General construction details

With the building still in current use, a number of constructional details were not visible nor was access to them possible. However, it was considered reasonable to assume that the construction materials and techniques used here would have been similar to those employed on similar buildings recorded in County Durham, and the following descriptions therefore, take into account such relevant information.

Exterior Description

South (front) elevation 
Access to the main body of the church is through a small front porch which provides a measure of protection from the weather. The outer double porch doors are wooden, equilateral-arch in shape and covered in thin sheet steel for security purposes; the upper door jamb features a simple wooden hood moulding. 

The roof has been replaced relatively recently with the new sheeting fastened with nails and round washers or roves; the bargeboards covering the ends of the sheeting are plain with a simple shaped-board finial at the apex. 

On either side of the porch is a single, equilateral-arch window; a third, identical window in the front gable above the porch has, at some point, been covered over with corrugated sheeting.

West elevation (Fig.4)

The west foundation wall clearly illustrates the fall in ground levels with the number of brick courses increasing from three in the south elevation to sixteen in the north elevation. No recognised brick bond pattern has been used, though in the original brickwork a second course of headers has been used in the sixth course down from the top. All original brickwork has at some time been rather crudely repointed.

A vertical mortar joint line and a change in roof line clearly defines the addition of a later extension to the original building, which also features a non-original rectangular window. No attempt has been made to bond the existing and new brick courses, well-illustrated by the misalignment of the more recent eighth header course with the original sixth header course. 

The existing guttering is relatively recent. The position of an earlier downpipe is indicated by rusting of the iron sheeting between the second and third windows, clearly visible beneath current paintwork; this area has also been patched. In addition, green moss/algal staining is also visible on the corresponding brickwork.

There is evidence of the relatively recent addition of three clay air bricks, two of dimensions 220mm x 220mm and one of 220mm x 150mm, probably as replacements for the original cast iron vents. 

The original east wall consists of only three brick courses, increasing to five at the north end of the extension; all have been repointed. An original cast iron air vent, inserted to allow air to circulate beneath the floor of the building, is still extant in this wall. Three additional clay air bricks have probably replaced original vents, with a further air brick in the extension.

Fig.4. West elevation

Fig.5. East elevation

A side door with a high threshold formed of an extra brick course and a number of pieces of timber, is located within the extension and leads into the Prayer room/kitchen area. The general build quality of this extension is rather poor and may indicate re-use of materials.

North (rear) elevation (Fig.6)

The small rear extension to the original building is believed to have been added during the 1920's or 1930's and was constructed with a cellar accessed from a door in the north elevation which is now bricked up (Williamson, 2003, pers.comm.).

The extension has three rectangular, wooden framed windows, two in the north elevation and one in the west elevation; this latter window is of the same type as the western window in the north elevation. A small section of rear foundation wall beneath the east window has also been removed and re-bricked with the insertion of a clay air brick.

Fig.6. North (rear) elevation


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