Wesley Road Methodist Church, Trowbridge

A site was purchased in Newtown in 1871 to provide a chapel to serve people living in the many streets of factory workers' houses that had been built in this area. The chapel, in the 'Anglo-Italian'style, was designed by W.J. Stent of Warminster and opened in 1872. A new road, adjacent to the chapel, was built by the lord of the manor, William Stancomb, and named Wesley Road. The chapel was conceived as a 'mission church' when the Manvers Street chapel was deemed too small to hold the congregation and it was decided to build in a 'populous suburb'. In 1877 there were 100 sittings and in 1874 a Sunday school was started. In 1881 a schoolroom was built, in which the British Day School began on 29th August 1898 and was later transferred to Newtown School when that school was built. The chapel was restored in 1930 and in 1933 the Gregory Hall was built, adjacent to the schoolroom, to accommodate the Beginners department. The church has thrived through the 20th century.