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old Congregational Chapel, architecturally important to the town, was built in
1749 and enlarged in 1825. A charming
Grade II listed building, it is surrounded by fine 17th and 18th century houses
which survived the three devastating Beaminster fires.
Serving Beaminster and some of the neighbouring villages the chapel has
been supported in the past by leading families of the locality such as the
Daniels - one of whom fought for Monmouth at the Battle of Sedgemoor - and the
Hines - including Thomas who founded the Hine Cognac dynasty and Richard who
published his 'History of Beaminster'
in 1914. The
early nineteenth century organ in the Gallery is still played on special
occasions. The building was acquired in 1990 by the Beaminster Museum Trust, a registered charity formed to set up and maintain a museum for the town of Beaminster and the surrounding rural area. |
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