Rescuing Grove Gardens Chapel
Rescuing Grove Gardens Chapel: Preserving Our Heritage for the Community
Habitats & Heritage is delighted to announce that DBR Limited: Building Restoration Services has been contracted to undertake essential underpinning work to Grove Gardens Chapel to address subsidence issues. This critical restoration project, funded primarily by the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) via Richmond Council, is scheduled to take place from March to May.
Heritage Projects Manager, Stephen Fielding, celebrates this news: “This has been a project several years in the making. We are immensely grateful to our funders and supporters, including the UK Government, Aurelius Trust, Historic England, The Pilgrim Trust, and Richmond Council, for making this project possible and bringing the building back into use.”
Grove Gardens Burial Chapel, constructed in 1877 to serve the growing Richmond population, fell into disuse in the 1960s and became derelict by the 1990s. Habitats & Heritage (formerly the Environment Trust) took on the building, restoring it and returning it to community use, including as a children’s nursery. Unfortunately, subsidence issues since 2016 have made the building unsafe to use.
With the help of Cymes Conservation and Conisbee plans for the chapels restoration have been formed. This work will involve stabilising the foundation to prevent further subsidence, repairing structural damage, and ensuring the building meets modern safety standards. Once the underpinning work is complete, additional renovations will focus on enhancing the chapel making it a functional and inviting space for the community.
We are still actively fundraising to cover the finishing touches that will enhance the chapel’s functionality and comfort as it is brought back into use for the local community. Your support will help ensure that the chapel can once again stand as a testament to our rich heritage and serve as a welcoming place for all. Once the works are complete, we hope the building will become a hub for local people, hosting charitable activities, cultural events, and serving as a mixed-use community space.
Habitats & Heritage is committed to preserving the historical and architectural significance of Grove Gardens Chapel while adapting it to meet contemporary needs. This project not only aims to restore a cherished landmark but also to foster a sense of community and belonging among residents.
For more information about the project and to make a donation, please visit SOS Grove Gardens Chapel – Habitats & Heritage
