Mortuary chapel, built in 1885, located in the centre of Bucklebury Common cemetery. Rendered concrete construction with clay tiled roof. Large arched window (Gothic style) with twelve panes in the north wall. Single rectangular window in the east and west elevations with three ogee style lights.
There is a single archway entrance in the south end of the building with what is probably the original door. Small rectangular bell tower set on the south end of the roof, also with a tiled roof, the bell sits within an arched opening.
A path leads to the doorway and encircles the chapel.
Internally, the aisle and the area behind the two communion rails are tiled with six inch quarry tiles. The floor under the pews is wooden floorboards. There is a simple altar table and lectern. There are four moveable benches with backs, four rows of fixed pews and nine free standing foot rests. On the door is fixed a bookcase of four shelves to hold prayer and hymn books.
There are attractive Victorian metal wall grates set round the building, mostly low down where they provide airflow underneath the floor. At the rear of the building, and visible externally, there appears to be the remains of a star shape, high on the wall but its origin is unknown (it may represent a lost window).
The building is in reasonable condition, and maintained by the Parish Council. There is some cracking and peeling to the structure above and below the windows in the sides of the building which has been repaired in the past. Timber window frames are all original, but some panes of glass have been replaced following episodes of vandalism. It has altered little since it was built. The original fixtures and fittings remain, including the bell.
The surrounding wall is also of concrete, and of mainly Victorian date, having been breached at one point when the cemetery was extended in the 1970’s. The wall forms part of the Local Listing description.
The cemetery with its surrounding concrete wall and chapel were built on common land purchased from the Bucklebury estate. The chapel was used for services and Sunday School until 1962 when a new bigger church (All Saints) was built in Broad Lane, Upper Bucklebury.
Simple but attractive C19th chapel, which is a good example of an early concrete building.
The chapel forms an important and central feature in this secluded picturesque cemetery. It is largely unaltered, retaining its original fixtures and fittings.
The population of Upper Bucklebury expanded after the W.W.1 and the chapel became an important part of the community. Christmas carols are held annually in the Chapel.
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