St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath
Encyclopedia
St John the Baptist's Chapel, Matlock Bath, is a former private chapel in Johns Road, off the A6 road between Matlock Bath
and Matlock, Derbyshire
, England. The chapel, together with its retaining and attached walls, has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
.
; it was the only church designed by Dawber. Since being declared redundant it has been taken into the care of the charity
, the Friends of Friendless Churches, to whom the freehold was conveyed
on 15 March 2002. Since taking it over, the charity has arranged repairs, including rebuilding the gates and cleaning and repairing the chandeliers.
carboniferous limestone
with ashlar
gritstone
dressings. Its plan consists of a single cell. On its south side is a bell turret
with a lead-covered pyramidal roof. Also on the south side is an oriel window
with mullion
ed lights. The chapel is entered through a west doorway in a porch that is continued round the north side to form a covered walkway. The internal fittings are in Arts and Crafts
style. The decorated barrel-vault
ed plastered
ceiling was designed by George Bankart, the stained glass at the east end by Louis Davis
, and the painted altarpiece by John Cooke. Dawber designed the perpendicular style rood screen
, and probably the pulpit
, pews, choir stalls and light fittings.
Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath is a village south of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. Built along the River Derwent, it developed, in the 19th century, as a spa town and still thrives on tourism.-History:In 1698 warm springs were discovered and a Bath House was built...
and Matlock, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England. The chapel, together with its retaining and attached walls, has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
.
History
The chapel was built in 1897 for Mrs Louisa Sophia Harris, and was designed by Guy DawberGuy Dawber
Sir Edward Guy Dawber, RA, ARA was an English architect working in the late Arts and Crafts style whose work is particularly associated with the Cotswolds....
; it was the only church designed by Dawber. Since being declared redundant it has been taken into the care of the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, the Friends of Friendless Churches, to whom the freehold was conveyed
Conveyancing
In law, conveyancing is the transfer of legal title of property from one person to another, or the granting of an encumbrance such as a mortgage or a lien....
on 15 March 2002. Since taking it over, the charity has arranged repairs, including rebuilding the gates and cleaning and repairing the chandeliers.
Architecture
The chapel is constructed in rubbleRubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
gritstone
Gritstone
Gritstone or Grit is a hard, coarse-grained, siliceous sandstone. This term is especially applied to such sandstones that are quarried for building material. British gritstone was used for millstones to mill flour, to grind wood into pulp for paper and for grindstones to sharpen blades. "Grit" is...
dressings. Its plan consists of a single cell. On its south side is a bell turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
with a lead-covered pyramidal roof. Also on the south side is an oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
with mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed lights. The chapel is entered through a west doorway in a porch that is continued round the north side to form a covered walkway. The internal fittings are in Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style. The decorated barrel-vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
ed plastered
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
ceiling was designed by George Bankart, the stained glass at the east end by Louis Davis
Louis Davis
Louis Davis was an English watercolourist, book illustrator and stained-glass artist. He was active in the Arts and Crafts Movement and Nikolaus Pevsner referred to him as the last of the Pre-Raphaelites....
, and the painted altarpiece by John Cooke. Dawber designed the perpendicular style rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
, and probably the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, pews, choir stalls and light fittings.