When you pass a derelict building, drowning in ivy with no windows and years of neglect as its only company, do you wonder what it looks like inside and itch to find out? This was certainly the case when BBC TV's Homes Under the Hammer's Martin Roberts visited a derelict chapel dating back to around 1838 hiding near the historic viaduct in Cefn Coed-y-Cymmer near Merthyr Tydfil.
And as soon as he arrives it's love at first sight for Martin: "Oh wow! You can probably guess from the outside it's not going to be in particularly good state inside, and you'd be right - it is pretty derelict!" The chapel hadn't been used for many years Martin judged by the state of the building, but that didn't stop his love from deepening further.
He says: "Thankfully some of the original features are still here - look at that gallery! And some fantastic features in the ceiling, and just this, well amazing space! Clearly this is going to be a massively complicated job, but who cares?! Wow!"
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Martin could see that the building comprised of one large room and stairs that were in a dangerous state leading up to the gallery balcony above where there would have been more pews for the congregation.
All the windows were blocked up but Martin thought they were spectacular in their own right, as well as a stone-carved arch over the solid front doors that was worthy of lingering for longer to admire.
Then Martin found the old chapel organ and couldn't help himself - he had a go but not surprisingly it had given up the ghost of working a long time ago. But even that couldn't dampen Martin's spirit regarding this chapel. "Hmmm, think it needs a bit of a retune!", he quips.
Martin braves the scary staircase to the upper gallery and he can't help but gush. He says: "Up here not only do you get a flavour of this incredible building, but your mind starts to race as to what you might do with it."
He chuckles: "You're going to need a good architect - that's for starters! Because what you'd end up doing is just creating a shell in here, and then... building what? I mean, let your mind race.
"Would it be one house perhaps, with some amazing vaulted spaces and a huge open plan living area downstairs, maybe bedrooms up here, keeping these windows obviously?"
Phew, Martin is so over-excited it wouldn't be a surprise to find out that he bid on the chapel that's captivated him and bought it himself- except he didn't.
Would it be more profitable to break it up into several flats he ponders, but he thinks there's an easy way to get an answer for this chapel. He says: "Maybe you need to sit down and let the building speak to you a little...? And it's saying it's a great opportunity!"
But Martin does admit that it's important that this building doesn't talk you into a project that you're not prepared for. He says: "After all, there's no planning permission and what utilises are in place? Is there damp? Rot? Who knows!
"And the there is something else that could scupper any development here. Because a building like this is almost definitely going to be home to bats.
"Now as you are probably aware, bats are a protected species in the UK and you can't just willy nilly start developing somewhere like this without first of all having a bat survey.
"And if that shows that there are bats then there are lots and lots of rules and regulations that you must adhere to before you do anything!"
The list Martin says a new owner needs to consider is long and somewhat worrying. Planning consent is needed, a structural engineer to prove it is safe, an architect to make the most of the available space, a specialist to remove all the ivy, maybe a specialist roofer and a specialist to rehouse the bats - phew!
Plus the site comes with a surrounding cemetery that will also need some sensitive handling and has some strict guidelines on what you can or cannot do within that area.
Even with his rose tinted, chapel-shaped love goggles on, Martin could see that the building was in a terrible state, had possible issues for developing, and was going to need a huge amount of work. But for a guide price of £35,000, what do you expect?
The chapel was bought at the auction for £47,000 by builder Dennis and his business partner semi-retired engineer Phil, and the pair were not at all phased by the state of the building or the work that needed doing.
Dennis bought the chapel at the auction without Phil even knowing, but that wasn't a problem either, as the pair have worked on projects together in the past.
The pair wanted to turn the chapel into four flats, with the two top floor flats having the bonus of roof windows framing incredible views down the valley, and this got Martin excited all over again, as he gushed, 'wow, amazing!'
The budget was between £140,000 to £160,000 and the pair thought about a year to complete. But the show returned after seven months to see how Darren and Phil were getting on.
Outside, the ivy was down and the scaffolding was up and the cemetery and whole site was now free of undergrowth.
Inside, the balcony was gone to be replaced by a new floor for the flats and the ground floor flats were getting their new internal walls, as well as new internal blockwork throughout for support.
Drainage was in and the repointing of the external stonework has left the facade of the old Ebenezer chapel looking stunning.
Now all the boys had left on their list was getting the stud walls in, the first fix electrics and plumbing and then all the fixtures, fittings and interior design.
Dennis says the project is on budget, although they were at that point of filming in 2019 still waiting for planning to be finalised, plus resolving an issue with the highways department about access to the chapel by future residents.
According to the planning portal of Merthyr Tydfil County Council, the dispute must have been resolved as the planning application to convert this Ebenezer Chapel into 2, two-bed flats and 2, one-bed flats, with associated amenity space and parking provision, was given full approval on June 25, 2020.
At the time the show was filmed, the returning estate agent suggested a sales price of £100,000 for a one-bed unit and £120,000 for a two-bed unit. With the purchase price of £47k and a spend of £160,000, the pair stand to make up to £280,000 pre-tax profit - no wonder they and Martin fell in love with Cefn Coed-Y-Cymmer's Ebenezer Chapel.
This story can be seen as part of series 23, episode 37, currently available to view on BBC iPlayer. And to make sure you don't miss any property and homes articles, join our Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter here.
