Loxley Chapel, Sheffield, November 2015.

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HughieD

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It’s taken me a long time to get round to seeing this place but see it I did. It’s very sad to see a listed building in this sorry state with the owners ambivalent to its fate. What makes the plight of places like this so tragic is the fact than many people’s loved ones are buried here. It’s quite a well-known place with a history so here it is…

The Chapel was built in 1787 by the Rev Benjamin Greaves (the then curate of Bradfield) together with some of his associates. Shortly after its completion consecration was refused because builders would, for some unknown reason, not install an east-facing window. It was eventually sold at auction for the princely sum of £315 and so became an independent chapel. A decade later it started performing baptisms in 1799 and the first officer of the Titanic, Henry Tingle Wilde was apparently christened here. Notably a significant number of the 240 dead from the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 are buried in the cemetery. This includes members the Armitage family, who tragically lost 12 of their number, including five children. Here's what the chapel looked like in the later 1800's:

Loxley Chapel by HughieDW, on Flickr

Latterly the chapel became known as the Loxley United Reformed. It is a Grade II listed building and has been on English Heritage at risk register since August 1985, prior to its closure in 1993 after the congregation had reached an unsustainable level. The chapel is apparently to be owned by Hague Farming of Bradfield (who also own Canon Brewery, Thornsett Lodge and the Hallam Tower Hotel – spot a trend here?) One major issue is that while the current owner has freehold possession, the grave plots still belong to the respective families of the dead.

Here are the pictures.

Making my way through the graveyard;

22694374031_e41a4ff1b9_b.jpgimg2621 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The chapel soon appears on this very fresh morning:

22669741262_119d909576_b.jpgimg2614 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Some of the not-so-bright locals have got here before me:

22062758354_4f8f5e6db6_b.jpgimg2553 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Gravestones abound:

22060607954_eb43b9d4eb_b.jpgimg2613 by HughieDW, on Flickr

22685403035_106f7110e7_b.jpgimg2555 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Some grander than others:

22683506115_6d74d5e14a_b.jpgimg2611 by
HughieDW, on Flickr

OK – in we go. Here’s the altar:

22062405234_25939c4443_b.jpgimg2561 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Why do people smash-up stained-glass windows?

22671495342_b6772d3394_b.jpgimg2562 by HughieDW, on Flickr

In memory of…

22063782483_27c43b30d8_b.jpgimg2565 by HughieDW, on Flickr

22684999425_da1f4f5b0c_b.jpgimg2563 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Up the stairs we go:

22696051831_f04258157a_b.jpgimg2569 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Pew No.4:

22063355703_3132934957_b.jpgimg2581 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Pews with a view upstairs:

img2603 by HughieDW, on Flickr

22676750862_f470db13f9_b.jpgimg2585 by HughieDW, on Flickr

No, I didn’t go up the ladder:

22062041204_4ba4b6938c_b.jpgimg2571 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The magnificent organ:

22063248493_186b914aaf_b.jpgimg2583 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Pipes in good order, keys not so good:

22658711806_3804cce539_b.jpgimg2575 by HughieDW, on Flickr

img2605 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The stops are somewhere in the middle:

22061861444_b8ac477c38_b.jpgimg2576 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Architectural detail:

22657557086_3e5c545bf7_b.jpgimg2610 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The bible room has seen better days:

22690142265_d1c8d9bbbe_b.jpgimg2598 by HughieDW, on Flickr

22684113645_965dcb3ea3_b.jpgimg2593 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Old engraving on the floor:

22657937646_128b133d07_b.jpgimg2599 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Meeting room at the back:

22496368790_8671f684e7_b.jpgimg2590 by HughieDW, on Flickr

22496285940_2a813a8e2e_b.jpgimg2591 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Cute back-room stove:

22670323792_8e1c670dae_b.jpgimg2600 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The ‘arty’ shot:

22495879380_fd7cbdb201_b.jpgimg2601 by HughieDW, on Flickr

OK, not strictly urbex but it was Halloween!

22685662215_8b2e27834e_b.jpgimg2623 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!
 
Last edited:
Excellent report and images.I don't think I would go up the ladder even if I was paid !!

Cheers mate. My friend who went round there DID go up the ladder and he said it was a bit wobbly!

Wow HughieD! What a great place! Very nice photos and a perfect end shot :)

Cheers Rubex. That spider's web was just asking to be shot!
 

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