Grove Gardens Chapel

The land on which Richmond cemetery now sits was first used as a burial plot in 1786, after George III donated the land to Richmond Vestry.{{Cite web |last=Gardens (en) |first=Parks and |title=Richmond Cemetery - London |url=https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/richmond-cemetery |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Parks & Gardens |language=en}} However, it was not until 1856 that the cemetery was converted to municipal use by the parish.{{Cite web |title=Richmond Old Burial Ground {{!}} Richmond Local History Society |url=https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/history-of-richmond/richmond-old-burial-ground/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en-GB}} As was common in the Victorian period, two chapels were built to meet the demand of the separate Anglican and non-conformist congregations.{{Cite web |title=The cemetery chapels survey {{!}} Victorian Society |url=https://victoriansociety.org.uk/news/the-cemetery-chapels-survey |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=victoriansociety.org.uk}} It is likely that these were temporary, corrugated tin structures, or tabernacles, from the 1850s until Richmond's growing population made more permanent structures necessary.{{Cite web |last=Engl |first=Historic |date=2022-06-09 |title=What is a Tin Tabernacle? |url=https://heritagecalling.com/2022/06/09/what-is-a-tin-tabernacle/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=The Historic England Blog |language=en-GB}}

The Vestry of Richmond commissioned two chapels in the 1870s.{{Cite web |title=Grove Gardens Chapel |url=https://habitatsandheritage.org.uk/get-involved/our-projects/grove-gardens-chapel/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Habitats & Heritage |language=en-GB}} Sir Arthur Blomfield is known to have built the Anglican Chapel, now known as Grove Gardens Chapel. However, it is not documented who designed the Non-Conformist Chapel, now a private residence on the outer boundary of the cemetery. Canon Charles Tickell Proctor, the Vicar of Richmond in the 1870s, controversially built a wall to separate the consecrated ground and non-conformist area.{{Cite book |last=Cloake |first=John |title=Royal Bounty: A History of the Richmond Parish Lands Charity, 1786-1991 |year=1992 |isbn=095198960X |pages=41–42}} It was not until the Bishop of Winchester, in whose Diocese the parish then sat, intervened that the wall was taken down.{{Cite web |title=Richmond Holy Trinity: Surrey Churches Index |url=http://www.surreygraveyards.org.uk/richmond/richmondholyt.shtml |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.surreygraveyards.org.uk}} Shortly after the chapels were built, the parish was transferred to the Diocese of Rochester in 1877, and has been in the Diocese of Southwark since 1905.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://richmond-team-ministry.staxotest.net/history/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Richmond Team Ministry |language=en-GB}}

The land on which the burial ground sits was originally part of a common, used in the 17th century for Richmond's Pest House, a place to house those sick with the Great Plague.{{Cite web |last=Agent |first=N&N Richmond-Richmond Estate |date=2022-03-01 |title=Roads of Richmond - Queens Road |url=https://www.nnrichmond.co.uk/post/roads-of-richmond-queens-road |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=nnrichmond |language=en}} In 1785 a large area of the land was granted to the Vestry for the building of a workhouse and burial ground.{{Cite web |title=Parishes: Richmond (anciently Sheen) {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol3/pp533-546 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}} A small portion of the common, now known as Pesthouse Common, is extant along Queen's Road.

The Richmond Union Workhouse was built to the southwest of Grove Gardens Chapel in 1786-87. It was possibly designed by Kenton Couse, who has one of the architects for Richmond Bridge.{{Cite web |last=Agent |first=N&N Richmond-Richmond Estate |date=2022-03-01 |title=Roads of Richmond - Queens Road |url=https://www.nnrichmond.co.uk/post/roads-of-richmond-queens-road |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=nnrichmond |language=en}} It was converted into residential use in 1987 as part of the London & Quadrant Housing Association and Richmond Parish Lands Charity Queen's Road Estate scheme; the southern part, Kingsmead, became public housing, and a gated estate, King George's Square, was built on the northern area.{{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Jill |title=History of Grove Road and the Cambrian Centre |url=https://cambriancentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/History-of-Grove-Road-and-the-Cambrian-Centre.pdf |access-date=13 April 2023}} The Grade II listed central block of the Workhouse still exists as part of the estate.{{Cite web |title=CENTRAL BLOCK OF KINGSMEAD AND GROVE ROAD HOSPITAL, Non Civil Parish - 1192589 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1192589 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

Grove Gardens Chapel sits opposite John Darbourne and Geoffrey Darke’s Phase 2 of the Queens Road Estate.{{Cite web |title=Queen's Road Estate (Phase I), Richmond-upon-Thames, London |url=https://www.ribapix.com/queens-road-estate-phase-i-richmond-upon-thames-london_riba118690 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=RIBApix |language=en}} Phase 2, between Greville Road and Park Hill, was built from 1978 to provide mixed social housing, and was separated from the Grade II listed Phase 1 scheme by the later Phase 3, which includes the Cambrian Community Centre.{{Cite web |title=Phase 1, Queen's Road Estate, Richmond upon Thames, Non Civil Parish - 1400339 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1400339 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

