Listed Building record MDR13028 - Melbourne Cemetery Chapels, Packhorse Road, Melbourne

Melbourne Cemetery Chapels, Packhorse Road, Melbourne, built c1860. There are two mortuary chapels situated here on the 1st edition 25" OS map of c1880; one for the Church of England and one for Non-conformists. (1) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE PACKHORSE ROAD 6/142 (East Side) Melbourne Cemetery Chapels GV II Cemetery chapels. c1860. Rock faced ashlar with ashlar dressings and double chamfered plinth. Steeply pitched lozenge patterned grey and green slate roofs with crested ridge tiles, lapped stone coped gables on moulded kneelers and corbelled eaves bands. Chapels at right angles to each other with central tower between. The tower has a full width carriage arch through it, with a moulded pointed arch on triple clustered shafts topped by moulded capitals, also with hoodmould and relieving arch above. Upper stage has a chamfered band to base and moulded cornice with corner gargoyles to top. East and west sides have central cusped ogee headed windows with crocketed hoodmoulds and finials. At this level each corner tapers from about half way up so the top of the stage is octagonal. Above, the tower reduces considerably and is topped by an octagonal turret with gableted louvred lancets to each side and a slim banded spire above. Chapel attached to south has three 2-light plate tracery windows to west elevation and stepped buttresses to either end. Similar east elevation except southern window is set in a small gabled vestry. South gable wall has a 4-light geometric tracery window with hoodmould and relieving arch above. Northern chapel is similar with plate tracery windows to north, 3-light geometric tracery window to east and a 4-light cusped intersecting tracery window with roundel to top, to west. Both chapels have Caernarvon arched doorcases beneath the tower, each with double doors and decorated spandrels. Interiors of the chapels are very plain with arched trusses on carved spandrels and tiled floors. Listing NGR: SK3874425895.' (2)