Building record MDO28119 - Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Poole

Former Methodist Chapel built 1793 and extended to north and south in 1843. Brick walls tile and slate covered roofs. It ceased to be used for worship in 1878. The south front was altered in 1956.

The former Methodist chapel was built in 1793 at the expense of Robert Carr Brackenbury, a Methodist preacher. It is constructed of brick with a hipped tile roof, pointed arch windows at the side elevations and the remains of a gallery inside. In 1843 it was extended by one bay to the front (south) which created a pedimented gable containing a dated tablet. There is a further two storey gable and extension to the north-west elevation which was also added in 1843. The fenestration, pilasters and small pediment to this south elevation were added in 1956. The roofs to these extensions are now covered in slates. The chapel became redundant in 1878 when the new church was built to the east. The former chapel was then used as the Sunday school and more recently the church hall.

The chapel is depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1890 and is marked as an Infant School. It is marked as a Sunday school on the second (1902), third (1925) and fourth (1933) edition OS maps. It has an L-shaped footprint which includes the extensions of 1843.

The chapel has some claims to historic interest due to its association with Robert Car Brackenbury (1752-1818), a preacher and close friend of John Wesley. The chapel may be the earliest Methodist chapel in Dorset, although it has not been possible to substantiate this claim. <1>

<1> English Heritage, English Heritage Schedule Entry, 507443/001 (Scheduling record). SDO17387.

Adviser's report on case no. 168886, found in file 507443/001

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 202 (Monograph). SDO149.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1486579 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 29 2024 3:35PM