18th century congregational chapel, The Old Chapel, Mill lane (EHER 46835)

The old Congregational Chapel was constructed in 1793 as a large utilitarian building, built of lath and plaster on a timber frame. It was partly rebuilt in about 1865 with a smart neo-Georgian frontage.

2009. Building survey. The old Congregational Chapel was constructed in 1793 as a large utilitarian building, built of lath and plaster on a timber frame. It was partly rebuilt in about 1865 with a smart neo-Georgian frontage and vestry (both of brick), replacement roof and an inserted internal gallery. Despite its conversion to a light electrical industrial use, following decommissioning in 1971, the gallery survived. Although many features have been lost over time, the chapel is significant for its relatively grand size (for a congregation of about 500), the survival of its Victorian gallery and the (undecorated) panelling around the two sets of stairs as well. Externally, the brick frontage survives in good condition, together with some elements of its wall and iron railings along the lane edge. It is unusual to have such a large chapel in a village location, which illustrates the popularity and growth of the nonconformist movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries in north-west Essex. <1> NRHE data transfer: Former Congregational chapel, probably an early 19th century rebuilding of a meeting house built in the early 18th century. It has rendered walls , a slate roof, and was enlarged to the front and refitted in about 1864. Since 2001 it has been closed and is now used as a workshop. It was replaced by a new chapel on the opposite side of Mill Lane. <2>