SANDHAM CHAPEL: A beautiful sanctuary for autistic families
- Mar 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 19
Sandham Memorial Chapel offers an off-the-beaten track experience for art loving families with autistic children.
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WHY DID WE TAKE OUR AUTISTIC CHILDREN TO VISIT THE SANDHAM CHAPEL?
We visited the Sandham Memorial Chapel with our two autistic children and my mum during the English half term school break at the end of May. It was only a 10minute drive from East Ilsey (Newbury, Berkshire), and being owned by the National Trust it meant we could visit it for free. On paper place this might seem a strange choice for an autistic family, but the Sandham Chapel has a fascinating history and a real 'wow' moment that even managed to impress my two young boys.
Read on to discover what we enjoyed most about our visit.
WHAT WE LOVED ABOUT SANDHAM CHAPEL
Accessible exhibits
Attached to the chapel is the main alms house, and this is where you enter. Inside the alms house are 3 small exhibition rooms, with a range of historical objects from the war period, a short but fascinating film on the Chapel's history and objects for handling and clothing from the time which children were welcome to try on - my eldest loved this bit. When you are finished exploring the alms house a guide will take you as part of a small group into the chapel (which is kept locked) and will stay with you during the visit.
The venue itself was all on one floor and ok to navigate but perhaps a little narrow at ties. There are some area in the garden with patches of uneven ground. A step free route and accessible toilet is provided. There is also accessible parking at the rear, otherwise parking is provided for limited numbers across the road, around 200m from the chapel.
Like most National Trust properties there is a focus on physical disabilities rather than the needs of the neurodivergent community, and they do not make explicit provision for visitors (adults or children) with hidden disabilities such as autism or adhd. However the space was very relaxed and the atmosphere felt calm and welcoming.
The Sandham Chapel's stunning artwork
Inspired by Giotto's incredible Arena Chapel in Padua (Italy) the interior of Sandham Chapel is so unexpected it will take your breath away. The boys absolutely loved it, even our youngest who was still only 5 at the time. You can take as long as you need to look at the murals; it was an incredible experience to be able to sit and just soak it all in. There was so much to look at, you are literally surrounded on all sides by the murals. The guides are very knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions you have. Our man was very good at interacting with the boys, and set them little pictorial challenges to find certain things in the paintings. This kept them occupied and allowed us to enjoy the space for longer than we expected.
The friendly and welcoming staff
The staff were very welcoming. To visit the chapel you need to walk around to the back of the building. Our youngest was very reluctant to enter and decided to run off into the garden. The two staff were very understanding and said that the chapel and its grounds were for everyone and he was welcome to explore it in his own way and in his own time.
It really makes a difference when you get comments like that!
Sandham Chapel's beautiful location
Sandham Chapel is situated in a scenic landscape, with a breath taking view across Watership Down, an area of outstanding natural beauty after which Richard Adams famous 1972 novel was named. The chapel and alms house is surrounded by lovely grounds filled with fruit trees and flowers.
Sandham Chapel's fascinating history
Commissioned by Mary and John Louis Behrend in memory of Mary’s brother who died after serving in Macedonia in World War One, the inside of this unassuming chapel is completely covered in an epic series of floor to ceiling murals. They took the artist, famous war painter Stanley Spencer, 6 years to complete. Spencer himself served as a medical orderly in WW1 and he drew heavily on his experience of war when painting the murals. As a result they artwork includes many personal and unusual details from his life at Beaufort hospital in Bristol and as a soldier on the Salonika front in Macedonia. It is a pictorial masterpiece which brings history to life in real time, great if your children are doing any related units of study at school.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON TAKING OUR AUSTISTIC CHILDREN TO SANDHAM MEMORIAL CHAPEL
We really enjoyed our visit to the Sandham Chapel and probably stayed for around an hour or so, including time spent playing in the gardens. We visited at opening time on a Saturday in May half term, and it was not busy. It is a small site however, only a few rooms and the chapel - so it could quickly become busy if multiple families or a tour group turned up. It was clear that they are careful to manage numbers in the chapel so everyone can experience the wonder of the space.
It is worth noting that there is no cafe, however there is a toilet provided on site. There are gardens to the front and rear and the spring wildflower meadow looked particularly pretty when we visited. Children are allowed to enjoy themselves in the grounds, and our boys enjoyed running through the apple orchard which still contains some of the original old varieties. There is a small bookshop on site.
If you are interest in art or world war one history then you will love Sandham Memorial Chapel, hopefully your kids will too!
Happy travels xx
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SANDHAM MEMORIAL CHAPEL TICKET PRICE
Sandham Chapel does not offer a disabled concession ticket, although you can ask for a free carer's ticket if you have the relevant proof (like a National Disability Card).
Entry is free for National Trust Members.
For non-member ticket prices visit their website for up to date information: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/sandham-memorial-chapel#place-prices
