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Hermon Chapel

Hermon Chapel

Hermon Chapel was built in 1862 as a Welsh Congregational Chapel to the designs of Reverend Thomas Thomas, a prolific architect of Welsh Chapels and is Listed Grade II* in recognition if its architectural and historic importantce.

The front elevation is in a classical stuccoed Italianate style with a pediment, entablature and giant pilasters with Tuscan capitals.   There is a central arched doorway with moulded extrados, keyblock and panelled double doors. Above the doorway is a tripartite Venetian window with moulded architraves small keyblocks and a bracketed cill; in the outer bays on either side are tall round headed windows in a similar style.

The chapel has an outstanding complete historic interior, having a gallery on three sides set on thin cast iron columns. There is an intricately panelled ceiling to the auditorium with a central light rose, box pews, a panelled font and a rostrum which conceals the organ built in 1909 by Blackett and Howden.

By 2004 the building was in a bad state of repair and was on the English Heritage list of buildings 'At Risk'. The structure was showing signs of structural movement and associated cracking affecting both the schoolroom and the main chapel and the fabric was suffering from an outbreak of dry rot.  

Grant Aided Repairs

The Hermon Chapel Preservation Trust was formed in 2004 to set in motion an action plan to save the building and explore potential new uses. With the aid of funding provided by the THI and additional grant assistance from English Heritage a comprehensive scheme of restoration has been implemented and on completion the building will be purchased by the Family Harvest Church.

The works sought to secure the external envelope, introduce basic service provision, and undertook interior structural works. Phase 1 involved major structural repairs designed to halt the decline of the Grade II* listed building at risk,and was completed in December 2004.  This involved stripping and relaying of the chapel roof and roof structure repairs, localised brick repointing and repairs and replacement of gutters.  

Phase II, comprised further repairs and reinstatement works to historic fabric and architectural features, comprised stripping and relaying of the schoolroom roof, repairs to masonry and render of the schoolroom, render repairs and redecoration to front of chapel, window and door repairs, repair of dry rot damaged areas around stairs and underside of balcony.

During the course of work a pair of boots, thought to date from the 1880s, was discovered hidden away within the roofspace.  The age old custom of caching of boots in buildings was practiced to ward off witches.  The boots were ultimately returned to their original hiding place.