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 2022 a project was started to attempt to locate the foundations of the mortuary chapel. Using a method called dowsing the outline area of the chapel was marked out. Once place was chosen where it was most likely that the foundations could be digging commenced. To our surprise a small section of the chapel foundations was uncovered (see photograph below). Further digging took place which uncovered another headstone and possibly part of the altar or main entrance step.