An elderly couple from Sidbury, Sidmouth, have bought a 100 year old Methodist Chapel

at Saltrens, Monkleigh, and are having it converted into a bungalow.

They are Mr and Mrs A W Webb. They have also bought the adjoining schoolroom and garage.

Mr O E Pusey, of Bude, who is working on the conversion, said that during alteration they had come across drains which made it evident that the chapel was created by converting a stable. “The schoolroom was added afterwards and the garage later still,” he said.

Previous owner of the property was Mr W G Lee, of Highleigh, Bideford, who bought it just after the war when the Petticombe Estate was sold. “At that time I was Sunday School superintendent and I wanted to save it for this work,” he said. “But there are no longer any children at Saltrens for the Sunday School and I am glad to sell the property rather than see it fall into disrepair.”

Before buying the chapel Mr Lee leased it, taking over the lease from the Bideford Bible Christians.

Gazette article dated 25 August 1961