Memorial Rooms
The Memorial Rooms are a three-story building, probably associated with the United Reformed Church, built in 1831. Alonong with the Manse on the other side of the building, they are made of local grey limestone ashlar with a slate roof gabled at the ends. The chimney stack is also made of grey limestone and has three old terracotta pots. The building is constructed in the Early English style.
The Memorial Rooms are sited between No. 2 St Peter Street and the United Reformed Church. They project forward from No. 2 and are end-on to the street with an entrance on the south side.
The front of the building is symmetrical with three windows. The gable has a coped gable with kneelers and a finial. There are deep chamfered string courses at the first and second floor levels.
The ground floor has a triple lancet window with three large lights and a continuous hoodmould with label stops. The windows have horizontal glazing bars. The first floor also has a triple lancet window with a plaque at the second floor string course with "Memorial Rooms" carved in Lombardic script. The center light of this window is taller and glazed with diamond leaded panes.
The left (south) return of the building is blind except for a two-centered doorway with a hoodmould. The door has vertical sunk panels and intersecting blind tracery in the tympanum. The rear elevation has two first floor and two second floor lancets with chamfered architraves.
Overall, the Memorial Rooms are a well-preserved example of an Early English style building and make an attractive addition to the C19 group of buildings on St Peter Street.
Address
Memorial Rooms, Angel Hill, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6NU
Historic Categorisations and Statutes
Statutory Heritage Listing
Grade: II (Grade Two). This indicates the building is of "special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it."
List Entry Number: 1384735
Date First Listed: February 12, 1952
Significance: Protected as a purpose-built memorial structure designed in a dignified Classical style. It is notable for its impressive open porch supported by Doric columns and its role as a permanent architectural testament to the local impact of the World Wars.
Local Designations
Royal British Legion Headquarters: The building serves as the regional base for the Tiverton branch of the Royal British Legion, maintaining its status as a living hub for remembrance.
Conservation Area: It is a prominent feature of the Tiverton Conservation Area at Angel Hill, situated near other heritage assets like the Exe Bridge and the Gothic-style Town Hall.
Site Components & Heritage Records
The Memorial Room: The interior sanctum where the names of 281 residents who fell in WWI and 80 from WWII are recorded on commemorative tablets.
The Porch & Plaque: Features a "nowy-headed" sandstone plaque carved with an eternal flame, a laurel wreath, and the town seal.
Historic Environment Record (HER): Indexed in the Devon & Dartmoor HER under ID MDV1359.
Chronology of Historic Uses
Pre-1928: Site of the former Angel Hotel, which was used as the town's initial "War Memorial Library" starting in 1920.
1928–1929: The hotel was demolished and the current building was constructed through public subscription. The foundation stones were laid by local dignitaries including Lady Heathcoat-Amory.
1929: Formally opened as the Tiverton Memorial Hall and Library.
Current/Recent: Primarily houses the Memorial Rooms for remembrance and serves as a community space for the Royal British Legion.
Useful Links
United Reformed Church A Grade II listed former chapel built in 1831 that now operates as "The Oak Room," a community arts and events venue. It provides information on the building's 17th-century origins, its architectural features—like the 360-degree gallery and working Victorian organ—and its current use as a space for art exhibitions, live performances, and private hire.
