Herefordshire Through Time
Herefordshire Through Time
Historic Environment Record reference no. 36922, Ordnance Survey grid reference: SO 4708 5302
The chapel is located approximately four miles south-west of Leominster, in the hamlet of Upper Hill on the western edge of a ridge that leads to Dinmore Hill. This is one of the smallest chapels in the Leominster area, being approximately 20ft x 16ft, and is constructed in red brick with a slate roof.
The building has no porch and there is a large window on either side of the door. The windows and the corners of the building are edged with polychrome (multi-coloured) bricks. Above the door is the inscription "Primitive Methodist Church 1894". Although this is one of the later built chapels, Upper Hill featured in the Methodist Circuit Plan for this area for many years before.
The ground for the chapel was purchased from William Harris, and it was built by Mr. Watkins who received £97 12s 3d for the work. An "Opening Tea" was arranged which cost £3 5s 3d, but a collection was taken to offset this cost.
In 1838 there were 29 members but just over one hundred years later this number had dropped to 18. In 1856 the weeknight service was stopped, leaving just the Sunday service. By 1899 the chapel had a Sunday School, and in 1901 new supplies were bought. In 1948 Upper Hill Chapel had been taken off the plans for the 6pm circuit but it was back on again by the following year.
Between 1923 and 1933 all day Camp Meetings were held at Upper Hill, probably because of the inspiring views which it looked out upon. These meetings probably helped to raise funds for the chapel, as did a number of concerts that were held there.
In 1961 electricity was connected to the chapel at a cost of £10.
The chapel finally closed sometime after 1976 when the last accounts entries were made, and on 27th July 1984 the chapel was sold for £1,000.
In 1997 the chapel at Upper Hill was placed on the market with Bill Jackson Estate Agents for between £3,000-£5,000. At this time it was in need of some repair work and there was plastic sheeting instead of glass in the windows. Since it has been sold it has been renovated in keeping with the original style and the glass has been replaced.
(Information taken from Fred Bluck, Methodism in the Marches)
HER reference no. 30782, OS grid ref: SO 6622 4848
Situated in the centre of the village of Bishops Frome in the east of the county. The chapel is not shown on 1st Edition OS map of 1886, on which the area is shown as an orchard.
At the front of the chapel is a good-sized porch and a window with polychrome arched headings on each side. Above the porch is a small circular window and above this a date stone. Running along the top of the porch and across the tops of the windows is a band of yellow stone. The chapel has a steeply pitched slate roof. It is now in private ownership and has been converted into a house.
HER no. 30775, OS grid ref: SO 6764 4663
This chapel sits on the crest of Fromes Hill. It is shown on the 1st Edition OS map of 1886 as a chapel. The plots on either side are shown as allotments.
The chapel is a basic rectangle of red brick construction with a small date stone above the door. The chapel is now in private ownership and has undergone work to convert it into a private dwelling. This work includes the addition of a porch in front of the original doors.
HER no. 35775, OS grid ref: SO 5451 5061
A chapel on Bodenham Moor that is marked on the 1885 1st Edition OS map as Wesleyan Methodist. The chapel is small in size and is entered through a porchway on the one side. Either side of the porch is a narrow arched window with blue and yellow stone dressings. A grave found next to the chapel has a date of 1834. There is a small extension on one end of the chapel.
HER no. 26801, OS grid ref: SO 6737 4418
A Methodist Chapel just to the north-west of Bosbury, in an area known as Stanley Hill. The chapel was marked as a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on the 1st Edition OS map of 1886 but is no longer marked on modern OS maps.
The chapel is now in a severe state of disrepair and only half the roof remains. From the structure that is left it is possible to distinguish blue and yellow decorative bricks. Above the double entrance doors a neatly carved arch gives the date of 1863.
HER no. 36915, OS grid ref: SO 2656 5103
Brilley Chapel is only 150 yards from the road that forms the Welsh border on Brilley Mountain. It is an unusual chapel as it is situated over 800 feet above sea level.
The chapel was built in 1878 as a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and is still standing today as a small, green, corrugated iron structure with small windows. Some people refer to it as the "Iron Chapel".
By 1882 there was a weekly Sunday service at 2.30pm and a Wednesday evening service once a month. In 1931 the Circuit Plan for this area showed that the chapel still had Sunday services (although now held in the evening) and a Wednesday service every two weeks.
By January 1967, services were no longer held in the chapel and it was agreed that the building would be sold.
