Survey Data
Reg No
14802004
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Charlestown Catholic Chapel
Original Use
Church/chapel
Date
1780 - 1790
Coordinates
226055, 232395
Date Recorded
27/09/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached former Roman Catholic church, built in 1785, with two-stage square-profiled castellated towers and modern single-storey flat-roofed entrance extension to western gable, two-storey return to east, built in 1815, and lean-to bay to south elevation of nave. Set to road side. Now used as a parish hall. Pitched tiled roof with terracotta ridge tiles, metal roof vents and stone coping to gable. Stone cross finial to western gable. Tooled stone and rendered plinth to pebbledashed walls. Inscribed stone plaque to return reads: 'This Return Erected By James Kelly Esq., A.D. 1815'. Four-centre arched window openings to nave and west elevation of return with timber tracery windows and limestone sills. Four-centre arched window opening to western gable with timber tracery and tooled limestone hoodmoulding. Square-headed window openings with tooled limestone surround and limestone hoodmouldings and cusped triple-light windows to towers and return. Square-headed window openings to flat-roofed extension to west with uPVC windows. Projecting castellated ashlar limestone entrance bay to south elevation of eastern extension with Tudor arched door opening with timber panelled door surmounted by carved recessed cross.
Appraisal
This building, situated at a major junction within the town of Clara, is a striking structure with a strong sense of design. Originally Clara's Roman Catholic Church, it was replaced in 1883 by the present church at The Square. Unique in character, it possesses notable features of architectural merit including varied windows, end towers and fine stonework. Altered over the course of years, the former church, which is now used as a parish hall, is an imposing building that continues to be an important place for the community of Clara, as well as being contributor to the locality's built heritage.