Enfield Council has been awarded grant-funding of £25,500 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional grants of £5,000 each from the Pilgrim Trust and the Enfield Society, to explore options for the conservation and reuse of the Lavender Hill Non-Conformist Cemetery Chapel, EN2.
Made possible by National Lottery players, the funding for The Lavender Hill: Chapel and Community project will support delivery of an Options Appraisal to explore how the Grade II listed Gothic-style Non-Conformist Chapel can be conserved, restored and reused for the good of the local community.
Enfield Council will be working with the London Historic Buildings Trust (LHBT) to appoint a professional team for the delivery of the study in consultation with local stakeholders.
The historic Chapel has been unoccupied for several years and forms a picturesque matching pair to its Anglican counterpart on the eastern side of the cemetery. With no current use and its condition deteriorating, the chapel presents some challenges to finding a viable new use. By utilising the expertise and resources of the London Historic Buildings Trust and the Enfield Society, and through engaging with the local community, Enfield Council will be working to identify a sustainable way forward in 2024.
The feasibility work is scheduled to take place over the forthcoming nine months and will help to progress plans to apply for more funding to secure a future life for the chapel, once repaired.
The project aims to identify appropriate, sustainable short- and longer-term solutions that respond to local need and will see the building removed from the Heritage-at-Risk register.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Spaces, Culture and Local Economy, Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu, said:
"The initial grant funding for the Lavender Hill Chapel and Community project is a significant step towards conserving and revitalising the chapel. With the support of £25,500 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside contributions from the Pilgrim Trust and the Enfield Society, we are now set in our mission to breathe new life into this historic structure. Our partnership with the LHBT and collaboration with local people will ensure we can work towards sustainable solutions that honour the heritage and meet the needs of our community."
The Enfield Society, said:
“The Enfield Society is delighted that The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the LHBT, the Pilgrims Trust and Enfield Council are all supporting the development of this project. This beautiful and historic building has such tremendous potential to create a valuable community space. The building is minutes from Gordon Hill Station with good links into Central London creating opportunities for both local community activities and events that will serve a wider audience. The Society looks forward to working with the community and other partners to develop the project.”
Georgina Nayler, Chair of LHBT, said:
“At LHBT, we are committed to transforming places for local people and finding innovative ways to bring new life to London’s endangered historic buildings. So, we are very pleased to be playing our part managing this project.”
A programme of events and consultation are planned in collaboration with the Enfield Society, as well as a maintenance training day for staff, volunteers and other groups in the borough who care for historic buildings and want to up-to-date knowledge and skills. The project will also identify local community members to take part in the project’s activities and consultation processes and produce online interpretation about the history of the site. Lavender Hill: Chapel and Community will result in a Steering Group being established with the interests of heritage, Enfield people and the regeneration of the local area at its heart.
