The chapel and associated presbytery were built in 1793, replacing a cottage and barn that had been used by Benedictine priests.[3] It was built soon after the Catholic Relief Acts of 1778 and 1791 that allowed Roman Catholics to worship openly.[2] Despite this, only the presbytery was visible from the road, with the chapel concealed behind it.[2] The chapel was made redundant in 1975 and is owned by the Historic Chapels Trust.[3] The presbytery was restored in 2004 and is used as a residence for retired priests. The chapel is undergoing restoration in a way to present it as it would have been before the Second Vatican Council.[2]
Architecture
The presbytery faces the road and the chapel stretches at right angles from its rear. Both buildings are constructed in brick with stone dressings; the presbytery has a slate roof and the chapel has stone slate roof. The chapel is in two bays with round-headed sash windows. On its west gable is a bellcote surmounted by a cross. The entrance is at the west end of the north side and consists of paired doors over which is a blind tympanum.[1] Internally, some of the fittings have been removed, and those remaining are considered to be important.[2] At the west end is a gallery with a stick balustrade, and a dog-leg staircase on its north side. Around the chapel is a panelleddado and a cornice. The east wall is decorated with paired, flutedCorinthianpilasters carrying an entablature with urns, a frieze with anthemions, and an open pediment. Curtains hang from the pediment, which are open to display a descending dove, a Gloria and cherubs' heads with wings.[1] The altar is marbled and dates probably from the 1830s.[2]
The presbytery appears from the road to be a "standard two-bay house".[3] It has two storeys. Over all the windows are wedge lintels. The two windows in the ground floor of the entrance front are sashes with glazing bars; the two windows above them are casements. Between the windows on the ground floor is a doorway containing a six-panel door with flat pilasters and an open pediment, over which is a fanlight. Between the windows on the upper floor is a blind window. On the right (north) side are two windows, one on each floor, and a round-headed stair window at an intermediate level. On each side of the presbytery is a gable surmounted by a chimney stack.[1]
