COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION Project Synopsis: During a storm event in 2013, the oldest family chapel in Maryland suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing an entire gable end, chimney, windows, and damage to the interior finishes and altar. The primary focus of the project was the repair and reconstruction of the exterior envelope. Despite the loss of material and accelerated timeline, the team restored a significant amount of the historic fabric using recovered material, and was successful in procuring historic salvaged replacements that closely matched the in-place material. Compton Bassett Chapel sits above a terraced landscape on the historic Compton Bassett plantation in Upper Marlboro. Built in stages beginning in the late 1700s, the Compton Basset Chapel has a long and varied history as a plantation office, a residence following the War of 1812, and a family chapel of prominent Catholic Marylanders. The building is a unique chronical of Maryland’s history and its contribution as a historic resource to the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County is significant.
Upper Marlboro, Maryland Category: Institutional Architecture
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Project Synopsis (continued)
Exterior Wall Bowing Diagram
Historic Ridge Comb Sketch
Site Plan The Chapel sits atop a historic, terraced, agricultural landscape overlooking the Patuxent River.
The Compton Bassett Chapel has long served as a preservation learning tool for local universities, including the University of Maryland Historic Preservation Program, thus it was critical to keep evidence of previous alterations and unique construction techniques in place after restoration. Although it was necessary to replace portions of the severely deteriorated site-fired bricks with salvaged replacement bricks, the design team and craftsmen worked closely to preserve the idiosyncratic masonry details that chronical the building’s complex evolution. Another distinctive characteristic of the chapel is the use of bond timber construction, which is a highly unusual technique found only in a handful of buildings on the east coast. Though the bond timbers were heavily deteriorated, the design team was able replace them, ensuring that this interesting feature was retained. Given the unique features and deteriorated state, the design team worked to ensure the historic fabric of the building was respected. This included new joists and rafters that were sympathetic to the historic framing, and with historic walls that were out of plane, the design team was able to create custom joinery, trim, and frames to fit the curved walls. The first floor tongue and groove flooring was reinstalled using all site-salvaged material and the windows, doors and their historic hardware was diligently restored.
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Chapel Prior to Repair Project
Restored North Elevation of Chapel
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Failure at Chimney Wall at East Facade
Restored Chimney Wall at East Facade
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Collapsed Chimney and Arch above Window
Recontructed Chimney and Windows
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Deterioration at the South and West Facades
Restored Masonry, Doors, Roof, Trim, Windows and Drainage at the South and West Facades
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Failure at Chimney Wall from the Interior
Photo by Michael Ventura Photography Site-Salvaged Tongue and Groove Flooring, Reconstructed Fireplace, Restored and Reconstructed Windows. Interior spaces continue to serve as learning tool for local historic preservation programs but also as active programming to Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Second Floor after the East Chimney Wall Collapse
Photo by Michael Ventura Reconstructed Fireplace and Second Floor Windows.
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Chimney Failure and Eave Deterioration
Reconstructed Eave
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Photo by Michael Ventura Sash Lock
Photo by Michael Ventura Photography Interior
Chimney Resconstruction Section Drawing
Photo by Michael Ventura Reconctructed Fireplace
Upper Marlboro, Maryland Category: Institutional Architecture
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Project Synopsis (continued)
Exterior Wall Bowing Diagram
Historic Ridge Comb Sketch
Site Plan The Chapel sits atop a historic, terraced, agricultural landscape overlooking the Patuxent River.
The Compton Bassett Chapel has long served as a preservation learning tool for local universities, including the University of Maryland Historic Preservation Program, thus it was critical to keep evidence of previous alterations and unique construction techniques in place after restoration. Although it was necessary to replace portions of the severely deteriorated site-fired bricks with salvaged replacement bricks, the design team and craftsmen worked closely to preserve the idiosyncratic masonry details that chronical the building’s complex evolution. Another distinctive characteristic of the chapel is the use of bond timber construction, which is a highly unusual technique found only in a handful of buildings on the east coast. Though the bond timbers were heavily deteriorated, the design team was able replace them, ensuring that this interesting feature was retained. Given the unique features and deteriorated state, the design team worked to ensure the historic fabric of the building was respected. This included new joists and rafters that were sympathetic to the historic framing, and with historic walls that were out of plane, the design team was able to create custom joinery, trim, and frames to fit the curved walls. The first floor tongue and groove flooring was reinstalled using all site-salvaged material and the windows, doors and their historic hardware was diligently restored.
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Chapel Prior to Repair Project
Restored North Elevation of Chapel
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Failure at Chimney Wall at East Facade
Restored Chimney Wall at East Facade
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Collapsed Chimney and Arch above Window
Recontructed Chimney and Windows
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Deterioration at the South and West Facades
Restored Masonry, Doors, Roof, Trim, Windows and Drainage at the South and West Facades
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Failure at Chimney Wall from the Interior
Photo by Michael Ventura Photography Site-Salvaged Tongue and Groove Flooring, Reconstructed Fireplace, Restored and Reconstructed Windows. Interior spaces continue to serve as learning tool for local historic preservation programs but also as active programming to Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Second Floor after the East Chimney Wall Collapse
Photo by Michael Ventura Reconstructed Fireplace and Second Floor Windows.
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Chimney Failure and Eave Deterioration
Reconstructed Eave
COMPTON BASSETT CHAPEL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Photo by Michael Ventura Sash Lock
Photo by Michael Ventura Photography Interior
Chimney Resconstruction Section Drawing
Photo by Michael Ventura Reconctructed Fireplace
