NHER 13790 (Building record) - Former Congregational chapel, London Road

(S1) dates to 1772, but probably of 1815.

June 1978. Visit.
Red brick: two storeys of pointed windows, lower one with intersected glazing bars, upper ones blocked with name inscribed. Two pyramidal roofs. One above three bays, one above two. South side has four windows on upper floor (two blocked), and below a pointed door between two windows. Now a scout hut.
E. Rose (NAU), 27 June 1978.

As Cowper did not move to Dereham until 1796, and died in 1800, the name must be later. The date for the building is confirmed by (S1) and (S2) and appears accurate, though stylistically a date in the early 19th century is possible. However, the bricks of which the chapel is built have horizontal skintlings which are first recorded in Norfolk on Gressenhall workhouse of 1777. The 1850 census names no chapel under this name or in London Road but there is an entry for an Independant Chapel in 'Swan Lane' (a name not now known) built in 1815. As Cowper was an Independant himself it seems far more probable that this is that chapel and the date is indeed 1815.
E. Rose (NLA), 11 May 1998.

(S3) states that this indeed was built in 1815 and the words COWPER CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL along the side were not added until 1874 when the new Cowper Chapel in the Market Place was built, and this building became the Sunday school.
E. Rose (NLA), 27 November 1998.

(S4) provides a date of 1812 for the original chapel which was doubled in size shortly afterwards. The interior (38ft by 26ft) retains no original fittings. The roof of the earlier part is supported by 3 king-post trusses with half trusses in the hips; a suspended ceiling has been inserted. An upper floor has been introduced to the extension.
See (S4) for further details.
A. Yardy (HES), 12 December 2012.