From redundant chapel to revered home

Dating from the 1880s, the modest red brick chapel retains a wealth of original features, including gothic arched stained-glass windows, decorative polychrome brickwork, a gabled tiled roof, and its characterful timber porch. Vacant for several years and most recently used as a wellbeing centre, the building had fallen out of meaningful use.

HNW’s proposal delivers a thoughtful and respectful reworking of the former chapel, combining conservation with contemporary living. A vaulted open-plan family room will occupy the central hall, benefitting from a partial mezzanine inserted with care beneath the existing roof structure. The rear of the building is reconfigured to include a kitchen-dining space with direct access to the garden, alongside generous bedrooms and bathrooms.

The mid-20th-century rear extension is remodelled to reduce overall massing and provide off-street parking in the least sensitive part of the site. A new setback elevation enhances the building’s setting and introduces new windows that respond to the original form.

This conversion reflects a sustainable approach to heritage-led development—retaining the building’s identity and fabric, while ensuring it meets the needs of modern family life. The project also contributes positively to the village, bringing a vacant asset back into active, long-term use.