865; of these only the latter survives. The chapel comprises a rectangular, single-storey building of brown brick with a gabled slate roof. A doorway at the south end, is flanked by round-headed windows and surmounted by an occulus; four large, round-headed sash windows light the east and west walls. Having been converted to offices few internal features are expected to survive. <2> CURRENT STATUS : The chapel is Grade II listed. RECOMMENDED ACTION : De-list the chapel. MANAGEMENT: The chapel is worthy of retention because of its spatial relationship with the buildings of the Hospital Extension Scheme. Important internal features should be preserved and recording needs to form an integral element of any future scheme of reuse. <2> Rochford Union Workhouse stood on what is now the site of the hospital. It was designed by William Thorold in the style of Sampson Kempthorne’s ‘square’ plans for workhouses and erected in 1837. A chapel and infirmary were added in the mid-nineteenth century. The chapel still exists but the workhouse and infirmary have been demolished <3>