Discovering the Mortuary Chapel

The site was presented to the parish [of Havant] by Sir George Staunton, and the subsoil is flint gravel. The mortuary chapel and necessary walling have been erected by subscription. One statute acre has been enclosed for the members of the Church of England, and one quarter of a statute acre for the dissenters.  The enclosure walls are of flint and brick.  The entrance gateway and the chapel are builtof flint, with Caen stone dressings.  The style of the work is Gothic, and the chapel will accommodate about fifty persons.  The windows are of stained glass, the floor of red and black tiles six inches square, and there is an outer iron gate which is closed during the day, the inner door being left open to secure proper ventilation.  A small turret and bell complete the whole, and the total sum expended did not exceed £416, of which the chapel cost £200.

St Faiths Mortuary Chapel looking from New Lane 

This is an extract from an OS 25 inch to the mile map published in 1909 which shows the locations of both chapels. The chapel in the St Faith's section (on the left) is no longer shown in a 6 inch to the mile map published in 1933.

In 2020 two group members began an attempt to draw up a plan and in the process became interested in the location of the chapel which once stood in the centre of the plot (there was a larger chapel in the municipal section, too). An idea of its approximate location can be gleaned from the 1909 OS map, research at the Portsmouth History Centre uncovered its demolition in 1926, and if you stand in the cemetery you can clearly see a roughly rectangular area with no headstones. However these impressions have become more concrete since the Hampshire Archaeological Dowsing Group carried out a detailed survey in February 2022 which has shown where the chapel stood, how thick its walls were, and even where the altar stood. Instructions from the dowsers indicated exactly where to dig, and to great excitement diggers exposed part of the foundations. Planting has been carried out to mark the chapel’s corners and altar and an information board erected.

The Friends’ thanks are due to Local Giving for the £500 “Magic Little Grant” which has funded the project; to Staunton Park Men’s Shed for creating the frame for the information board; to Hampshire Archaeological Dowsing Group for their survey and the volunteers who have given their time and energy to the project.