Back Lane Hostel

Attached gable-fronted two-storey Roman Catholic chapel, built c.1915, adjoining hostel. Pitched slate roof, set perpendicular to street, red brick to barges to front (north-east) elevation and rear (south-west) elevations, carved granite coping with cross finial to front, cast-iron rainwater goods and red brick eaves course. Red brick laid in Flemish bond to front, red brick laid in English garden wall bond to side and rear elevations. Carved granite plinth course to front, render plinth course to side elevations. Square-headed ventilation openings to apices of gables. Round-headed recess to front, with chamfered granite sill, oculus having chamfered granite surround and stained-glass window. Round-headed window openings to first floor, with granite sills and leaded windows. Square-headed window openings to ground floor, with granite sills and two-over-two pane timber sash windows. Chapel to first floor to interior with rendered walls, rendered barrel-vaulted ceiling, timber altar and pulpit, and marble reredos.

This well-balanced building is simple in form and detailing, with subtle ecclesiastical features, such as a stained glass oculus, and cross finial, providing contextual and visual interest to the façade. The stained glass adds artistic interest. The chapel forms part of the adjacent Saint Vincent de Paul hostel, which was constructed to designs by Thomas Francis McNamara in 1915 to provide low-cost accommodation for working men, later becoming a night shelter as homelessness became more apparent. The simplicity of the interior is characteristic of recent chapels, and befits a multiple-purpose use.