Greater Manchester Gothic chapels designed by Alfred Waterhouse, architect of the Natural History Museum, in very dire state
Grade II-listed, 1855-57, Alfred Waterhouse
When Ince Cemetery opened in 1855, presumably in response to the Burial Act of 1852 – brought in to tackle public health concerns raised by overcrowded churchyards in industrial towns and cities – there were no churches nearby to cater to friends and family of the deceased. Two cemetery chapels were commissioned to meet that purpose, and constructed over the course of two years to designs by Alfred Waterhouse, following an architectural competition. The first of the chapels, for Anglican worshippers, was built in the Early English tradition, with trefoil-headed lights between weathered buttresses, and incorporates a three-bay nave and short chancel. The second, for Catholics and non-conformists, was approximately Romanesque, with round-headed windows and zig-zag mouldings; and in this instance, the nave, of four bays, was segmented, to allow for two congregations to worship simultaneously. Both buildings were built from the same material, they both ran to a similar size, and today, they are both also in a similar condition. At the entrance to the cemetery, the former Lodge has been restored, but the chapels are boarded up and derelict, with ivy compromising their walls, and tree roots threatening their foundations. The council is currently looking at costing some temporary, short-term repair works, but the long term future for these beautiful chapels remains decidedly bleak.
Christopher Costelloe, The Victorian Society Director, said: “It was quite a discovery to find two chapels designed by Alfred Waterhouse in a Lancashire cemetery, but such a disappointment to see the state they’re in. Both were listed in the 1980s for their architectural and historical significance, but that could be lost forever if action is not taken directly. If restored, both chapels would be a charming addition to the cemetery and something for Ince-in-Makerfield to be proud of.”
Status Update / March 2026
In 2025, the Wigan Buildings Preservation Trust was awarded a sum of £10,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund to conduct urgent repairs at the chapels. The funds are expected to go towards conducting a condition survey with cost estimates for repairs, establishing a Friends of Waterhouse Chapels group, and exploring the adaptive reuse of the buildings for potential educational, cultural, and community purposes.