Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel

Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel

Pat Donnor October 2022

Oddfellows Hall identification stone on former Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel

Pat Donnor October 2022

Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel from the west

Pat Donnor October 2022

Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel from the east

Pat Donnor October 2022

Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel from above

Pat Donnor October 2022

the use in 2022 of Appleby-in-Westmorland Primitive Methodist chapel

Pat Donnor October 2022

The 1901 Primitive Methodist magazine tells us a story

“A singular occurrence is reported in the newspapers from Appleby, the head of the new branch station made from the Kirkby Stephen Circuit, Westmorland.  The chapel was built against an embankment along which the water main  runs.  The pipes burst, saturating the embankment and causing a landslip  which burst into the chapel.

It will be necessary to build a new chapel and a site, where, we suppose, there will not be any chance of such an event occurring again, has been secured.

It is uncommonly pleasing to record that the parish clergyman has placed the day school at the service of the society, an act of Christian courtesy and helpfulness which reflects infinite credit on  his large-mindedness and generosity.  We do not believe that anything will kill dissent, for the reason that it rests on principles that are true and eternal. But if anything would kill it, it is the manifestation of Christian kindness like that of the incumbent of Appleby at a time of special need.”

Both the 1897 and 1911 Ordnance Survey maps (i.e. before and after the date of the report, show a Primitive Methodist chapel on The Sands, just west of the junction with Garth Heads Road, almost where the Oddfellows Hall is shown on Street View in 2009/2021.

Thanks to Andrew Suitor in the comment below for confirming the building with the same footprint is the former chapel. What happened to the intention to move to a new site?

Thanks to Pat Donnor for the photographs of the former chapel.   Pat confirms that the building is squashed between the Sands (B6543) and Garth Heads Road on a very steep embankment.  It was the Oddfellows Hall but it is now (2022) the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses with a new entrance accessed from Garth Heads Road.

Grid ref NY 68661 20318

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine January 1901 page 76 – 77