Grove Gardens Chapel is built in a cruciform plan of Kentish ragstone with Bath stone detailing.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHAPEL RICHMOND CEMETERY, Non Civil Parish - 1261361 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1261361 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} There is evidence to the west end of the tiled roof of a flèche. The entrance arch is inscribed with a truncated quote from John 19:41 from the King James Bible, ‘In the Garden there was a new sepulchre, there laid they Jesus’.{{Cite web |title=John 19:41 - The Burial of Jesus |url=https://biblehub.com/john/19-41.htm |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Bible Hub}} There was originally a statue of Joseph of Arimathea by Farmer & Brindley in the niche above the entrance arch, which has since been lost.{{Cite news |date=14 December 1877 |title=Richmond (Surrey) |pages=603 |work=The Building News |url=https://archive.org/details/buildingnewsengi3321unse/page/602/mode/2up?q=richmond |access-date=13 April 2023}} The altar has been removed, however, there is a three-panelled mosaic reredos portraying scenes from the annunciation. This is recorded as having been made by Daniel Bell, brother of Alfred Bell of Clayton & Bell.{{Cite news |date=14 December 1877 |title=Richmond (Surrey) |pages=603 |work=The Building News |url=https://archive.org/details/buildingnewsengi3321unse/page/602/mode/2up?q=richmond |access-date=13 April 2023}} Above the reredos are three lancet windows with one surviving panel of stained glass, also by Daniel Bell, showing the Ascension of Christ.{{Cite news |date=21 December 1877 |title=Schools of Art |url=https://archive.org/details/buildingnewsengi3321unse/page/614/mode/2up |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=The Building News |pages=614 |quote=Last week, on p. 603, under the heading " Richmond, Surrey," we mentioned Mr. Daniel Bell as the executant of the mosaics in the reredos at the new mortuary chapel, but assigned to other artists the stained-glass window above. Mr. Bell requests us to state that he designed and executed both glass and mosaics under the direction of Mr. Blomfield.}} The brass fireplace in the south transept is likely to be a Thomas Jeckyll design, produced by the Barnard, Bishop & Barnards foundry.{{Cite web |title=Thomas Jeckyll Fireplace Insert |url=https://www.drewpritchard.co.uk/products/fire-surround-3 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Drew Pritchard Ltd}}{{Cite book |last=Soros |first=Susan Weber |title=Thomas Jeckyll : architect and designer, 1827-1881 |last2=Arbuthnott |first2=Catherine |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2003 |location=New York}}

Grove Gardens Chapel was built in the Gothic Revival style, which had first been used by Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill and grew to increasing prominence throughout the 19th century.{{Cite web |title=What does Gothic Revival mean? |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/architecture/what-is-gothic-revival |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=National Trust |language=en}} The chapel was built as the style was starting to lose steam, but was still popular for churches and university buildings.{{Cite web |title=Gothic Revival {{!}} Definition, Style, Architecture, Examples, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Gothic-Revival |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} From the mid-19th century to circa 1885, the Gothic Revival style moved away from the picturesque of the early revival to what is classed as the ‘High Victorian Gothic’.{{Cite web |last=Express |first=Britain |title=Gothic Revival Architecture in England |url=https://www.britainexpress.com/architecture/gothic-revival.htm |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Britain Express |language=en}} This placed more emphasis on polychromatic decoration for public buildings, as encouraged by the Ecclesiological Society, with banded masonry and brickwork.{{Cite web |title=High Victorian Gothic Style 1860 - 1890 {{!}} PHMC > Pennsylvania Architectural Field Guide |url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/architecture/styles/high-victorian-gothic.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.phmc.state.pa.us}} This style is evident in the contrasting stone trim around the windows and doors of the chapel.

The chapel was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield (1829-1899), born at Fulham Palace, the fourth son of the Bishop of London.{{Cite web |title=Sir Arthur Blomfield (1829-1899): A Brief Biography |url=https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/blomfield/bio.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=victorianweb.org}} Blomfield began his ecclesiastical architecture practice in 1856 and was made the architect to the Diocese of Winchester, which Richmond was part of when Grove Gardens Chapel was built.{{Cite web |title=Sir Arthur William Blomfield (1829-99) @ Archiseek - Irish Architecture |url=https://www.archiseek.com/tag/arthur-w-blomfield/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en-US}} He was a prominent architect, becoming President of the Architectural Association in 1861, Vice-President of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1886, and knighted in 1889.{{Cite web |title=Sir Arthur Blomfield (1829-1899): A Brief Biography |url=https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/blomfield/bio.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=victorianweb.org}} Whilst Blomfield was known for his works at the Bank of England and as far afield as the Falkland Islands, he also was responsible for a number of ecclesiastical works in the borough of Richmond upon Thames.{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Blomfield, Sir Arthur William |volume= 4 | page = 76 |short=1}} These included altering the aisles of St Mary Magdalene in 1866 and designed the chancel screen for its daughter church, St Matthias.{{Cite web |title=Sir Arthur Blomfield (1829-1899) |url=https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/blomfield/index.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=victorianweb.org}}{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://richmond-team-ministry.staxotest.net/history/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Richmond Team Ministry |language=en-GB}}

