Mr. Hincksman’s Chapel / Bath Street Methodist Church

Mr. Hincksman’s Chapel, later known as Bath Street Methodist Church, was a Wesleyan chapel built in Lytham in 1846, funded largely by Thomas Crouch Hincksman, a Preston cotton spinner.

The origins of Methodism in Lytham started from a cottage in Bath Street, which was a licensed preaching house. In 1846 a chapel which could accommodate 200 worshippers was built in Bath Street by T.C. Hincksman but by 1868 this was not large enough to hold all the summer visitors and it was replaced in 1868 by much large premises on Park Street. It was subsequently used as the first Lytham Institute, a Masonic hall, an auction salesroom, an American Forces cafe, a health clinic and is now a solicitor’s offices – Gadsden Coupe Solicitors.

This was the first Wesleyan chapel in what had been a largely Catholic community, reflecting the influence of incomers. It is dated 1846, was funded largely by Thomas Crouch Hincksman, a Preston cotton spinner, and opened in 1847. The chapel is built of red brick in Flemish bond with sandstone dressings, and it has a slate roof. There are original windows to the front and, inside, the gallery stairs remain. A Sunday school was added at the rear, but the building was still too small for the growing town and a new chapel was built in Park Street in 1868. The old chapel then became briefly a Masonic Hall, Lytham Institute, a coffee tavern, and, later, Wilson’s Auction Rooms. During the 1939-45 war it was a ‘Donut Dugout’ for American forces, complete with paintings of Mickey Mouse.

The American Red Cross ‘Donut Dugout’ Building At Lytham. 18 February 1944. © Alamy

Personnel of the 2nd Base Air Depot enjoy coffee and doughnuts with their Red Cross hostess at the American Red Cross ‘Donut Dugout’ centre at Lytham, 18 February 1944. © Alamy

TODAY THE BUILDING IS HOME TO GADSDEN COUPE SOLICITORS

With clients throughout Lytham St. Annes and the UK, Gadsden Coupe Solicitors have spent years perfecting their legal services and skill sets across a range of professional and common sense services. From helping elderly and vulnerable clients manage their legal and financial matters, to assisting clients with tax planning matters or specialist advice for anyone looking to set up or manage a trust, they hope that their range of services provide a turnkey solution whilst providing the utmost peace of mind.