Knowle Top Chapel and attached School

Location/Address

Stannington Road Stannington Sheffield S6 6AN

Type

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Description

"Knowle Top Methodist Chapel (Wesleyan) Rebuilt 1877-9 H W Lockwood Cruciform; round-arched openings. Gabled front has polygonal organ chamber between porches and octagonal stair-tower to right. Single-storey school 1866 attached to rear." From 'The Buildings of England, Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South, Ruth Harman and Nikolaus Pevsner, Yale University Press 2017' ---------------------------------- Of simple stone construction on a cruciform plan, with a steep pitched roof, Knowle Top is of Neo-Romanesque style. Half round windows are used throughout the chapel, with contrasting circular 'Star of David' windows, a rare detail. The Southern facade, including the two entrances, follows an unusual integrated geometrical design . The two entrance doors and their porches enclose a small five sided tower to form symmetrical sets of related triangles which visually support the two circular windows. The shapes echo the roofline above. The design is picked up at the top of the facade with the 'Wesleyan' detail and small window decorations. The bell tower to the side of the facade offers a contrasting element to the otherwise symmetrical facade, whilst containing many of the aforementioned motifs. The Star of David windows are then repeated on the West and East transepts alongside the main windows. Inside the chapel the outstanding feature is the well maintained sloping auditorium with original pine pews. The 2005 renovation work includes sympathetic replacement windows that follow the original glazing pattern.

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Statement of Significance

Asset type

Significant Methodist Church Building no longer used as a place of worship. The Methodist Trustees are now selling it on the open market. As Stannington is a sought after residential area, it is likely that developers will buy it. Once bought and potentially demolished or at least significantly re-developed, it would be lost as a community resource and landmark architectural feature.

Age

The existing chapel building dates from 1879 and the school from 1866.

Rarity

Two features of the building are unique in a Methodist Chapel in the UK. The tiered seating in the main body of the chapel (not a balcony) and four Star of David windows, two at the South end of the Chapel and one in each transept.

Group Value

H W Lockwood's practice was responsible for several buildings in Sheffield, including Carmel House, the former YMCA in Fargate and the former Holly St Pupil-Teacher Centre. Both of these are listed. He also designed the Ruskin House Training Home for Girls and other church and school buildings in the City. There are not many surviving examples of his work in the City

Historic Interest

In 1822 a piece of land at Knowle Top Stannington, measuring one rood and twelve perches and a half, was purchased by a group of local men living within the Parish of Bradfield. The land was sold by William Alsop, an anvil maker of Little Sheffield. The Deed of Sale states that the land was purchased for the purpose of "erecting thereon a House or Chapel for public religious worship". The original Chapel was built in 1822 and registered for public worship. By 1852 the roof of the Chapel was found to be in a dangerous condition. It was later demolished and the existing building dates from 1879. In 2002 extensive repairs were urgently needed. A huge fund raising effort from the Congregation and local community, plus grants from local Charitable Trusts, the local Methodist Circuit and Methodist Church, raised £200,000. The refurbished Chapel was re-opened in October 2004. The School Hall dates from 1866. At some date previously the Carver Street Quarterly Meeting agreed that a school could be erected on Chapel land at a cost of £155. Until 1871 it was used only as a 'Sunday School', following the Forster Education Act of 1870 it became Stannington Mixed School in January 1871. As well as a place of worship the buildings are a well-loved landmark and are used widely by many local organisations. This has always been the case. In 1944 the School Hall was used as a Child Welfare Centre. The above history courtesy of Rita Whiteley "Life and Times at Knowle Top Chapel" September 2001 with additional update 2001-2005

Landmark Status

It is a striking building in a prominent position in Stannington village. It is an important community asset used by various organisations and holding a special place in the memory of many residents.