Such was my incredulity at first seeing the photograph, I studied the image for many minutes to ascertain its authenticity. As various recognizable features were identified, my initial doubts were dispelled and replaced with wonderment at the sight of the almost fabled structure before me.
John Williams' extraordinary photo of the Tin Church enlarged and enhanced. |
The structure is aligned as I had thought - immediately adjacent to Sladnor Park Road with the entrance pointing to the southwest. In the top left hand of the image, the junction with Longpark Hill and the Teignmouth Road can be identified.
The original sepia photograph |
Although indicated by the 1904 OS map, the complete absence of trees in the immediate vicinity and below the church is somewhat surprising to me. The pasture land dropping away to the east of the church is now heavily wooded - being the main part of Glass wood. The 1933 OS map - possibly ten to fifteen years after the dismantling of the church - shows the loss of pasture land and the steady encroachment of trees and undergrowth.
An incredible discovery by John Williams which now can be recorded in our archives.