Built and consecrated in 1872 on a gentle rise on the banks of the River dee, Overton, Wrexham, with views across open farmland and the distant Berwyn Hills, a quiet peaceful place to live through eternal darkness.
A line drawing from the 19th century
Source
The "Hidden Chapel in the Woods." as it became known locally stood the test of time until it was vandalised and partly destroyed by fire in the 1960's. Now tended to by locals but still hidden from site.
I have driven past these unassuming grey gates for years and never questioned why they were there. A single gate for people and the double gates for what would have been horse drawn carriages, hearses carrying the quick and the dead. I had read an article in the local papers, my interest was piqued so off we went me and my trusty lens, it was only a 15 minute drive from my home.
The original sturdy lych gate, surrounded by shrubbery: "lych"is the old english name for "corpse" Literally translating to "corpse gate." Roofed porches at the entrance to traditional churchyards a specific meeting point where pallbearers could shelter a coffin and await the parish priest before a funeral, they are also seen as the point of transition between the real world and the consecrated ground of the church.
The Peel Mortuary Chapel was commissioned by 24yr Edmund Peel a wealthy landowner of the Bryn y Pys estate, Overton. in memory of his wife, Anna Maria Peel, whom he married only 4 years prior to her death in 1860.
At some point the grounds were given over to the local community to use as a village cemetery.
The sad stone faces sitting on the corbel bases greet the funeral party as they entered the chapel
A micro world of lichen, a world within a world, do the microbes and bacteria believe themselves to be the superior beings, unaware of what is around them, or beneath them? In this instance Minnie Ann, the beloved daughter of William and Mary Arrowsmith. Who died Died aged 7yrs and 4 months in July 1895.
One can only wonder how Sophy Lucinda Pearson who was born in Lima Peru in 1864. met her end in 1889 in London aged 25 years, finally comes to rest in North wales. What a journey
Hugh Jones of The White Horse Inn, Overton. gave up his landlord duties back in December 15, 1877. The pub continued until it closed its doors in 2024 ( big shout out to clueless Racheal from accounts who has single handedly destroyed the licensed and hospitality trade with her punitive marxist taxes). The pub is currently on sale at just under £400k +VAT as a going concern.
Sarah Ellen Burton, the wife of the local bobby, Jonathan Burton, of Overton Police Station, who passed away 1882, at the age of 44.
I wonder what a "Late Night Poet" is. Maybe it is romantacism or maybe something sinister.
