SANDHAM Memorial Chapel will officially re-open its doors to the public on Tuesday.   

The chapel, in Burghclere near Newbury, is the only National Trust building dedicated to the First World War.

To commemorate the WW1 centenary, and to mark the re-opening of the chapel after a year’s extensive conservation, a community-inspired garden by award-winning designer Daniel Lobb has been created to offer a tranquil and reflective space.

A competition to design some of the planting was won by Alice Wrightson, a student from nearby Sparsholt College.

The transformation of the garden has been aided by local communities and charities including Tedworth House, a local rehabilitation centre for injured and sick service personnel funded by Help for Heroes.

The chapel, which has drawn praise such as ‘Britain’s answer to the Sistine Chapel’, houses an epic series of nineteen works by Stanley Spencer, created to honour the forgotten dead of the First World War.

It will re-open to the public from August 5 by pre-booked ticket only as the chapel can only accommodate 25 people at one time. 

Find out more online at nationaltrust.org.uk.