Margate, Hawley Square Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Kent

Margate, Hawley Square Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built of stone and brick in 1811. In 1831 an engraving was published by William Kidd in his Picturesque Guide to Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs (p33). It shows a building of five bays with openings on two levels. At ground level there were entrances at each side with three plain windows between. Above were five larger windows in the gothic style. In 1845 it measured 57 feet by 33 feet before it was widened by 23 feet at a cost of £1800. In 1851 the chapel provided 400 free and 500 other sittings. In 1873 950 sittings were reported. This figure fell to 750 between 1881 and 1891 and remained at that level until 1931 when all the sittings were free. In 1940 the chapel estate consisted of the chapel itself which seated 750 in pews, three school halls and six other rooms
1940, 1873
Sources
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, Methodist Conference Archive Register of applications to build Nos 1804-2166, 7 Dec. 1842 – 9 July 1846 No 1913, 1845
The National Archives HO129/70/2/16 1851 Ecclesiastical census
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson Returns of Accommodation provided by Wesleyan Methodist Chapels and other Preaching Places, Margate Circuit 1873/88, 1881/116, 1891/126 1901/124, 1911/119, 1931/121
John Rylands Library University of Manchester DDPD2 Returns of Accommodation provided by Wesleyan Methodist Chapels and other Preaching Places, Margate Circuit, 1931/121
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson Returns of Accommodation provided by Methodist Chapels and other Preaching Places, 1940/162, Margate Circuit