Adroddiad Cadw am Sardis (Saesneg)

Sardis CADW Report

Summary Description of  Listed Buildings –  Sardis Independent Chapel and attached schoolroom.

Address Location Unitary Authority: Powys Community: Ystradgynlais Town: Swansea Locality: Ystradgynlais Easting: 278701 Northing: 210442 Street Side: N Location: Situated near the centre of Ystradgynlais on the N side of the Afon Tawe just NE of the junction of Commercial Street and Heol Giedd.

Description

Broad Class Religious, Ritual and Funerary Period History Independent chapel of 1860-1 designed by the Rev Thomas Thomas.

The first Sardis chapel was built in 1840-1 for £800.

The contractor for the new chapel was Thomas Morgans, Cwmgiedd, and cost £1600.

The square shape of the chapel is unusual in Thomas Thomas’ works and may reflect the shape of the earlier original chapel.

A schoolroom adjoining was added in 1926.

The exterior of the Chapel is whitewashed stucco with a hipped slate roof. A near-square plan with a facade on the shorter front. It has a three-bay front with big paired pilasters framing the outer bays, the pairs are divided by an incised slot and with single moulded caps and bases. Single pilasters on the matching one-bay left side-wall return. Cornices over outer bays and returned on the left side, broad frieze under the eaves but no top moulding. The narrow centre bay has the lower course of cornice but not frieze, instead a gable rises through the eaves with a plaque and keyed roundel. Eaved gable with corbel brackets. The side bays have high plinths with moulded cornices and rock-faced stone bases, broken forward under the pilasters.

Long arched outer windows with moulded short impost band, arches and keystones. Thin incised line defines the window jambs.

The centre has a ground floor arched doorway with panelled double doors, panelled pilasters inlaid in tile, moulded arch and triple key. Short impost band each side at level of pilaster bases.

The first floor Palladian window with pilasters, cornice, moulded arch and keystone. Brackets under sills, cornice level with imposts of outer windows. The centre window has 8 large panes, the side lights have 3 narrow panes. the four-bay sides with long 2-light arched windows, moulded arches, impost band and sill band.

The first bay of the left side has pilasters flanking, the right side is plain. The rear has 2 arched windows.

The detached schoolroom to the left, was connected by a short link towards the rear.

Door with window over and window each side, all arched. Three arched windows to the left side wall.

Interior has three-sided galleries with curved angles.

Painted grained front in fine contrasted tones with cornice under long horizontal panels with inset panels and arch-panelled pilasters dividing. Paired brackets under each pilaster.

Nine cast-iron columns.

Painted grained box pews with roll-mould to tops in 3 blocks, outer ones facing inward and raked. All with panel backs in contrasted browns. Galleries have similar painted grained raked pews.

The organ by Peter Conacher & Co of Huddersfield.

The ceiling with deep coved border and boarded centre, diagonally ribbed to big plaster rose of floral centre and 4 moulded rims.

Set fawr has balustraded rail with curved angles and newels with Jacobean-style finials. Rails join to the foot of curving baluster stairs each side of the pulpit, similar newels. Pulpit front is similarly balustraded, to complex curved form, short serpentine curve each side, newel, and broad curved front with solid centre panel and book rest. Some stencil decoration in the band below, and panelled base. Big plaster arch behind with panelled piers, console brackets and moulded arch with keystone. Gabled stucco hoodmould over. Long window on each side has mid C20 patterned coloured glass. Lobby has similar glass from after 1950, canted sides with double doors.

Vestry/schoolroom has boarded ceiling with plaster border and pierced timber corner vents. Partitioned stage one end and 2 small classrooms divided by entrance lobby the other with full height glazed screen over.

Reason for designation Included as a well-designed and well-preserved chapel by one of the leading Welsh chapel architects, and with notable painted-grained interior woodwork, and unusual curved pulpit.