(Information taken from Fred Bluck, Methodism in the Marches)
HER no. 35763, OS grid ref: SO 2686 4880
Close to the centre of the village of Brilley is a Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, a stone white-washed building with a hipped roof of slate. The building is situated end on to a narrow lane and the entrance to the chapel is on the side. High up on the one wall is the word "Tabernacle" and a date which reads 1828.
On the west front are a pair of doorways, one of which has been blocked up.
The entrance is now via a round-headed doorway that has been painted in rainbow colours and reads, "The Sign of the Son of Man, His Coming Draweth Nigh".
Outside the chapel is a small graveyard.
(Information taken from Fred Bluck, Methodism in the Marches)
HER no. 35582, OS grid ref: 5203 6795
A chapel that was enlarged in 1845 but has two bays to the rear, which may be slightly earlier. The window heads and front gable were rebuilt.
The date stone above the door of this chapel reads "Primitive Methodist Chapel Enlarged Anno Domini (Year of our Lord) 1845".
The chapel is of red brick with a slate-roofed porch at the front. Either side of the porch is a round-headed window and there are windows along each side of the building.
(Source: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, Chapels and Meeting-houses in Central England)
HER no. 19578, OS grid ref: SO 6560 5450
A Quaker Meeting House situated to the rear of number 16 Broad Street, Bromyard. The Meeting House was of red brick on a rubble plinth and was built about 1722, although there was a date of 1726 carved into one of the windowsills. The roof was hipped and slated. The front faced west and had a central doorway with a hood supported by shaped brackets. The windows either side of the doorway were plain with wooden frames. The interior measured 28' 3" x 20' 3" and was undivided.
Documentary evidence indicates that there was an earlier Quaker Meeting House and burial ground in Bromyard, perhaps at 37 High Street or even on this site. In 1744 land was purchased to establish a small burial ground with the chapel. The Meeting House was used as a school from 1850-1870.
By 1900 Quaker meetings had ceased in Bromyard, but they experienced a revival in later years and continued to be held until 1937 when the Meeting House was closed. It was sold for a small sum in 1939 and demolished c.1976.
HER no. 19579, OS grid ref: SO 6536 5467
37 High Street, Bromyard is thought to be the site of the earlier Friends Meeting House in the town (see above). Documentary evidence puts it as being built on this site in 1677. It was still standing in 1707.
HER no. 19601, OS grid ref: SO 6529 5463
A Methodist Chapel at New Road, Bromyard. Dated to 1857.
HER no. 19600, OS grid ref: SO 6543 5442
A former Methodist Chapel at 4 & 6 Highwell Lane. Built 1835-6.
HER no. 16570, OS grid ref: SO 6566 5458
A Congregational Chapel on Sherford Street. It was built in 1701, apparently at the expense of Grimbald Pauncefort of Clator Park.
The chapel has walls of squared stone and a hipped slate roof. The entrance is in the middle of the west side and has a timber surround with a pair of Roman Doric columns supporting a full Doric entablature. A small window above the doorway has been blocked and the two windows either side of the door were altered in 1869. Further alterations were made to the internal fittings in 1892. The interior measures 34' 6" x 42' 6" and has a flat plaster ceiling with a coved border. There is a gallery with panelled front and moulded cornice.
There had formerly existed a Presbyterian congregation, originating in the late 17th century.
In 1910 a schoolroom was built, attached to the chapel, and the foundation stone was laid by Mr and Mrs Cadbury (of the chocolate-making family) from Birmingham.
The chapel was closed sometime before 1971 and an application was made to use the building for storage. The building is now abandoned and in a state of disrepair, but has a grade II listing.
HER no. 33819, OS grid ref: SO 3730 7400
A green corrugated iron chapel, which was built in 1884. The building was sold in 1920 and moved to Leinthall Starkes. In 1983 it was sold again to the Tynddol Youth Centre.
HER no. 35774, OS grid ref: SO 4563 4597
A chapel at Tillington Common, on the road between Rose Farm and Redhouse Farm. It is marked as a Methodist Chapel on the 1886 1st Edition OS map.
HER no. 36916, OS grid ref: SO 4863 4534
On the main road north from Hereford to Canon Pyon and within the small hamlet of Portway stands this red brick Gospel Hall, which was founded in 1904. The building is rectangular with windows along each side and at the front is a good-sized, slate-roofed porch with double doors and side buttresses.
HER no. 30613, grid ref: SO 4533 7495
At Bringewood Forge there is a chapel shown on the 1964 OS map.