GATEACRE CHAPEL (continued)

1885: James L. Thornely tells how "in 1885 the Chapel roof having shown signs of giving way and other repairs appearing to be necessary, a scheme of renovation comprising various important improvements was carried out. The flat white-washed ceiling was removed and the roof, for about half-way up the gable, was laid bare, being lined with stained pine, and the cross beams and supports were handsomely carved and decorated, resting on carved stone brackets. The windows in the North wall were reduced, while those in the South wall were heightened. That (window) at the West end was enlarged and an additional (smaller) window placed on either side of it. The inner walls were replastered and some handsome buttresses were added to the West wall. A new belfry replaced the old, and over the entrance to the Chapel was placed a stone tastefully carved with the date 1700".

From this description we can deduce that the roof timbers were showing some signs of failure, hence the supports (vertical timbers) and their carved stone brackets, to the three main roof trusses; hence also the necessity to reduce the height of all the North windows by about a foot as one of those stone brackets had to be fitted terribly close to the arched head of the West window in the North wall - a compensating enlargement of South windows was now possible (see re-siting of Pulpit.) The old flat white ceiling was replaced with stained pine boarding following the pitch of the roof to a high level - a typically Victorian device.

1872: It was in this year that the Vestry was added to the East end (a partitioned space in the North East corner had served for some time.) Other alterations listed were the re-siting of the Pulpit in its present position - for over 20 years it had stood in the centre of the East end - and the siting of a larger Organ in the East end (formerly in the Gallery) and fitting of the Good Samaritan stained glass window, the gift of Henry Tate. This work represents Stage 2 of the Victorian 'modernisation'.

1863: Shortly after the arrival of Mr Beaumont, the floor was entirely renewed, the gallery strengthened with an iron plate, the whole Chapel (except gallery) re-pewed with open seats, a 63-light sun-light gas light fitted to the ceiling, and the hot water heating system installed. (Was it a result of the large gas light fitting, and the central heating, that speeded up the activity of death watch beetle in the roof timbers - resulting in signs of failure 20 years later ?). Stage 1 of 'modernisation'.

continued . . .