Listed Building: BAPTIST CHAPEL AND ATTACHED SCHOOLROOM, BANK BUILDINGS (467609)

WEYMOUTH SY6878NW ESPLANADE 873-1/24/109 (South side) 12/12/53 Baptist Chapel and attached Schoolroom, Bank Buildings (Formerly Listed as: ESPLANADE Baptist Chapel; School Room at rear of Baptist Chapel, Bank Buildings) GV II Baptist chapel and schoolroom. Built 1813-14 by George Welsford, builder; enlarged, with galleries 1828, refronted 1859 and schoolroom added, re-pewed 1864 (Stell). Rendered, slate roofs. EXTERIOR: plain 2-storey block with grand main front to the N, and with return to South Parade, where the schoolroom projects forward, and at an angle. The front has a central pedimented section with giant Doric half-columns in antis, flanked by single outer bays with square Doric pilasters. The central arched doorway with moulded architrave on imposts over a pair of 2-panel doors with double radial fanlight, on 5 stone steps. To each side are arched casements at 2 levels in moulded architraves with keystone, ears and flared feet. The upper windows have aprons with a sunk panel between the pilasters, and the ground-floor sills are formed by the cornice mould of the pedestal storey, which returns for the depth of the front wall only. The full Greek Doric entablature, with blocking course, also returns at the ends. Above the central door is a raised panel with 'BAPTIST CHAPEL' inscribed. The right flank has 3 arched windows at each level; at first floor with moulded architraves, vermiculated keystone, ears and flared feet on a continuous sill band, inflected to the sills on 2 brackets; the heads are filled with plaster fanlights. The ground-floor windows are similar, but without keystone and sill band, and with glazed fanlights. The casements have margin-panes, and leaded lights. To the left is a small door, on stone steps, in a moulded architrave, and with radial fanlight. The hipped roof is steeper than the pediment slope. The front is linked to the side eaves by a parapet quadrant. The schoolroom has a pair of panelled doors facing N, an the return front is in 2 storeys with 3 windows, all margin-pane sashes in 16-panes, to a sill band at first floor. A moulded cornice and blocking course, returned at the S end, which is in brickwork. INTERIOR: a gallery on 3 sides, carried on cast-iron columns. The original frontage was apparently in the form of 2 matching houses, a 'Council requirement' (Ricketts), replaced eventually by the present Doric facade. The Schoolroom was listed on 14.6.1974. (RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 335; Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting Houses: Stell C: South-West England: London: 1991-: 132; Ricketts E: The Buildings of Old Weymouth: Melcombe Regis and Westham: Weymouth: 1976-: 127). Listing NGR: SY6814478790

Record last edited

Dec 3 2009 12:05PM