140 Sheriff's Highway, Zion Chapel

Formerly a New Connexion Methodist chapel constructed in 1836, with a school added to the rear in the later Victorian period, it was amongst those ministered to by William Booth. Modest but well detailed, it is an elegant example of local non-conformist architecture and an early survivor for the area. It is described by Whellan (1894) as ‘a small but handsome building, in the Italian style’, and he mentions that it seated 200 people. One of 2 Methodist chapels originally in the area, the chapels were distinguished locally by the names of their patrons. It features a characteristically Methodist gabled façade and unusually shallow pitched slated roof behind a parapet. The detailing to this façade is markedly greater than on the remainder of the building, and therefore it was clearly the principal focus of attention and finance. Making the most outstanding contribution to the character of the building, are the columns with delicately and differently carved capitals flanking the entrance porch, and the carved corbels of the slender central columns to the windows. These are double round-headed lancets with pointed arch heads and chamfered cills. They are particularly special as the detail is very unusual in the area, and they are executed with care and skill, showing off the craftsmanship available in the community at the time of building. It seems to show the influence of John Ruskin, and his book ‘The Stones of Venice’ (1849), in the very accurate replication of natural forms, and lack of repetition, but no firm evidence has been found to confirm this. The stonework of the walling here, too, is neatly dressed, and an unusual moulded chimney crowns the gable. In contrast, the stonework to the sides and rear is still coursed but rubble in quality and the windows are plain with solid square heads, echoing much of the local vernacular building style - simple but robust - and constructed in the sandstone easily available from the nearby quarries. The rainwater goods include parapet guttering, and unfortunately the east plane of the schoolroom roof is now felted over the slates. All walls are rubble filled, and the ground floor is predominantly in suspended timber (apart from some concrete ground bearing slab at the rear). There is a timber suspended mezzanine floor in the main body of the chapel. The roof structure is of a number of King post roof trusses, purlins and rafters. There are also 2 highly distinctive circular chimneys in dressed stone to the rear. The main street location gives the building great prominence, and therefore it makes a highly significant contribution to the local scene, and Sheriff Hill Conservation Area. The building is distinctive in its context, and yet, formed from local stone, and provided by local finance to support local worship needs, is quintessentially Sheriff Hill - of irreplaceable social historical value as well as being especially architecturally distinguished. MATERIALS Sandstone, slate. Stonemason - Joseph Arnell, Joiner - George Cameron, Smith - Mr Jopling, Architect (Schoolroom) Thomas Reay. DATES 11/02/1836 (opened) 1883 (Schoolroom & vestry added) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The condition of this building is currently poor due to lack of maintenance and repair. Particular problems include the front porch detaching from the main wall, erosion to stonework and some decay to internal timbers. Some problems are being contributed to by the internal floor levels being lower than the road, and the use of cement mortar for repointing to the south elevation.
A refurbishment took place in 1875, but this does not appear to have included any stonework, however the following year repairs to the porch were undertaken which could conceivably have included new carving, however there was no record of any corresponding work to windows, and the style of carving in both is consistent. It is also possible the carving was done at the same time as the new school was built, however, again there is no indication of this in the accounts.
The original trustees of the chapel were: John Allan; Robert Foreman; George Cameron; Simpson Rutherford; Thomas Halliday; Thomas Patterson (from the Pottery?); Joseph Snaith; Thomas Pearson; William Jopling; Ralph Watt; John Colnsard (?); John Snaith, Benjamin Swallwell; John Ufson (?); William Rickaby.
The chapel only became licensed for marriages later on, as the relationship between the congregation and St John’s Church was good. Many went to services at both places, and before the chapel was built they used the church for their services outside the existing service times, so most couples were happy to marry in the church. The chapel was also apparently noted for its pantomimes during the war, providing much needed entertainment to the local population.
The land for the chapel was purchased from John Bowesfield for £64 12 shillings. Total spend 1835-6 on joinery was £94 10s 6d; masonry £49 15s 4d; slating £26 6s; windows £12 13s 11d and chandeliers £5 18s 6d! Interior metalwork seems to have been fairly minimal, as total on this was only £5 11s. In 1837 £1 5s was spent ‘colouring the chapel’! An historic building recording was undertaken in 2009 ahead of the redevelopment of the building. The importance of the chapel is enhanced by a likely connection with William Booth, who, between 1858 and 1861 was a New Connexion Minster in Gateshead before leaving the Methodist Church to found the Salvation Army. LOCAL LIST