Praeteritum Imperfectum

‘Tin Tabernacles’

19th Century corrugated iron chapels and churches, perhaps more commonly known as ‘Tin Tabernacles,’ have often been viewed with contempt throughout their history. Described by William Morris in his 1890 SPAB technical pamphlet as ‘spreading like pestilence over the country,’ it is no surprise that very little research has been done into these abundant structures.

The earliest structures were ‘emigrant cottages,’ consisting of a wooden frame with corrugated cladding, produced by E. T. Bellhouse, and shipped to California during the Gold Rush of 1849.5 Bellhouse’s most famous iron building is perhaps his 1852 ballroom for Prince Albert at Balmoral, and he would later become a key producer of corrugated iron chapels.

The chapels became popular in the 1860s, especially amongst the non-conformists, who saw a surge in congregation numbers in the 19th Century. They were ordered flat pack from a variety of manufacturers catalogues and were usually erected by the congregation.

Personal account of being enslaved by Ottobah Cugoano ‘Thoughts and sentiments on the evil and wicked traffic of the slavery and of the commerce of the human species’ (1787):

“Many of my miserable countrymen chained two and two, some hand-cuffed, and some with their hands tied behind … I was soon conducted to a prison, for three days, where I heard the groans and cries of many … When a vessel arrived to conduct us away to the ship, it was a most horrible scene; there was nothing to be heard but the rattling of chains, smacking of whips, and the groans and cries of our fellow-men. Some would not stir from the ground, when they were lashed and beat in the most horrible manner … When we were put into the ship, we saw several black merchants coming on board, but we were all drove into our holes and not suffered to speak to any of them. In this situation we continued several days in sight of our native land”