Pool is a community between Redruth and Camborne. This profile of Pool Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
At the front of the chapel is an 18th century turnpike milestone showing 16 miles to Penzance.
A large Wesleyan Methodist chapel survives at this location in Pool. It has been enlarged by rear extension in 1865. It is granite rubble with granite dressings. It is a simple classical style with round-arched openings at the front. Round date plaque over window over doorway plus tall flanking windows. 2-storey side elevations have most of their original 16-pane sash windows (now a rare survival but neglected at time of survey). Interior not inspected but presumed to retain full gallery and C19 fittings. It is illustrated in Stell (b1). (Cornwall Heritage Gateway)
This postcard was sent on 17 January 1921 from someone called EC of Park Farm to Miss A Tamblyn of Trehale, St Keyne, Liskeard. It shows the interior of the large Wesleyan Chapel at Pool in Illogan parish, taken by an unknown photographer. The message on the back of the card says that the chapel is decorated for the Harvest Festival and this shot is probably therefore taken in the autumn of 1920.
The Methodists vacated this building some years ago now and very recently the local Light and Life Church have also vacated the premises and it is currently up for sale, the ground floor pews having been removed. The large rostrum or pulpit is believed to be the widest in any Methodist chapel in Cornwall with beautifully curved access staircases. At a Harvest Festival this building would have been packed to the doors with hundreds of worshippers. The chapel was built in 1862 during the final boom decade of Cornish mining. (David Thomas)
1862: Build date. (Plaque / Kresen Kernow)
1865: Enlarged with the original plain Georgian style windows replaced.
Circa 1880: Photograph, first Harvest Festival, Pool Wesleyan chapel, Illogan. Shows decorated chapel interior decorated with downstairs box pews and open forms for seating; photograph by H Opie, 10 Bond Street, Redruth [Fragile]. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/61)
1899: “Re-opening of Pool Wesleyan Chapel- Sir George Smith on Protestants Principles. The Wesleyan Chapel has been closed for some months for renovation. Considerable improvements have been made at the cost of about £450, of which £163 has been received and £30 promised. The new seats are of pitch pine, while the wall decorations are very tasteful. The rostrum and gallery front are beautifully picked out in gold. A new heating apparatus has also been introduced. The re-opening services commenced on Thursday, when a luncheon was held… Sir George Smith said he believed in concentrating their best, their most beautiful in architecture and in music to God. Their fore- fathers did well with lime-ash floors and white-washed walls. Their forefathers had no better to offer for God’s service, but they, with the greater Cornwall across the seas, which honours itself by tithing its substance for the support and Beautifying of God’s house, must provide a house of prayer worthy of increased resources and wealth…” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 20 April 1899)
Circa 1924: Plan, window arrangement, front elevation, Pool Wesleyan chapel, Illogan. Shows arrangement of saddle bars, tie bars and stancheons; not dated, but c1924; [This window arrangement replaced the original plainer Georgian style windows of 1862]. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/308)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Pool Methodist Church.
30 Sep 1932: Estimate and specification, heating system, Sunday School, Pool Wesleyan chapel, Illogan. From R Alger and Sons Limited, Newport, Monmouthshire; additions to low pressure heating apparatus [First page only]. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/309)
10 May 1937: Estimate, electric organ blower, Pool Wesley Methodist Church, Illogan. From the Cornwall Electric Power Company, Carn Brea, cost £70. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/313)
18-26 Mar 1950: Souvenir programme, organ reopening services, Pool Wesley Methodist Church, Illogan. With history of the chapel and organ; printed by C J and R Goldsworthy, printers, Pool. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/314)
16 Aug 1961: Suggested specification, redecoration, interior, Pool Wesley Methodist Church, Illogan. Prepared by Mander Brothers Limited, Technical Service Department, St John’s Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/317)
7 May 1962: Newspaper cutting, reopening, Centenary, Pool Wesley Methodist Church, Illogan. From the Western Morning News. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/337)
Pool Wesley Methodist Church Centenary History, 1862-1962. (Kresen Kernow LIB/1305)
1957-1968: Correspondence, road widening scheme, Pool Wesley Methodist Church, Illogan. With Camborne-Redruth Urban District Council, Cornwall County Council and the GPO; with site plan of area affected. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/320)
May-Oct 1986: Correspondence and papers, replacement of chapel roof, Wesley Methodist Church, Pool, Illogan. Chapel roof damaged by storm. (Kresen Kernow MRCB/1774)
1986-1987: Correspondence, estimates and accounts, new roof, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/345)
10 Apr 1991: Quinquennial inspection report, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. Report undertaken 9 October 1990 by Francis G Bush, chartered architect, Withy Barn, Winsbury Court, Crownhill, Plymouth; with coloured photographs of exterior and interior of chapel premises and ground floor plan and first floor plan. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/307)
1 Apr 1993: Work schedule and discussion document, alterations, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. For new social responsibility and youth centre; with plans of first floor area as existing and as proposed. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/321)
1855-1993: Schedule of deeds and documents, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. Compiled c2000. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/305)
1968-2006: Correspondence, estimates and accounts, repairs and renovations, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/346)
1 Apr 2007: Quinquennial inspection report, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. By Kirk, Spurgin & Copeland, chartered building surveyors, 10 Symons Terrace, Redruth; with black and white photographs. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/387)
23 Jun 2011: Quinquennial inspection report, Pool Methodist Church, Illogan. With separate report on the roof void of the church by V C Williams, Lodge and Thomas, chartered surveyors, 58 Lemon Street, Truro, 15 August 2011. (Kresen Kernow MRCR/388)
2012: The chapel closed.
It is a grade 2 listed building
Became the home to the Light and Life Church who describe themselves as a Free Methodist Church. The first Free Methodist fellowship in England was organised in May 1971 at Heysham in Lancashire. The Cornwall Church started in 1985 in Helston, in 2012, when the Methodist Church closed, the Light and life started mid-week meetings in Pool with Sunday services from 2013.