A former South Wales valleys church dating back almost 160 years which went for auction with a price tag of just £7,000 sold after fierce bidding for almost seven times that figure.
The Calvinist Methodist Bethel Chapel, on Ruperra Street, in New Tredegar, Gwent dating from 1860 complete with pews and fabulously intricate and colourful gallery balustrades, was sold for £47,000 by Paul Fosh Auctions.
Sean Roper, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “The former church, which is crammed with a host of original features, certainly grabbed the attention of potential buyers with a total of nine competing to win the property.
“The church, which looks very much as it must have done when the last member of the congregation and the minister left the fabulous building for the last time, attracted a total of 39 bids before it sold.
“The historic church is situated in the heart of the village of New Tredegar which exudes decades of history. The commanding property has an awesome backdrop of rolling hills and is close to local shops and amenities.
“This delightful church has many features that would complement any future use, such as the pulpit gallery balcony and the rows and rows of polished wood compartmentalised pews.
“The auction sale offers someone with vision an ideal opportunity to perhaps convert to a residential home or community use, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.
The village of New Tredegar is well situated close to great road links for Bargoed, Blackwood and to the north the Heads of the Valleys A465 and the Parc Bryn Bach with its 340 acres of parkland.
The next Paul Fosh Auctions sale, when around 100 lots will be offered for sale, starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 23 and ends from 2 pm, on Thursday, June 25.
