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Stone Central specialises in all areas of stonemasonry and restoration from traditional stonemasonry through to new build and consultancy. Click the links to learn more about each area of our work and please get in touch to speak to one of our experienced team.
STONEMASONRY RESTORATION CLEANING CONSULTANCY Memorials & Statues NEW BUILD RAILWAYS SURVEYS TERRACOTTAThe Unitarian Chapel – former Welsh Baptist Chapel, Manchester
The former Unitarian Chapel, also known as the Welsh Baptist Chapel, sits less than a mile south of Manchester City Centre, opposite the university. The building was designed by Sir Charles Barry, an architect made famous for designing the Palace of Westminster and was built in the 1830s.
Stone Central were appointed to work on the beautiful former Welsh Baptist Chapel in Manchester. The Grade II* listed building had fallen into serious disrepair and the plans to re-purpose the building and save the structure were welcomed by the local community. In 2006 it was partially demolished due to safety concerns, and was then listed on Historic England’s ‘Heritage At Risk’ register and had also been named as one of the most threatened historic buildings in the country by the Victorian Society.
Project Detail
The building is an important historic building and the decision to re-purpose it and save the structure was welcomed. Having sat vacant for over 30 years, saving the chapel was a highly complex project. Plans were drawn up to convert the building into student accommodation.
Stone Central worked on the restoration of the stonework that could be saved, including an impressive rose stained-glass window. Our own mason set up a banker shed on the site to replicate 2 beautiful new finials and reinstated both the balustrade and stone parapets. We completed work on the walling and the north-east stone gable, ensuring that the work was seamless with the original stone, maintaining the beauty of the original structure. We undertook all repairs to damaged stonework and worked closely with the heritage society to ensure that the building provided the same visual impact as it had done originally.
The finished development meant that the previous at-risk building, that was an important part of the local heritage, was saved for future generations.
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