Landford Wood Mission Hall near Salisbury, was grade II listed by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of Historic England today, November 16.
The mission hall, built-in 1899 for the Landford Wood Society was funded by Scottish philanthropist and art collector Louisa Baring, Lady Ashburton (1827-1903) for the spiritual support of the rural community on the Melchet Court Estate.
The Landford Wood Society was founded in 1889, and originally met and worshipped at Landford Wood Farm. The mission hall was constructed 10 years later by local builders at the expense of, and on land belonging to, Lady Ashburton.
The hall, which cost £300, was designed by surveyors Rawlence and Squarey of Salisbury, and built by Reuben Moody of Landford.
When the hall opened on June 8, 1899 a report in the Hampshire Advertiser County Newspaper praised the ‘airy, bright appearance’ of the interior.
The hall is a simple, but unusual building. Originally built entirely from timber, its diagonal and vertical weatherboarding gives it a distinct exterior, with textured glass windows letting in light while giving privacy. The roof, once clad in timber shingles, is topped by a domed cupola. Inside, the unusual oval arched hammerbeam roof of Oregon pine is skilfully crafted and creates a striking space.
The Landford Wood Mission hall is one of a number of buildings with a Christian or social welfare function Lady Ashburton commissioned in her later years. The building adjoins her home, Melchet Court, which she had rebuilt in 1868.