Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1787 to 1860.

The Bethel Chapel, Blue Town, was included in a summary survey on the Sheerness docklands in 1995.

Monument Types

• SITE (Post Medieval - 1787 AD to 1860 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
UNION STREET 1. 5282 (North Side) Blue Town, Sheerness A G Smith & Sons Depository TQ 9174 NW 3/119
II GV 2. Formerly a Bethel Chapel. Dated 1787 with the initials W S in the datestone. 2 storeys red brick. Parapet with stone coping. 3 windows to the 1st floor, the centre one being a modified Venetian window with glazing altered. Beneath the central window is the inscription "He shall establish his strength" Bethel Chapel and on sundial with the initials BST. The ground floor has 2 round-headed doorcases with keystone. Cambered windows in centre with keystone. Mansard roof now covered with corrugated iron sheeting, 5 cambered windows to side elevation.
Listing NGR: TQ9120274992 (1)

In 1995 a summary on the Sheerness docklands was carried out by RCHME. Bethel Chapel was a red-brick chapel built in 1787, it is altered inside but the gallery stil remains. In the mid 19th century a Sunday School was added to the north and a range to the south. It fronts onto Union Street, with segmental arched windows some of which had stained glass in predominately pink and green. A venetian window in the south elevation has a prominent keystone dated W.S. 1787. The sill of the window is incribed 'HE SHALL ESTABLISH IN HIS STRENGTH' and its apron 'BETHEL 1787 CHAPEL'. Whilst the style of the building is consistent with a late 18th century building date, the shapel does not appear on Dodd's plan of Blue Townof 1800. The Sunday Schhol was built in 1864 and is shown on the OS map of that year. Both the first floor of the chapel and Sunday school do not survive as they originally were. The chapel is now used as a factory for the production of cement garden ornaments. (2)

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England, 1995, Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town (Unpublished document). SWX6974.

Sources and further reading