Historic chapel in Northamptonshire could be demolished

The parent company of Timsons Engineering, EAT Holdings, has applied to knock down the 120-year-old building, which is the only Primitive Methodist Chapel in Kettering.

It is now used for storage by Timsons and is known locally as the Timsons Chapel.

But the company wants to flatten the building and has asked Kettering Council’s planning department if it would need permission to do so.

Planners have now told them they do need permission.

There had been rumours that the demolition would take place this weekend but the Northants Telegraph has received confirmation it will not.

In a report to the council, officer Rebecca Collins said: “The chapel was constructed in 1906 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel and is located opposite the Timson factory complex.

“It is fine, large red brick building with roundarched windows and architectural detailing to the front elevation.

“The site has been used as part of the Primitive Methodist movement since 1874 when an iron chapel was opened on this site.

“This was soon replaced with a brick-built place of worship, to which a Sunday school was added in 1906.

“Although the building is structurally sound there is some evidence of need of repair with slates falling off the roof, some smashed glass from windows and patches of damp.”

“Internally the building has undergone some structural alteration for use as storage, including the insertion of mezzanine flooring, including the cutting through the arch of the church to insert the mezzanine.

“The applicants state that there is no form of heating within the building and pigeons in the roof space.”

Primitive Methodists followed the teachings of the denomination very strictly – viewing themselves as practising a purer form of Christianity, closer to the earliest Methodists.

The differences between the Primitives and Wesleyans became smaller and they merged in 1932.

Kettering Civic Society chairman Paul Ansell said: “The building is starting to deteriorate.

“There are slates coming off and trees are finding their way in.

“It’s looking a little bit precarious.

“If it were to be restored I suspect it would cost about £750,000.

“It does have a nice garden and a car park and it could be used by the community for putting on shows or community events.”

No-one from Timsons Engineering or EAT Holdings was available for comment.