The Richmond old burial ground covers approximately 4 acres, with over 1000 graves.{{Cite web |title=Richmond Old Burial Ground {{!}} Richmond Local History Society |url=https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/history-of-richmond/richmond-old-burial-ground/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en-GB}} Richmond Local History Society carried out a survey of the burial grounds in the early 2000s, documenting the graves of over 2000 people.{{Cite web |title=Richmond Old Burial Ground {{!}} Richmond Local History Society |url=https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/history-of-richmond/richmond-old-burial-ground/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en-GB}}[https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/history-of-richmond/richmond-old-burial-ground/] Among the many notable persons buried in the grounds, Charles Tickell Proctor, the Vicar of Richmond who helped to build the chapel, is buried to the south of the entrance along with many members of his family. William Francis who, with Richard Taylor, formed the publishers Taylor & Francis, is buried to the south east.{{Cite web |title=Our history |url=https://taylorandfrancis.com/about/history/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Taylor & Francis |language=en-US}} Walter Hood Fitch, a prominent botanical illustrator who worked with William Jackson Hooker at Kew Gardens, is buried to the east of the chapel.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=Walter Hood Fitch - Botanic Illustrator & neighbour to the Grove Gardens Chapel. |url=https://habitatsandheritage.org.uk/blog/walter-hood-fitch-botanic-illustrator-neighbour-to-the-grove-gardens-chapel/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Habitats & Heritage |language=en-GB}}

Richmond Cemetery was enlarged and joined with East Sheen Cemetery and Barnes Cemetery in the early 20th century.{{Citation |title=SOUTH LONDON PARKS |date=2014-12-18 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107706644.009 |work=London Parks and Gardens |pages=155–184 |access-date=2023-04-13 |publisher=Cambridge University Press}} With the burial ground full, Grove Gardens Chapel was deconsecrated and closed in the 1960s. The Richmond Burial Ground Trust manages the old cemetery ground with Richmond Council.{{Cite web |title=Richmond Old Cemetery |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/parks_and_open_spaces/find_a_park/richmond_old_cemetery |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |language=en-gb}}

After 30 years of neglect and decay, the chapel was recognised for its architectural merit and Grade II listed on 15 May 1990.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHAPEL RICHMOND CEMETERY, Non Civil Parish - 1261361 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1261361 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The Environment Trust of Richmond led a four-year National Lottery Fund project to restore it in the early 2000s, bringing it into use for the community. It was then used by the Steiner kindergarten, The Children's Garden, until 2020.{{Cite web |title=The Children's Garden |url=http://www.thechildrensgarden.org.uk/about-us/our-story/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en-GB}}

The chapel is now suffering from severe cracking caused by subsidence as a result of climate change. Habitats & Heritage, who care for the building, are working to stabilise the structure for the future.{{Cite web |title=Grove Gardens Chapel |url=https://habitatsandheritage.org.uk/get-involved/our-projects/grove-gardens-chapel/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Habitats & Heritage |language=en-GB}}

File:Chapel 1990s.jpg|Chapel in the 1990s

File:Grove Gardens Chapel northwest.jpg|Grove Gardens Chapel from the northwest

File:West end of chapel.jpg|West end of chapel

File:Stained glass panel, east window.jpg|Surviving stained glass panel by Daniel Bell

File:Bell mosaic.jpg|Mosaic reredos by Daniel Bell

File:Canon C T Proctor.jpg|Canon Charles T Proctor's tombstone

File:Crack above fireplace.jpg|Cracking caused by subsidence above fireplace in south transept

File:Jeckyll fireplace closeup.jpg|Detail of possible Thomas Jeckyll fireplace

File:St Matthias screen.jpg|Sir Arthur Blomfield's screen in St Matthias, Richmond

File:Evidence of subsidence.jpg|Cracking above the entrance to the south transept

File:William Francis Tombstone.jpg|Tombstone of William Francis

File:Sedilla northeast.jpg|Sedilia by the altar, showing signs of cracking

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{{LB Richmond upon Thames}}

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Category:1877 establishments in England

Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Category:Chapels in London

Category:Churches completed in 1877

Category:Death in London

Category:Funeral chapels

Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in London

Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames