Building record 1150/1/1 - Chapel at Somerford Hall

Chapel built by Peter Shakerley after quarrel with the Rector of Astbury. Dated 1725 - a simple preaching box of chequered brick with stone quoins and arched openings. Shakerley vouched never to go Astbury Church again and is buried outside of his chapel (1).

The chapel is dated to 1720. It is of red Flemish bond brick with black headers and ashlar dressings. The western front has a deep ashlar plinth with a chamfered top. Chamfered quoins are also visible in all the front corners. The central doorway has a moulded ashlar round-arched surround and moulded springers and keystones, above which is a hood-mould. Above this is a sub-rectangular datestone which has a moulded surround and reads (almost illegible) "Glorey be to God on high / And on Earth peace / Goodwill towards men / A.D. MDCCXX". Immediately above this is a round-arched window which has a moulded ashlar surround and cuts through an ashlar stringcourse. To the gable end is a later circular clock face with a board of planks. The gable has ashlar coping and ball finials to the lower corners and to the centre of each side. The eastern end has similar plinth, quoins, stringcourse and gable decoration but has one three-light central window with round-arched heads of an early 20th century date which replaces a window which rested on the lower ashlar sill which is still evident. Above this is an oval oeil de boeuf window to the gable. The southern side has four round arched windows with ashlar surrounds to the east and a blank bay at the western end. The northern wall is similar with some repaired brick work to the right (2).

The interior has raised and fielded panelling to the lower walls with a 19th century frieze and cornice at the top. To the western end there is a Gallery that is supported by two square Corinthian capitals and has a staircase at the right with two flights with a ramped, moulded handrail. To the left is an enclosed pew with similar balusters. The front of the gallery is of raised and fielded panels and to the rear corners are square columns with fluting and triglyphs and guttea to the frieze and cornice. The eastern end has a reredos which has three painted panels with a portion of St Matthews gospel to the left and the creed at the right. The central panel is overlayed with a late 19th early 20th century panel of embroidery with a guilloche- moulded surround. To either side of this segmental pediment are Corinthian pilasters and to the centre at the top is a broken segmental pediment between the halves of which is a pelican in her piety. At either side are slightly sunken arched panels which now contain marble wall monuments. The roof has four trusses with queenposts, angle braces and V-struts to the apex. The eastern triple window and one of the northern windows are memorials to members of the Shakerley family designed by Irene Dunlop (2).

<1> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, /270 (Book). SCH785.

<2> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Report). SCH1934.