GATEACRE CHAPEL (continued)

New History: About 3 months ago new galvanised wire screens were fitted to windows as security - for insurance purposes. Boundary wall to Gateacre Brow: In May 1977 the City Building Surveyor raised the question of the safety of the old wall of the graveyard; both sections were cracked by age and tree roots and the lower courses were perished. The whole was rebuilt on new foundations (the old wall had no 'foundation') 1979, & it is important to record that it was built to a new line. Sandfield Road corner was not moved, but the West end by the Bear car-park was brought forward 2ft 6in at the base. The Quantity Surveyor was Mr Lawless, the stonemason Mr Banner of little Crosby, and the quality of his work, especially pointing, a model to be emulated.

Nos 6 & 8 GATEACRE BROW (Listed). History: In the 1805 enclosures the frontage of this site was part of Plot No.64 allotted to Margaret Webster (of the Bear ?); by 1840 No.6 was owned by James Greenough, and No.8 belonged to the exors. of John Pennington. About 1875 both houses were bought by the Chapel Trustees, and in 1878 No.8 was enlarged for the Minister, Mr Beaumont. Among Chapel records is the drawing for the 2-storey timber bays to both houses, sadly undated, but making it clear that No.8 had already been enlarged. The date of the timber bays is therefore later than 1878, and the architect was Ronald P. Jones, M. A., F.R.I.B.A., Lincoln's Inn, London, author of Nonconformist Church Architecture, published in 1914.

Architectural Description: Adjoining stone houses, 2-storey & attic. No.6, double fronted; panelled centre door in round arched moulded doorcase; 12-pane sash on 1st floor; added rectangular stone bay to right; added 2-storey canted timber bay to left with wood mullioned & transomed windows with 'Ipswich' centre feature, architect R. P. Jones. No.8 has 3-light stone mullioned window below; 12-pane sash over; added canted 2-storey bay similar to No.6, by same architect; door now in left wing (? 1878 extension); datestone carved "I P S" "1807" on resited (?) lintel with keystone.

BROWSIDE - Built for Thomas Rodick (1789-1855) before 1814 we think, as his only child by his first wife was born, died and was buried in Gateacre Chapel Yard in that year, though Gore's Directory has him in Bevington Hill until 1816. Mr Rodick was a merchant born in Kendal, whose father Mathew, merchant and linen draper, went to live and work there from Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfriesshire, died in 1793 and was buried at Kendal Unitarian Chapel.

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