Beulah Welsh Baptist Chapel

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed notwithstanding recent loss of historic features for its interest as a chapel from the beginning of the C19. History: Built c 1809 on land leased from Henry Symonds, a local farmer, previous meetings having been held at farmhouse. Seats bought for 15 shillings (75 pence). Datestone lists 3 other dates identifying further periods of refurbishment and repair: 1818,1828,1884. William Daniels ironmaster of Abercarn recorded as providing money for repair c 1820. Welsh speaking congregation, mother church to Tabernacle Baptist Church built 1859 which catered for English speakers. Interior fittings date from latest refurbishment. Church extended to create Sunday School probably early C20. When listed in 1963 chapel had a wholly Welsh slate roof, casement windows and arched fanlights to doorways, all since replaced. The cemetery has many fine lettered headstones from early - mid C19 and the Ordnance Survey First Edition Map of 1886 shows it already as extensive. Exterior: Chapel in simple classical style. Rendered, with Welsh slate and artificial slate roof. Main frontage facing cemetery has at gallery level a range of 4 round-headed windows with a continuous hoodmould band incorporating shallow keystone and imposts, rusticated end pilasters; in the centre a datestone now illegible; above is a scalloped lead flashing course below the plain parapet which has shallow coping and rises in the centre to form a pediment-gable with cruciform finial. Ground floor has 3 similar windows and at each end a taller doorway with similar hoodmould band, vermiculated over the doorways. The rear of the chapel facing the lane has scored render and 2 altered round-headed windows. Attached to far side is a two-storey gabled Sunday School wing of stone, brick and rende

From Cadw under OGL v3.