 The Watts Chapel in Surrey is an Arts and Crafts masterpiece with stunning colors, decorations, and symbols on wood, terracotta, and plaster of Paris. Watts Chapel History  Watts Chapel exterior of brick and terracotta. The construction of Watts Chapel began in 1896 when the Celtic Revival movement was part of Arts and Crafts work created at the time. Located in the village of Compton near Guildford, the chapel is now considered a late 19th century Arts and Crafts masterpiece. In the United Kingdom, Grade 1 listed buildings have exceptional national, architectural, or historical significance. Only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade 1, making the small Watts Chapel in Surrey a rarity. Other Grade 1 listed buildings loom larger, such as Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Mary Seton Watts  Mary Watts and Compton villagers at work. Mary Seton Watts (1849-1938) was a Scottish artist who worked with clay, metal, and textiles in the Celtic and British Art Nouveau styles. She also worked to create employment for rural communities through the preservation of handicrafts, including a pottery guild in the village of Compton in Surrey. The Watts Chapel became an example of public participation art with more than 70 villagers involved in the chapel’s construction and decoration between 1896 and 1904. While Mary Watts was the artistic force behind the chapel project, George Tunstal Redmayne (1840-1912) was the architect. The April 1966 issue of The Connoisseur (a British magazine) described the chapel as a curious edifice with a richness of color. Perhaps too rich. “It looms excessively red on its green hillside, strident like a London bus has strayed down a country lane...the result of the use of a local clay for the bricks.” Mary Watts was aware of the effect of the red bricks and hoped the red color would tone down. “it is growing every day less red, and the green enfolds it all so beautifully now, the trees are in leaf...a sweet resting place.”  A view of the bell turret. Today’s visitors can see that the red bricks of the Watts Chapel have, in fact, toned down. Modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the chapel stands on the side of Budburrow Hill and faces east toward Jerusalem. The outside of the chapel is covered with decorative clay tiles, molded by members of the local community.  Watts Chapel exterior with decorative clay tiles. “The flower that closes with the setting sun and opens again when darkness is past.” Crafted to Mary Watts’ design, the terracotta tiles blend Celtic, Romanesque, and Art Nouveau influences. The chapel’s Celtic Romanesque entrance has a semicircular arch supported by three pillars. The design is taken from early Irish churches, such as Clonfert Cathedral in County Galway, Ireland.  The chapel door carved from chestnut and oak. The three-tiered arch above the door features a Celtic knot of interlaced hearts at the top, followed by a row of peacock feathers, and then a row of 15 angels. The faces of the angels look up in hope or down in sympathy. The chapel door was carved from chestnut and oak by the Compton wheelwright Thomas Steadman. The door’s wrought iron was forged by the village blacksmith Clarence Sex. The symbols on the doors include crosses, flames, wings, and the slaying of a dragon. Visually, the wrought iron cross acts as a mast for sails on either side of the door panels. Watts Chapel Interior With four naves of equal length and width, the chapel is in the shape of a Byzantine Greek cross.  The dome of heaven. The chapel’s round shape – a never-ending circle – symbolizes the promise of an everlasting life with the cupola at the top representing the dome of heaven rising from the earth. Watts Chapel Video The interior decorations are made from felt, string, and chicken wire, dipped in plaster, and painted over the surface.  Painted decorations in Art Nouveau style. The All-Pervading Inside the chapel, you will find an unusual altar painting by Mary’s husband, George Frederic Watts. George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) was a sought-after portrait artist in the Victorian age, with portrait commissions from the English poet, Robert Browning to the British monarch, King Edward VII. These commissioned portraits financed the construction of Watts Chapel.  The All-Pervading in the Watts Gallery. An allegorical painting produced between 1887 and 1890, The All-Pervading was influenced by the Sibyls of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and symbolizes the spirit that George Frederic Watts saw as governing “the immeasurable expanse”. In 1899, Watts presented the painting to the Tate in London. The All-Pervading is now on loan from Tate Britain to the Watts Gallery. A smaller version of the painting is the altarpiece for the Watts Chapel.  The All-Pervading altar painting. George Frederic Watts died in 1904, just three months after completing the altar painting. When the chapel’s construction began in 1896, Mary Watts wanted the cemetery chapel built: “To the loving memory of all who find rest near its walls, and for the comfort and help of those to whom the sorrow of separation yet remains.”  Cobblestone walk up Budburrow Hill. Tips for the Watts Chapel in Surrey
 Terracotta panel on the wellhead. Watts Chapel Opening Times
 Step into the Watts Chapel. Things to know about the Watts Chapel in Surrey  The Watts Chapel is located less than an hour from London. A lovely day trip is a visit to the Watts Chapel and Watts Gallery, followed by lunch at the tea shop on the gallery’s property. There is limited parking at the Watts Chapel. If you have a car and are able, park at the Watts Gallery and walk the 0.3 mile to the chapel. If you don’t have a car, take a car-for-hire to the chapel, then walk to the Watts Gallery. If you would like a tour of the chapel, book in advance to ensure your space. Tours are subject to the availability of the volunteer guides.
Except for guided tours, it is free to visit the Watts Chapel. There is a donation box, if you are so inclined. Visit Watts Chapel in Surrey Down Lane Compton, Guildford GU3 1DN, UK Tel: +44 (0)7711 566458 Visit the Watts Cemetery Chapel page on the Watts Gallery website. Hungry? Go to the Tea Shop at the Watts Gallery. You don’t have to visit the gallery to enjoy homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and cakes at the tea shop. To see other paintings and sculptures by George Frederic Watts (and you really should), visit the Watts Gallery (0.3 mile from the chapel). There is free parking at the gallery.  Inside the Watts Gallery. See more Places to Go: Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride Millicent Rogers Museum Authentic Native American Jewelry Jane Austen House Lacock Abbey England Cape Cod Lavender Farm Harwich  Comments are closed.
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