History
History
The Old Chapel
was once the former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel for the Withypool and Hawkridge civil parish. It operated as a Methodist church from 1881 until 1967 and has been a private residence since 1973. As a church it could seat 110 parishioners arranged in pews and operated a Sunday school for children. The building has undergone two major renovations since the early 70’s and as a result, no longer bears any resemblance to a church. Originally built of Exmoor stone you can get a sense of what it may have looked like by the only exposed stone still visible behind the woodburner.
After a lengthy search to find our own little bit of Exmoor heaven in Somerset, we purchased the home in September 2018 and our journey began to create the perfect Exmoor cottage. Our goal was to create a luxurious but comfortable cottage that would be family friendly, pet friendly but also perfect for a romantic getaway. We wanted to "bring the outside in" and complement the stunning views in our decor. In partnership with Rupert White Interiors , we have done just that while also paying homage to the home’s past in small ways.
During COVID lockdown we moved into the cottage and ceased holiday-letting but now have the opportunity to move to mid-Devon and return the cottage to a self-catering cottage once again. Having lived in the cottage, we have made a few small improvements and changes but it still very much lives up to standard of comfortable luxury on Exmoor.
As before, the pew in the front hall is from Farrisher’s Lane Chapel, a former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in South Ferriby, Lincolnshire. The heavily varnished pew still shows the marks and scuffs from the rough clothes of the fisher folk who attended services there. Altar candles are still in situ in the floor lamps in the sitting room and the kitchen has been given a lift with a new quart worktop, new sink and faucet.
Other items in the home were chosen for their interest and character. And let’s face it – things that stand the test of time will continue to do so! The umbrella stand in the front hall is a brass shell casing, marked 1962. Log storage by the wood burner is dutifully provided by an interesting 19th century cooking pot. A camphor trunk is the perfect coffee table as well as a place for playing the family board games you will find in the lounge cupboard.