Methodism has been present in the Kinson area since the 1840s. The earliest meetings were held in the open-air on the heath and were led by preachers from the Poole Circuit. Several local Societies were formed. These met in the home of a member until they were able to build their own Chapel. The first Wesleyan Chapel built in the Tything of Kinson was at Constitutional Hill (Victoria Road) in 1842. This was a building of cob which, according to the 1873 Returns of Accommodation, could seat 73 people. This is the chapel recorded as being in Kinson in the 1861 census.
In 1861/2 Thomas Hicks, a thatcher living in Kinson village, bought two cottages in West Howe from the widow and eldest son of William RICHARD Frampton, Shoemaker who died early in 1861. This was the same Richard Frampton who, on July 26th 1827, had been found guilty of hanging out lights to guide smugglers contrary to the statute. Richard, his wife Maria and their children had been living in Ensbury but moved to West Howe sometime between 1841 and 1851. Maria Frampton was still living in one of the cottages with some of her children when the 1861 census was taken.
Thomas Hicks bought the two properties in two separate transactions. First he bought the northernmost cottage.
An Indenture for the conveyance of the second of the properties, dated 13 March 1862, is held at the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester. The conveyance is of a piece of Land Cottage and premises purchased from Richard’s widow Maria (who had a dower interest in it) and his son and heir Thomas to Thomas Hicks for the sum of nineteen pounds. The plot was described as being about forty perches with a dwelling house. It was bounded on the south and east by land owned by Sir Ivor Bertie Guest, on the west by Poole Lane and on the north by the premises and garden of Thomas Hicks which had previously been owned by William [Richard] Frampton.
A chapel with a thatched roof was built in the south western corner of the garden. It was registered as a place for public worship in 1863 and opened on May 26th of that year.
The Southern Times of Saturday June 6th 1863 reported:
NEW CHAPEL.- A new Wesleyan chapel was opened on Tuesday, May 26, at West Howe. In the afternoon a tea meeting was held, when a large party was present; the chair was occupied by Mr Hicks, of Kinson. Among those who addressed the meeting in the evening were the Rev. J. Killick, Messrs A. Hodges and G. Curtis.
On 8th June 1863 Thomas Hicks sold the chapel, with the approval of The Reverend John Killick, for one pound sterling to a group of Trustees. The indenture for this conveyance, also held in the Dorset History Centre, was for a parcel of land fifty one feet long and twenty nine feet wide and the Chapel erected on it. The indenture states that the conveyance was subject to the trusts declared in the Wesleyan Methodists Model Deed. This Model Deed was an Indenture of Release dated 3 July 1832 for a Chapel at Skircoat, Halifax for the use of the people called Methodists.
The Trustees named in the indenture for the conveyance of the Wesleyan Chapel at West Howe were:
- Edward Howell of Waterloo, Ironfounder
- George Curtis of Poole, Auctioneer
- William Male of Poole, Bookseller
- Edward Jennings of Poole, Timber Merchant
- John Case of Poole, Cordwainer
- James Llewellyn of Poole, Grocer
- George Holloway of Poole, Baker
- Charles Balson of Poole, Saddler
- James William Gentry of Waterloo, Ironfounder
- William Hunt the Younger of Poole, Joiner
- Elias Sharland of Corfe Hill, Brickmaker
- William Stickland of Poole, Blacksmith
- Frederick Walker of Poole, Potter
The Reverend John Killick,The Superintendent preacher of the Poole Circuit at the time, was also a party to the indenture.
Thomas Hicks retained ownership of the two cottages and gardens until his death in 1873. The Returns of Accommodation of that year record that the chapel had 94 sittings.
The Weekly News, Thursday, April 10, 1890 reported:
TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING AT THE WESLEYAN CHAPEL, WEST HOWE.- On Monday evening the anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday School, at West Howe, was celebrated with a couple of teas and a public meeting. The earlier tea was for the children, and that which followed was for the adults. At the latter 150 sat down and enjoyed a capital repast, provided by Mr. R. Crabbe. Mr George Curtis (Poole) presided over the public meeting, which was crowded to the door, many visitors having come from Poole and the surrounding district. Stirling addresses were given by the Revs. T. Featherstonehaugh (Poole), and J. W. Sanders (Parkstone); and Messrs. S. L. Baker, J. Budden, J. Wright, J. Maidment, and – Cole. Special hymns were sung by the children, accompanied on the violin. A successful meeting was brought to a close with the customary votes of thanks.
The chapel was in use until 1896. It was demolished sometime between 1910 and 1923.