Broad Moor Common Chapel Woolhope Herefordshire

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South East of Hereford
By Stephen Horsfield

This one room chapel is in the wood just off Broad Moor Common at OS 603360 about 3 miles from the site of the chapel at Hampton Bishop. It must have been in use quite recently because there appears to be an electric organ in the chapel. It is on sale right now through the offices of Watkins & Thomas, Hereford Estate Agents so there is a strong chance that the chapel will not be standing much longer. There is an excellent set of photos on the Watkins & Thomas web site. Local folklore holds that the farmer who built it also built the cottage next door. The structure is what I describe as brick on edge an extraordinarily flimsy structure though the chapel looks rather more robust than the cottage which appears to be supported by fresh air.

On the East side above the stream which drains the common there is a stone foundation, which might be evidence of an earlier building on the site. If my local experience is anything to go by the other walls may have no foundations at all.

This page was added by Stephen Horsfield on 04/03/2013.

Comments about this page

The particulars of sale make reference to the Baptist Union Corporation, but the cement placque above the door clearly says Primitive Methodist. I can't decipher the date without climbing up.

By Stephen Horsfield
On 05/03/2013

This form of brick bond, rarely found, was in use in the early to mid nineteenth century. It was generally employed to save money since, when they were laid on their sides, approximately 25% fewer bricks were needed to construct a building. Although essentially based on a solid wall construction, the alternating headers created a cavity between each pair of stretchers, which improved the thermal efficiency of the wall as well as giving the bond its familiar name of “rat trap”. Rat trap bond is said to have the same strength as a solid 9 inch wall constructed in either Flemish or English bond.

By David Noble
On 06/03/2013

The date in the cement looks like 1857.

By Stephen Horsfield
On 29/04/2013

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