Series: Deborah Laing-Trengrove unpublished report series

Deborah Laing-Trengove undertook building recording prior to and during works at 24A High Street, with particular focus on the roof structure which was to be impacted by renovation works. The building began life as an 18th century agricultural addition to 24 High Street and was converted to domestic use in the early 19th century. The roof structure dates from this period.

The Bible Christians were active in West Devon from 1815, with early meeting house or chapel sites at Week St. Mary and Shebbear. Documentary and cartographic sources tell us that an earlier Chapel was sited at the same location as the present building, sometime between 1837 and 1885. But the late 19th century building covered any traces of this earlier chapel. This Chapel is one of many which were built or rebuilt in West Devon in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. The existing building retains the original 1899 exterior structure as well as many internal elements and timber fittings such as doors, windows, panelling and floors. The building has undergone some minor internal refurbishment or adaptation to the changing needs of the congregation and the Methodist Church. In the early 20th century the interior of the Main Hall was altered at the west end with a raised platform for Rostrum and Choir/Leader seating inserted, blocking the former door into the Vestry to the rear of the Hall, and abutting the panelled screen between the Hall and the School Room at the northwest end. The toilet extension was probably added at this time, together with alteration to the windows and insertion of a partition at the western end wall.