Hayle is a port town at the mouth of the Hayle River and is approximately seven miles (11 km) northeast of Penzance. This profile of Hayle Foundry Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
1700s Chapel
(Photo: Hayle Old Cornwall Society)
1845/46 Chapel
Located in Chapel Terrace.
The Wesleyan Terrace was built at Foundry in 1845 for the Foundry workers with an attached school for their children. It is clearly seen on OS maps and is seen standing today. It is a grade 2 listed building.
Large Wesleyan chapel now used as commercial premises. Sons of Richard Trevithick, the notable Cornish mining engineer were trustees here, Stucco with stucco detail to show front (end), otherwise rubble with granite dressings. Symmetrical 5-bay (3-window) classical style front with pediment over modillion cornice and bays divided by pilasters. Ground floor has later Italianate style 1:3:1-bay porch with quadrant end bays and arcaded central bays with pair of doorways flanking a blind window. Interior retains full gallery but fittings removed. Sunday School at rear, recorded on 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS 1880 and 1907 Maps was built as a separate building. Listed in Stell (b1). Associated Sunday School to rear. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
HAYLE CHAPEL TERRACE, Hayle SW 5437-5537 10/73 No 12 (Pratt’s Hayle Market) – (formerly Foundry Chapel) GV II Former Methodist chapel and schoolroom, now used as a market. Date plaque 1845. Stucco front, otherwise rubble with granite dressings. Scantle slate roof behind stuccoed parapet with pediment at the front. Plan: Rectangular aisle-less plan with gallery on 4-sides large entrance porch at the front and large former schoolroom at the rear. Classical style. Exterior: 2 storey elevations. 1:3:1 bay west front has first floor (gallery) windows to the 3 wider middle bays. Round-headed openings. Ground floor has 1:3:1 bay entrance porch with stucco rustications. The middle bays are broken forward and flanked by panelled pilasters 3 doorways between with blind central doorway. The right and left hand bays are quadrant on plan and each have a window. Moulded parapet cornice and plain parapet. The first floor bays are divided by Tuscan pilasters over a moulded sill string; entablature above has moulded architrave, plain frieze and modillioned parapet cornice with pediment over the middle bays and a central round date plaque. Side walls have 4 square-headed openings to the ground floor of each side and round-headed openings to the first floor (gallery). Entablature and parapets over. Interior: some additions for use as an indoor market but the original architectural detail is intact including: panelled gallery, with Corinthian pilasters at the east end and plastered ceiling with moulded bands. Listing NGR: SW5595037175 (Historic England)
Hayle Foundry Wesleyan Chapel
1845/46: Build date. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway / Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
On the 28th May 1849, the “scholars of a Hayle Wesleyan Sunday School held their Gala Day and perambulated through different parts of Hayle and Copperhouse. They assembled on the Towans where they were regaled with cakes and milk.” (2) The apparent absence of tea here may be explained by the difficulty of transporting hot water or the problem of boiling it on site.
1897: Hayle Sunday Schools: “… walked in procession, by way of Copperhouse and Phillack, to the Towans, where tea was provided …. Copperhouse Rifles, Deveral Band, and the Wesley Guild Drum and Fife Band supplied the music. The procession was a large one, over 1,700 children …” (24 June 1897 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
1899: Hayle Band of Hope: “…formed a united possession. They were accompanied by the band of the 1st. Co. D.C.L.I. and the Hayle Town Band. After perambulating the town, the Western Towans was reached in good time and the children had a plentiful supply of tea and cake …” (10 August 1899 – The Cornish Telegraph)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Foundry Methodist Church. (SWChurches)
90th Anniversary celebrations. (Cornishman – Thursday 21 February 1935)
1939: Hayle: “… the weather was inclement, the children could not go on the Towans as arranged but marched through the town headed by the Penzance Silver Band, afterwards proceeding to the schoolroom for buns and tea. A public tea was well attended by visitors and friends.” (10 August 1939 – Cornishman)
1940: Seating for 640. (David Eaton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Sunday School associated with the Wesleyan Chapel 38556, on Chapel Terrace, Hayle is recorded on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 OS 1880 and 1907 Maps. It was constructed adjacent and to the rear of the main chapel. (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
1968/1969: Closed. (SWChurches / David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian / Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
Became shops / Commercial. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian / Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
1970s: A new church built to replace Highlanes, Foundry, Mount Pleasant and Copperhouse chapels, near to the site of the former Mount Pleasant Chapel.
With thanks to David Philp for these photographs
