Chapel of St John the Baptist Supporting Retaining Wall and Attached Boundary Walls

CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, CLIFF ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1248139
Date first listed:
26-Oct-1972
List Entry Name:
Chapel of St John the Baptist Supporting Retaining Wall and Attached Boundary Walls
Statutory Address:
CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, CLIFF ROAD
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1248139
Date first listed:
26-Oct-1972
Date of most recent amendment:
22-Apr-1993
List Entry Name:
Chapel of St John the Baptist Supporting Retaining Wall and Attached Boundary Walls
Statutory Address 1:
CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, CLIFF ROAD
Statutory Address 2:
CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, ST JOHN'S ROAD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, CLIFF ROAD
Statutory Address:
CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SUPPORTING RETAINING WALL AND ATTACHED BOUNDARY WALLS, ST JOHN'S ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Derbyshire
District:
Derbyshire Dales (District Authority)
Parish:
Matlock Town
National Grid Reference:
SK 29426 59416

Details

In the entry for:- ST JOHN'S ROAD SK 25 NE (off Cliff Road) 6/1A Chapel of St John the Baptist

II

The entry shall be amended to read:-

SK 2959 MATLOCK ST JOHN'S ROAD (off Cliff Road) Matlock Bath

4/111 Chapel of St John the Baptist, supporting retaining. wall and attached boundary walls

II*

Chapel supporting retaining wall and attached boundary walls and integral trough. 1897, by E. Guy Dawber, for Mrs Louisa Sophia Harris. Rubble carboniferous limestone, of massive construction in lower part of the retaining wall, with ashlar gritstone dressings. Stone slates, laid to diminishing courses, replaced in concrete tiles to south slope, and with a single moulded ashlar coped gable to the east with kneelers and finals. Single cell chapel, with small square bell turret, beneath lead-covered pyramidal roof, projecting from south elevation. West entrance front has central pointed-arched doorway in moulded ashlar surround, with a wooden gabled porch which continues to the north and down the north side of the chapel as a lean-to covered walk. Above the porch, a 3-light chamfered million window above in the gable, a tiny Keyhole lancet. The west facade has two 4 light chamfered mullion windows, each light with a roundhead, then a flat buttress which rises to the bell turret. Beyond this, an oriel window with 4 chamfered mullioned lights. The east gable has a 4 light reticulated tracery pointed arched window. The interior contains many fine Arts and Craft fittings, including a perpendicular style rood screen by E Guy Dawbar, decorated ceiling plaster work by George Bankart, a painted wooden altar piece by John Cooke, and stained glass in the east window by Louis Davis. The remainder of the fittings include pulpit, pews and choir stalls, probably also by Dawbar, and pendant light fittings. The chapel, which was never consecrated is the only church designed by Dawber. The chapel stands upon a massive retaining wall, itself constructed of massive blocks of limestone, laid roughly to courses. The wall extends 45 metres to the west, and incorporates a stone water trough, and 10 metres to the east, it forms a boundary wall which encloses the approach to the chapel.

------------------------------------

SK 25 NE ST JOHN'S ROAD 6/1A (OFF CLIFF ROAD)

Chapel of St John the Baptist

II

Chapel,1897 designed by E Guy Dawber. Coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. Graduated slate roof with a single moulded ashlar coped gable to the east with kneelers and finials. Single cell chapel with small square bell turret projecting from north facade. West entrance front has central pointed arched doorway in moulded ashlar surround, with wooden gabled porch which continues to the left and down the side of the chapel as a lean-to covered walk. Above the porch a 3 light chamfered mullion window,above in the gable a tiny key-hole lancet. The west facade has 2,4- light chamfered mullion windows, each light with a round head then a flat buttress which rises to the bell turret and beyond an oriel window with 4 chamfered mullioned lights. The east front has a 4 light reticulated tracery pointed arched window. The interior contains many fine Arts and Crafts fittings,a Perpendicular style rood scream by E Guy Dawber,plaster ceiling by George Bankart, painted wooden altar piece by John Cooke. The remainder of the fittings include pulpit pews and choir stalls are probably also by Dawber.

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1. ST JOHN'S ROAD 1390 MATLOCK BATH

Chapel of St John the Baptist SK 2959 4/111 C

2. 1897. Architect, Sir Guy Dawber. Early English Gothic style in the manner of Bodley. Of uncoursed stone rubble with ashlar dressings, surmounting, and flanked by, massive retaining walls. Nave, chancel, spire, belleote and west loggia. In a picturesque set-ring on the side of the cliff.

Listing NGR: SK2942659416

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
429658
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Chapel of St John the Baptist Supporting Retaining Wall and Attached Boundary Walls

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 19:31:50.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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