The Corpus of ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE in Britain & Ireland
Parish Room, formerly chapel
Parish Room, formerly chapel
Nineteenth century accounts of Dosthill describe it as a village or hamlet in the parish of Kingsbury, and a centre of brickmaking and coalmining. Diorite also outcrops at Dosthill, known locally as Dosthill granite and was formerly quarried for use as roadstone. Little of this industrial activity survives, and Dosthill is chiefly known as a centre for scuba diving (in a former quarry) and a place to watch birds. It is situated on rising land at the southern edge of Tamworth, which has expanded, almost absorbing it. The chapel stands in the churchyard of St Paul's parish church, to the NE of the 19thc. church. Plain N and S doorways of the 12thc. survive as do lancets in the N and S walls. These are round-headed with splayed reveals and modern lintels. The W wall has a similar window. Of creamy-buff sandstone. The two doorways, although plain and heavily restored, are described below. There was originally an eastern presbytery, but this has been removed, and the chancel arch blocked and fitted with a window, perhaps 16thc.-17thc. Above this, the western gable has been rebuilt in brick. It is now used as a parish room. The present church was built in 1872 on land given by the then vicar and patron of the living of Kingsbury