Grove Gardens Chapel

This Grade II listed chapel was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield (1829-1899). He was also architect to the Bank of England from 1883 and St Barnabas Church in Oxford. In 1888 he was elected an associate of the Royal Academy, knighted in 1889, and in 1891 awarded the gold medal for the Royal Institute of British Architects for his distinguished works.

Pevsner's "Buildings of England" states "Richmond Cemetery, Grove Road, E of Queen's Road, 1861. Two Gothic chapels of imaginative design, with plate tracery." However, 1875 is the currently accepted date, confirmed by letters from the parish clerk to the diocese specifying the site of the chapel to replace an original one on a nearby site. The churchyard of St Mary Magdeleine, the parish church of Richmond, had been closed for burials since 1855.

Besides the chapel in Richmond Cemetery, Blomfield was later to design Christ Church, Kew Road in 1893, and he also worked on St Mary Magdeleine itself. It is not known whether the non-conformist chapel at the entrance to the cemetery is also by him. In 1990 the Anglican chapel was awarded a grade II listing, and the Department of the Environment description includes the many surviving features of this neglected, but still attractive building.

The Trust restored and renovated the chapel, funded by grants from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery fund, and supplemented by local donations. It is now in used to house a childrens’ nursery.

Location: Grove Gardens Chapel, Richmond Cemetery, Grove Gardens, off Lower Grove Road (entrance opposite Greville Road) TW10 6HP