Old Unitarian Meeting House

The Old Unitarian Meeting House is a chapel in Newcastle-under-Lyme with rendered brick walls, a hipped tile roof, and three bays with a central doorway flanked by square windows. Inside are a chapel space, a first-floor room with an organ, and a social room.

The building was constructed in 1717 to replace an earlier structure from 1685 that was destroyed by fire. It stands as one of the earliest nonconformist chapels in north Staffordshire.

The building served as a place of worship for Josiah Wedgwood and his family members, linking this religious space to the area's pottery manufacturing tradition. This connection shows how central the congregation was to local society at the time.

The chapel sits on Lower Street and is protected as a Grade II listed building. Visitors can explore its different rooms, though it is good to check access arrangements beforehand.

The interior holds original gallery paneling and a stair balustrade dating to the 18th century. Pews from a former Methodist church were added in 1957 and blend with the older fittings.

Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme

GPS coordinates: 53.01174,-2.23037

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:01