We aim to keep this page up to date with progress at the chapel. Newest articles at the top – so scroll down for earlier updates.
28th February 2026
The very wet weather has been affecting our ability to work in the chapelyard, and although the building has not been flooded, the adjacent brook has burst its banks at times, and covered much of the ground to the front and side. We have now started the process of relocating the memorials as described in the consultation document, which is being undertaken slowly, carefully, respectfully and in consultation with the relatives that came forward.
Last summer we noticed a developing hole over the gave of Mr. John E. Grant, son of the Rev. Grant, who died on 16 November 1859. Believing it was the result of animals burrowing, we simply filled it in with earth and grass seed. However at the beginning of February I noticed the ground was springy again – and on pressing it with my foot it went through! And I nearly ended up falling in a deep hole!
Grave of Mr. John E. Grant, son of the Rev. Grant
Hole that opened up over the grave, behind the memorial
It transpires it is a ‘Vault’; a fully brick lined grave in which the coffin was lowered, and at some point in the future then covered over with a arched brick roof. This creates underground vault, the length and breadth just larger than a coffin, and as deep as the grave to the vault roof just below the ground level.
Vaults, such as this, would have been rare and likely costly at the time – 1859. We didn’t know there was a vault here!
The only reference to any vaults in any of the records we have was for Rev. Grant himself, with the following passage describing his burial from the history booklets:
“He died in peace on the 19th of August 1867. He brought up a family of sixteen children, ten of whom were present at his funeral. He was interred in a vault in the burial ground attached to the Stuckton Chapel, where he laboured for the last ten years of his life.”
Before we purchased the chapel, the previous trustees – the EFCC (Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches) – arranged for a local undertakers to check for the presence of a vault under Rev. Grants memorial, and none was found. We can only assume that the vault actually referrers to his son who died before him – perhaps expecting he would have been added to the same vault after his death. As with many of these things, records get lost and memories fade, and this its likely the root of the confusion over which grave had the vault.
With a large and deep hole, safety fencing was put around the grave until such time that we can excavate the edges of the hole (to ensure we found the full extent). We have then carefully filled in the vault with spoil from the Chapelyard, ensuring it’s safe for the future.
Fenced off hole above vault
Extend of hold excavated
Inside of top of vault, showing brick lined sides and arched brick roof
24th December 2025
Two parts to this update – firstly the ongoing work to move the pedestrian gateway to the larger retained cemetery area, adjacent to the Post Office. The hedge is now cleared, with some further (back breaking!) work ahead including grubbing out the roots and the original metal post foundations for the old notice board. The new green oak gateposts have arrived, and are beginning to season before installation.
New gateposts seasoning
Hedge removed ready for move of gateway
The bigger challenge has been a large tree coming down in the wind, falling across Ditchend Brook; luckily we had only recently had it pruned back from the building, and the good news is no damage was done to the building or any memorials.
The tree was rooted on the opposite bank of the brook, owned by Hampshire County Council, who have arranged for it to be chopped up – I’m just following up with them now regarding the large piles of waste. Sadly the fall of the tree and the subsequent clear up by the contractors has destroyed a significant length of the hedgerow. We are going to have to look at what we do there until we have a long term design and plan.
11th December 2025
Following the conclusion of the review and consultation period for the proposed changes to the chapelground, we are now working on creating the two, large, designated areas of accessible cemetery, conserving access to memorials. This will ultimately allow us to bring the building back into use, and transitioning it to a new long term sustainable future.
From the historic photos, we believe the iron front gate is over 100 years old – and highly likely to have come from the local Stuckton Ironworks. To restore and preserve this gate, we have just collected it today after it was professionally sandblasted, primed and powder coated. For now, it is back on the hinges at the front pedestrian entrance.
We are working on removing the hedge and clearing the gap for the new gateway to the large retained cemetery area to the east of the building. This gateway will be directly adjacent to the to old post office. We have two new oak gate posts on order, although they will need to be allowed to season/dry out for a while before installing. We will then attach the old gate to this, keeping it as the entrance to the cemetery area.
Original iron gate before renovation
Gate after sand blasting, primer and powder coating.