Ebenezer Chapel in Trecynon, Aberdare, is set to go under the hammer with a guide price of just £1. The Grade II-listed building, which closed its doors in 2009, is being offered at online auction with the hope it will attract a buyer willing to take on a major renovation project.
The chapel, a landmark in the area alongside The Coliseum Theatre and Aberdare Park, was once able to accommodate up to 900 worshippers. Its congregation peaked at 564 in 1907, according to the book Chapels of the Cynon Valley, but numbers dwindled over the decades until services ceased in April 2009.
History and listing
Cadw recognised the chapel's importance with a Grade II listing in 1991, which dates the site as a place of worship since 1811. The current building was first constructed in 1854 and partially rebuilt around 1859 by local architect Thomas Roderick, whose work can be seen at other chapels in Aberdare.
The first rebuild cost at least £800 and expanded the space to hold up to 900 people, according to a 1913 report in the Aberdare Leader. A further refurbishment in 1902 reportedly cost around £1,000.
Auction details and potential
Sean Roper, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: "The property has previously had planning for conversion to five flats. That permission has now lapsed but could also suit other types of residential or commercial or community use, subject to obtaining planning permission."
The chapel sits on a plot of about 0.23 acres, including the graveyard, with potential access from the front and rear. The sale also includes a single, detached garage. The last known sale was in 2007 for £64,000, according to Rightmove using Land Registry data.
The online auction starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 6, and ends from 2pm on Thursday, October 8. The guide price is £1 plus, but it is predicted to sell for more.
