IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Plumptre Place, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 1LW

Early 19th century Baptist chapel, converted to a school c1884-86 by Hine & Son of Nottingham. Restored and converted following a fire, 1993. Currently under redevelopment. Listed Grade II.

Early 19th century Baptist chapel, converted to a school c1884-86 by Hine & Son of Nottingham. Restored and converted following a fire, 1993. Currently under redevelopment for business use. Listed Grade II.

Inside these gates lie what remains of a former burial ground that is now known as The Bellar Rest Garden. This seems likely to have been part of the nearby Barker Gate Burial Ground in Barker Gate. After ceasing to be used for this purpose this plot became a rest garden (date unknown). More recently, perhaps for the past 10 years or so, it has asphalted and used as a car park, without very much attention to the fact that it was the last resting place of the bones of a good number of local people. A few ancient gravestones can still be viewed around the edges of the car park. The history of the burial ground is traceable back to 1742 when a plot of land on Barker Gate was acquired from the Duke of Kingston for the sum of ten shillings. In the 1830s these burial grounds were used to accommodate the remains of the victims of a cholera epidemic in Nottingham in which 330 people. In 1883 authorisation was granted to take down two of the burial ground walls to allow for an extension of St Mary’s School, i.e the building ahead, immediately beyond the gates. The building in which the school was housed was originally a Baptist chapel (hence the shape of the windows perhaps?). The chapel was redesigned and converted into this school in 1886 by the well known local architect Thomas Chambers Hine. This part of the building appears to be empty at present, although other parts of the old school to the rear appear to be in use as offices. Directly ahead some waist-high security gates prevent vehicles from using this road, apart from allowing access to some former factory buildings, meanwhile the A60 lies a stone's throw away behind the photographer.

The furthest building was originally a Baptist Chapel with a piece of land in front of it - the size of a couple of tennis courts - was part of the Barker Gate Burial Ground. These burial grounds were created to respond to the need for burial plots for C19th cholera victims. At a later date (date unknown) this area in front of the old Baptist Chapel became known as known as The Bellar Rest Garden. It seems likely that this burial site was part of the nearby Barker Gate Burial Ground behind this building. After ceasing to be used for this purpose it became a rest garden and later (date unknown). More recently, perhaps for the past 10 years or so, it has been an asphalted car park without any consideration of the fact that it was the last resting place of the bones of a good number of local people. In 1883 authorisation was granted to take down two of the burial ground walls to allow for an extension of St Mary’s School. It seems likely that the building nearest the photographer was the part of the school designed and converted by the well known local architect Thomas Chambers Hine in 1886. Vehicles using the busy A60 can be seen passing the front of the former chapel. In fact the buildings seen here are one joined to each other beyond the arched doorway, i.e. "The Boys' Entrance".

The weathered stone above the arch reads "St Mary's School Boys' Entrance". See Andrew Abbott's Image] for more about Bellar Gate Rest Garden, from which this picture was taken.

An information plaque on the corner of this building's east-facing boundary wall describes the existence of a former burial ground on this site known as The Bellar Rest Garden. It seems likely that this burial site was part of the nearby Barker Gate Burial Ground behind this building. After ceasing to be used for this purpose it became a rest garden and later (date unknown). More recently, perhaps for the past 10 years or so, it has become a car park without very much attention to the fact that it was the last resting place of the bones of a good number of local people. A few ancient gravestones can still be seen gravestones around the edges of the site. The history of the burial ground is traceable back to 1742 when a plot of land on Barker Gate was acquired from the Duke of Kingston for the sum of ten shillings. In the 1830s these burial grounds were used to accommodate the remains of the victims of a cholera epidemic in Nottingham in which 330 people. In 1883 authorisation was granted to take down two of the burial ground walls to allow for an extension of St Mary’s School. The building in which the school was housed was originally a Baptist chapel that was redesigned and converted into this school in 1886 by the well known local architect Thomas Chambers Hine. This side of the building appears to be empty at present, although other parts of the old school appear to be in use as offices. A faded sandstone plaque above the gate reads "St Mary's School, 18 ..(?), Boys' Entrance". The A60 lies a stone's throw away behind the photographer.

In front of the entrance to the former St. Mary's Boys' School is the Bellar Gate Rest Garden. This Rest Garden is the site of one of the St. Mary's burial grounds. It was granted to St. Mary's Church for the sum of ten shillings by Evelyn, Duke of Kingston on 17 March 1742. In the 1830s it was used to accommodate the victims of a Cholera epidemic. It was finally closed in 1887 and the city council now maintains the rest garden under a perpetual licence from the Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Directly ahead is part of "The Mills Building", and to its left, part of "The Wallis Building". Both these parts of two larger buildings are located at the eastern-most end of this cul-de-sac. It appears that "The Mills Building" - at least - has been converted into residential apartments. The blue-ish Ice Skating Arena of glass construction, on the opposite side of the A60, can be glimpsed on the right-hand margin of the photo.

This rather bland looking open space has an interesting history. It was originally a burial ground for St Mary's Church, granted to the parish in 1742. In the 1830s it was used for the burial of cholera victims, and was finally closed in 1887. It is now maintained by the City Council under licence from the Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwell. A full history of the site can be found on the Nottingham Hidden History website https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/bellar-gate-rest-garden/