Long Bridge Street

This enchanting Methodist Church, with an attached Sunday School Room, stands at the centre of the charming Welsh town of Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire. Internal accommodation extends to over 4,200 sq ft, and permission has been granted to sensitively convert both buildings to the plans of acclaimed architectural practice Rural Office, details of which can be shared upon request. The result will be a wonderful three-bedroom house with adjoining guest accommodation.

We’ve written about life here in more depth.

Setting the Scene

The façde of the church is immediately striking from the road; flanking turrets sit atop the chapel, and walls are built of snecked rubble and ashlar dressings. The church entrance is in an advanced central section, with a large semi-circular topped doorway and a moulded arch detail. Above this is a triplet of tall semi-circular-headed lancets, with pierced circles above the main light and under the moulded head. For more information, please see the History section below.

The Grand Tour

Rural Office’s proposal is to create a modern and open-plan living space, consolidating the original chapel with its new use as a home. Currently, the central projection has a low-pitch gable between square pilasters flanked by side bays of solid timber pews. The side elevations have rectangular windows below and semi-circular headed windows above.

In the proposal, entry will be to the main family space, with a utility room and WC on either side. The chapel will retain the two flights of stairs at the entrance hall, connecting the ground and first-floor gallery.

Much of the room will remain as it did as a chapel, with high vaulted ceilings creating a large, double-height family space and a gallery surrounding it; the gallery space will be converted into an office with a cosy snug and a fireplace.

On the ground floor, the organ will be removed to create a bedroom in its chamber. Acoustically and visually divided from the rest of the dwelling by a glazed screen and folding panels made from the re-used ground floor pews, this will be a private space with an en suite bathroom.

A series of inhabited walls will sit under the gallery, enveloping the existing columns and creating intimate bedrooms on either side of the chapel. Panelling here will be made from repurposed pews, stained to a grey tone to provide a visual distinction between original and new.

The adjoining Sunday School will be split into two guest accommodation annexes. The first one on the ground floor will be entered from its own lobby from the alleyway. The second will be a studio annexe on the first floor, also accessed from its own ground floor lobby and staircase; the existing bathroom and kitchenette will be retained.

There are plans to upgrade the glazing to provide secondary thermal and acoustic protection throughout the chapel.

The Great Outdoors

Private courtyards surround the chapel, bound by iron railings, and offer good scope for development.

Out and About

Familiarly known as ‘Lani’, Llanidloes is at the heart of the ancient medieval kingdom of Arwystli, the first town on the River Severn and the gateway to the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales. The house is in the heart of the town and is a stone’s throw from its shops, pubs and cafés. Great Oak Foods offers local and organic produce, while the Trewythen Hotel is a good option for lunch and overnight visitors. The Red Lion Hotel offers traditional pub food, and every Saturday, the town hosts an outdoor Saturday market.

Llanidloes is two hours drive from Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff. Regular trains run from Caersws station, which is under a 15-minute drive away.