Topic
Topic ID 6604
09/06/2012 by Marilyn
Port Vale Chapel
Just found an article in the Hertfordhire Family History Society magazine about the Port Vale Chapel .
It was only very small maximum congregation of about 60 ish opened in the 1836 and closed in 1922 then became a laundry at some point.
My father thinks during the WW2 that it was a glass and mirror works and some Germans worked there I wonder if anyone else has any memories?
Just found this about the building of the chapel for Bernard Gilpin who had been Rector of St Andrew's, Hertford, 1829-35, when he resigned and seceded from the Church of England. Preached for 33 years in a chapel at Port Vale, Bengeo, Herts., built for him by his followers.
Replies
Reply ID 88283
09/06/2012 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by dennismoore
I stumbled upon this:
http://valleygospelmission.org/product_info.php?cPath=137&products_id=1871
Presumably the same chapel? It must have had some significance for someone to write a 616 page book about meetings that took place there!
Yes thats the book the article was reffering to it is avaliable to look at at HALS, I just found it interesting that my father remebers it but it very rerely gets mentioned anywhere. It is probably just me and my strange interest's though!
Reply ID 88284
09/06/2012 by dennismoore
I think a lot of us will be very interested! Do you know where it was exactly and are there any photos? And could the cover of the book be a view of Bengeo?
Reply ID 88296
10/06/2012 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by dennismoore
I think a lot of us will be very interested! Do you know where it was exactly and are there any photos? And could the cover of the book be a view of Bengeo?
It was between George Street and Russell Street I belive , no idea about the cover of the book, leave it with me I will see what I can find. As far as I know there are no photos of it as a chapel, at least I know someone was looking a while ago and had not found one last time I asked.
I have found quite a lot on the preacher Bernard Gilpin he lived in Bengeo Street and all the family were Preachers/ Rectors or Doctors!
Just got out my 1897 map which shows it. There is the pub on the corner of George Street then about 5 cottages then the Chapel then another 4 Properties to the corner of Russell Street. Then you have the lodge and entrance to The Grove and then Christ Church.
Not been down there for a long time but I would think whatever is there now cottages? must look as if they were built later in the space that the Chapel took up.
Reply ID 88314
12/06/2012 by mr_tim
I imagine that, based on that description, it would have stood where the newer in-fill houses stand - http://goo.gl/maps/AJu4
Reply ID 88317
12/06/2012 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by mr_tim
I imagine that, based on that description, it would have stood where the newer in-fill houses stand - http://goo.gl/maps/AJu4
Yes thats the position but as yet no one has found a photo of it as a Chapel or anything else!
Reply ID 88614
27/06/2012 by Eyeone
You are right about the position of the building. As I recall the chapel was a white building. It was indeed a laundry (i belive in the 1950-60's) It then became a plastics factory. Some years ago I'm sure the factory owners installed a noisey extractor fan system without permission and after complaints from the locals they moved to another site. It was after this that the origional building was replace with the fill in houses (it's the houses with the metal access gate)
Reply ID 94067
30/05/2013 by Marilyn
I know this is an old thread but just found a reference to the chapel as being for "Calvanistic Dessenters" still not managed to find a picture of it yet!
Reply ID 94144
05/06/2013 by Marilyn
quote:
Originally posted by dennismoore
I think a lot of us will be very interested! Do you know where it was exactly and are there any photos? And could the cover of the book be a view of Bengeo?
Finally found time to go into HALS and look at the book..........fascinating stuff in there I think but then I am odd! It has stuff about the people etc so lots not just the church records though they are there. Also which other chapels it was linked with etc.
The picture on the front is Shrewsbury which is relevant when you know more about the history of this type of chapel I think.
9 replies