News & Events | News Archives

Chapels of Rest Client Brief and Tender Documents prepared

The Trust have started to send out tender documents for a detailed condition survey and costing for essential but minimal upgrade of the Chapels of Rest. To see what we are planning click on the following links:
>Client Brief
>Download Tender document 

Founder Member, Anne Mackintosh, has stepped down as SPT Trustee

​SPT's last founder member Trustee has stepped down from being a Trustee and the Treasurer of the organisation. Anne was joint project manager for 32-34 High Street and 55 High Street & Withey’s Yard becoming project manager for the Brunel Goods Shed, the Cainscross Toll House and the Arundel Mill houses.  As a founder member of Stroud Valleys Project, Anne was involved in CPC and the Brunel celebrations and co-ordinated all the work on the Archway Slavery Arch. She has been involved in SPT for 38 years - a remarkable achievement and her wisdom, knowledge of the projects and attention to detail will be sorely missed. We are hoping to be able to celebrate her achievements in 2021 when we can all get together to give her the thanks that she thoroughly deserves.

Bisley Road Cemetery Chapels of Rest Open Day
Sunday 25th October

This was a really successful day with people coming and talking, looking for the first time into the Chapels of Rest - many of them long term Stroud people who had never had the opportunity to see inside before and hear a little about the history of the Chapels.
 
Thanks to everyone for queuing so well, wearing masks and offering such constructive and useful ideas. Sun, rain, wind and a rainbow - it was a wonderful place to see the weather coming in from the south west - what terrific views.
 
We will regularly update with next steps on Stroud Preservation's journey to develop a long lasting and meaningful repurposing of the Chapels - watch this space and thanks to everyone who came and gave ideas.
 
If you were inspired by the Chapels visit please complete our survey: 
​>SPT Chapels of Rest visitors' survey link

 
On October 8th, Stroud District Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee agreed that the Chapels of Rest could be asset transferred to Stroud Preservation Trust for £1
There are four conditions:
  • That a detailed feasibility study is presented
  • That there is plenty of public consultation
  • That there is a further report to Strategy and Resources
  • And that the scheme supports community use and improvement to the building beyond its worth to the Council.
The Chapels of Rest at Bisley Road Cemetery, a Grade II listed building, is one of Stroud’s iconic, landmark buildings. Cemetery visitors can enjoy the spectacular view of the valleys from the surrounding public space. Set high up in Stroud Cemetery, the spire is a familiar sight from miles around. Stroud Cemetery is a serene, green space and a Local Nature Reserve with exceptional wildlife interest.

The building, out of use as a Chapel of Rest for decades, has been empty for the last 3 years. The building, and the tarmac apron around it, are owned by Stroud District Council. Stroud Cemetery, a nature reserve of great value is owned and managed by the Town Council.

Stroud Preservation Trust (SPT) is a building preservation trust which has completed six building restoration projects in Stroud including Withey’s Yard, the Medieval Hall (at the top of the High Street) and the Goods Shed. Trustees have been researching the cost of restoring and converting the Chapel with the help of Stroud District Council and the Town Council. Historic buildings often need new uses. The options for the Chapels of Rest that have been looking at include a mix of residential, work and community use.  

Bringing the building into full use with all modern conveniences will cost far more than the final value of the building. The difference is known as the conservation deficit. Stroud Preservation Trust as a charity with a good building record will have to raise grants for the work. If SPT cannot raise sufficient in its feasibility plan the building will revert to SDC to sell.

Local community consultation has said at public meetings that this is not what is wanted. So Stroud Preservation Trust has a task on its hands!

​This is the first time that the building will be fully open to the public – come and see your community asset, join SPT as a member and give us your ideas for the building’s future.

Bisley Road Cemetery Chapels of Rest
​ 

The Chapel of Rest in the Bisley Road Cemetery is a lovely, graceful building, seen from across the valleys, and is currently unused. The building (one chapel for Church of England and one side for Non Conformists) and its surrounding tarmac area is currently owned by Stroud District Council.

​Stroud District Council have agreed that Stroud Preservation Trust can go ahead and develop a full feasibility study. If successful the buildings will be asset transferred to SPT for £1. An asset transfer is where a local authority feels that the best economic, social and cultural option for an asset that they own is to transfer it to a local community organisation.

SPT will then work closely with the local community, SDC and STC  to inform a detailed feasibility study to assess the potential of bringing the building fully into use. This, including fundraising for the building (as there is a considerable conservation deficit) will take approximately 2 years.

Built in 1856 The twin chapels, surmounted by a spire and the original entrance lodge were designed, in decorated Gothic, by the local architects, Messrs Baker and Son, 3 Albert Buildings, Stroud, and built to a high standard of stone masonry. The overall cost (excluding the land) was £2,800.00.

The Bisley Road Cemetery was consecrated in 1856 and laid out in the fashion of the times with lovely walks and trees. The cemetery is now owned by Stroud Town Council. There are still some interments but the whole site is run as a nature reserve with a fantastic array of plants, insects, butterflies, beetles and reptiles living there. 

SPT book available here – £10 + £2.50p&p

'Stroud – A Town Changed by Community Action' is Stroud Preservation Trust’s latest publication for sale from December 2013.

It covers ten significant community projects and campaigns over the past 40 years in Stroud and charts the difference they have made to the town, the economy and the community. 32 people were interviewed for this book of living history. A further 67 projects and campaigns have been collated to show the extraordinary vibrancy of the town of Stroud and the people that live here.

For anyone interested in the recent history of the town this book, full of quotes, photographs and newspaper headlines is a must!

Available from Stroud Bookshop; Stroud Valleys Project and Uplands Post Office.

> BUY THE BOOK HERE!