Sion Independent Chapel

Highly ornate interior, largely of 1908, with exceptional 3-sided gallery. Gallery is supported on 7 painted cast iron fluted columns with florid capitals, perhaps of earlier date than the gallery, which projects far out from columns on deep horizontal brackets. Gallery front, curved at angles, has fine wrought-iron balustrade, double-curved in profile and elaborately scrolled. Main motif is a large beaten copper cartouche in scrollwork with scrolls each side and then plain vertical bars. There are two such motifs to each long side and one to rear. Gallery has deeper rear, and raked pitch-pine pews with boarded backs. Lower pews similar with 2 aisles. Balustraded great seat with ball-finial newels, probably of 1908, as also the pulpit which has similar detail to twin stairs. Fine pulpit with convex and concave curve to either side with low balustrades over panels. Deep top cornice with moulded dentils, a distinctive feature of much of the internal woodwork, over 2-bay front with unusual triangular heads over three panelled pilasters. Fine quality painted graining in four shades. Pulpit back of 1908 has 6-bay panelling, long panels under square panels, all diagonally-slatted in opposed directions. Pilasters between, except to centre pair which are carried up a further stage under curved cornice with keystone support for clock. Painted scroll on back wall: 'Sancteiddrwydd a wedda i'th Dy, O Arglwydd, Byth '. Decorative panelled ceiling, also probably of 1908, in timber and plaster. Moulded timber beams with dentils, in 5 main panels with narrower panels flanking. Large pierced cusped gothic timber brackets from wall corbels to beam intersections where there are pendant finials. Plaster panels all have moulded timber borders with rebated angles, and centre panels each have a raised octagonal timber vent, with moulded dentilled surround to pierced fretwork inset panel. Vestry of 1864, to left of pulpit, probably refitted in 1908, has panelled, folding screen with glazing over. Three-sided slatted ceiling, ceiled at collar level with arched braces rising from small corbels.

Chapel, stucco with two-storey gabled facade possibly of 1864, and slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles, and small finial to front. Pedimental gable, with bracketed moulded timber cornice and moulded verges. In raised letters: 'Sion Addoldy'r Annibynwyr. Adeiladwyd 1860. Helaethwyd 1864. Adnewyddwyd 1908'. Four arched windows to upper storey, with narrower gap between centre two, all equal height, with channelled rustication up to level of moulded impost band carried around arched heads with keystones. Angle quoins. Larger stucco string course between storeys. Rusticated ground floor with 2 cambered-headed windows flanking broad cambered-headed doorway, all with voussoirs, door with keystone. Panelled wooden double doors with stained glass leaded lights over. All windows are 2-light with transom and leaded lights. Plain rendered side wall with plinth to right of 5 bays, 2 storeys. Cambered-headed windows to upper storey, smaller square-headed windows below. First bay has no ground floor window. Left side similar, rear obscured by attached vestry.