A disused Methodist chapel near Masham dating back more than 100 years could be converted into a home.
The Old Chapel at Breary Banks, Healey, was built in 1911 for workers building reservoirs that served people in Leeds. Breary Banks was later used as a prisoner of war camp during the First World War.
The slate roof chapel is not a listed building but is considered to be a non-designated heritage asset located within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Harrogate Borough Council has now received a planning application from Clementine Godwin to convert the chapel into a single house.
The rear of the chapel.
Planning documents submitted to the council say:
“The proposal is to convert the redundant former chapel into a single dwelling unit. This will be open plan and the sleeping area will be on an upper mezzanine level.
“The intention is to repair and maintain the external character and appearance of the old chapel. The entire development is contained within the existing envelope of the building, without the need for additional structure or openings in the external walls.
“The external repairs to the building will all be carried out with the utmost care and be sympathetic to the original construction.”
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Masham Parish Council has supported the application.
Breary Banks village was constructed in 1900 by the Leeds Corporation, which had commissioned the creation of two nearby reservoirs to supply Leeds with water.
The village was designed to house the navvies working on the construction of the reservoirs and their families. By spring 1904 the settlement accommodated 400 men with more huts being built, according to planning documents.
Sixteen men lived lived in each hut.
Planning permission was granted for the chapel to be used as a furniture workshop in 1983 but it was never acted on.