Site:  

Methodist Church, Chapel Street,

Astwood Bank

Grid Reference:    

SP 0378 6583

Description:

Methodist church. Dated 1863 by Alfred Smallwood of Redditch and extended 1876 by E.A.Day and again in 1907. Brick with blue and yellow brick dressings and slate roof. 4-bay continuous nave and chancel aligned north/south with gabled porch at south end. Chamfered plinth and dentilled eaves cornice continued at gable ends. Yellow brick quoins. Windows set within recessed panels within each bay with dentilled brick upper course to each panel and also dentilled brick sills. Windows have round-arched heads and metal latticed glazing bars. Large circular window with metal latticework at south end. Similar windows to sides flank porch. Porch entrance has round archway on foliated imposts with dropped keyblock inscribed ?1863?. 1907 schoolroom forms L-shaped single-storey wing to north-west.

Significance:

A compact and distinctive building by a local architect with exuberant brick detail similar to that of the nearby spring factory (qv) Unaltered externally, it is a good example of its type and forms part of the social history of the locality. Standing on a prominent corner site, it also forms an important element of the street scene.   

History:

This building........