A ruined Chapel

 

A number of years ago while driving along the A44 in Wales I though I spotted an old chapel off the road so one day when I got the chance I managed to find it again an stopped off for a look.

The Chapel was called Cornhill Methodist Chapel was built in 1843 in the Vernacular style of the long-wall entry type. It closed in 1949 and by 1990 the chapel had become a roofless ruin. This link shows it before the roof caved in.

 

 

 The chapel had a small gate leading into a graveyard still with gravestones

Looking at the building it was in a poor state with most of the window frames and all the roof gone

Windows faced towards the road.  

All it seemed was it needed a window.

The side looked like it has seen better days with a large crack over the window and a window from in place.

 

 

This photo was a stitch using two photos but showed inside the shell where a elderberry trees are growing .

 

 The remaining graves and grass were still well tended and looked in good condition.

I left the place to it's own wondering what would become of it. The photos were taken nearly four years ago so I often wonder if it is still there and not fallen down.

In 2016 I was nearby at a church so stopped for a look at the chapel, the graveyard was getting over grown and the church was shielded by trees

I did not venture any closer to see how it looked inside.

 

 I left the place to rest the in peace of the surrounding countryside

Take care and have a safe weekend

The Fairmile Cemetery.

Go into the new graveyard at Cholsey Church and over on the far left hand side you will see this plaque commemorating the those who were buried there.

 "This Plaque is to commemorate all those who have been laid to rest in this churchyard and cemetery from Fairmile Hospital 1870 - 2003

"The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms"    

             Deuteronomy 33v27 

Underneath are two other plaques placed there in memory of who I assume were patients there. My parents would have known if they had been alive.
The original  cemetery was over on the south west side.

A few headstones can be seen in the area though there is one which watches over them.

The grave belonged to Dr James William Murdock who was the superintendent at the Hospital  His last wish was that he was buried with his patients so he could watch over them

The inscription reads
"Write me as one (who laboured for) Loved his fellow men the Angel wrote"
He died on 28th April 1917 His wife Celia who is buried with him passed away on 9th October 1962 aged 92 years.
The statue used to have a trumpet but that disappeared many years ago.
There are a few headstones left in that part of the churchyard though I think it would have been full of cast iron grave markers 

 

Like these in the photo's above, when I was young lad I used to cut the grass in the churchyard and was always coming across them.
When the churchyard ran out of room an extension was built next door  and the Fairmile cemetery went next door as well.

The is the second Fairmile cemetery with a few headstones  showing, no doubt provided by their estate and relatives. Most of them have no marker to remember them. I'm also not sure if the area was used for paupers graves as I seem to remember an open grave with planks on which I was told was for this purpose.

One of the headstones you see above is to Ronald Leslie Walker or Les as his friends knew him. He used to work with my Father  for many years
 

 Another person or persons who worked at Fairmile were Moses Nicholls and Avery Nicholls the latter who I think was the son of Moses. Both worked as Stewards of Fairmile.  Moses is buired with his Wife  Maria and Avery with his Sister Blanche who I knew as Miss Nicholls and remember her riding a bicycle round the village and visiting a lady who lived next door to  me

William or Bill Southby who is buried with is parents was another member of staff who worked at Fairmile and was a keen sportsman. He now has a close named after him New housing at Fairmile. His grave like the last is in the old Churchyard

The O'Brians were family friends and used to live in the Star Terrace before moving to the new housing built in 1960 along Papist way I went to school with the oldest son and was Friends with him for years till we lost touch. Last I heard was that he had moved to Ireland. His younger brother Paul young like his Mother.

 The name Ethel Mary Fetherstone is a name I recognise but I could not tell you any more at the moment. The cemetery here is still provided for by the NHS in maintenance costs though there are few headstones there to remind you of what the place was used for. When you walk round the cemetery you can recognise many of the staff who worked there including my parents. A few I have shown and will add more in future.
The plaque on the wall is the reminder of those who lay buried here RIP.

St Mary Builth Wells

Some of the following photos were taken a few years ago on one of my visits to Builth Wells. The visit was cut short as you can see later in the blog. All the photo's were taken handheld with out the tripod. I have now added photo's from my latest visit in 2025

The churchyard at St Mary Builth Wells. John Wesley preached in the churchyard on the 3rd May 1743

 

 2025 some updated photos

One of the paths through the churchyard

St Marys church  from across the churchyard

The churchyard looking towards towards the church hall, the spire if from another of the towns chapels

Going in the porch you can see this tomb effigy

Latest photo of the effigy which is John Lloid of Towy 1st Sheriff & Justice of the peace in Wales & servant of Queen Elizabeth I. He died in 1585

Really nice tomb slab or memorial which dates back to 1606, must be the oldest I have seen

 

Roll of honor in the porch

The entrance to St Mary with the font to the right

 

Looking across from the nave to the south asile

 

 

Carving on the west wall
 

Inside you can see this bell which was cast in 1764 and rehung in 2002 for the Queens Golden Jubilee. The plaque on the right tells you more

The Font with carved cover near the entrance

 

There is also some great stained glass windows in the church, this one I think is at the back

 The rose window

 

This is a rather impressive window which depicts the nativity
 

These are the windows showing the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ  which were in the last shot 

 

 

Figures in the four smaller windows

 

 sowing people from the bible

 

 

This one is has an inscription. "Dedicated to all little ones, in Memory of Harold Carpenter.

 

This stained glass window is in  the South Aisle

 

The nave looking towards the chancel

 

2025 and they have now put an altar in front of the chancel arch

 

 

Which gives it a different look

 

 Looking down the nave in 2025

 

 

First time  when I went to take photos of the chancel I noticed a coffin and promptly stopped what I was doing. At this point I felt I was intruding and after saying a prayer left the church. I felt some one should have been with the coffin and after regretted not staying a while RIP.

 

 This time I was able to get a photo of the chancel

 

 Updated photo 2025

 and the chancel window

 

The carved wooden Altar

 

 Alter and east window

 

 

View back down the nave to the back of the church

 

Organ in the chancel

Eagle Lectern which is looking to the Roll of Honor

 

 The carved wooden pulpit 

 

Pulpit view 

 

Fall of poppies

 

 

South aisle

 View from the entrance door

 

The churchyard looking across to the South side of the churchyard












Looking across to the North side of the churchyard

 

Looking up to the Church tower which dates back to 1300

Taken in 2025

Have an enjoyable Weekend