AN historic building in Coventry dubbed an ‘unlucky chapel’ after suffering three fires may be getting an upturn in its fortunes after securing £215,000 from Historic England for major repair work.
The Grade II listed Nonconformist Chapel opened in 1847 and is one of the main features of London Road Cemetery’s park and garden.
The classic temple with giant ionic columns framing the portico entrance and two flanking side pavilions was designed by renowned landscape architect and engineer Sir Joseph Paxton.
The chapel, which is on the national register of important heritage buildings ‘at risk’, first caught fire in 1884 when dynamite used for blasting holes in the stony ground for graves blew up in one of the wings.
It then fell victim to the Coventry Blitz during the Second World War and has remained unused ever since.
And it was third time unlucky for the chapel as in 2006 a major fire caused by arson destroyed the roof and interiors.
The main roof has since been reconstructed by Coventry City Council, and it is now working alongside the Historic Coventry Trust to restore the fabric of the building.
The work will include repairing and reinstalling the roof and stonework, external doors will be added and the ceiling in the portico will be restored.
Work has already started and will take six months to complete.
The chapel’s restoration follows the £2.3million work to the northern part of the cemetery which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and completed last year.
This will be the first phase of a larger project to convert the building into offices for creative businesses.
Historic Coventry Trust’s Hannah Jones said: “This scheme is part of a long-term goal to give the building sustainable use.
“We have already fully restored the Anglican Chapel within the cemetery and to get the first stage of the works needed on the Nonconformist Chapel completed will be a great step forward in securing the maintenance of these important buildings in perpetuity.
“This is one of Coventry’s most unique buildings and it is wonderful to be giving it a new lease of life for the community.”
She added that Historic Coventry Trust was working on securing grants for the second phase.
