The Primitive Methodist Chapel
Primitive Methodist Chapel, Main Street.
This photo from about 1949 shows one of three
chapels in Mickletown. This stood on the grassland between the Mini Mart (2003)
and 4 older properties. It was a large chapel, built
in 1866 at a cost of £600 and closed in the early 1950s, the first of
the three Mickletown Chapels to close. It had a large gallery and, at the
rear, a large schoolroom. Access to this was through the Chapel itself or
down a passage between the Chapel and Milner's Shop. Like all our village
chapels it was well attended for many years and had especially large congregations
at Sunday School Anniversaries, when the chapel was packed to capacity, even
to sitting on the balcony steps. The doors were opened so that the overflow
congregation could hear the singing.
The new frontage shown on the photograph was added 1935-36. The chapel was
affiliated to Rothwell Primitive Methodist Circuit. After closure as a chapel
in the mid 1950s it became a small clothing factory employing local female
labour, and ended its life as an electrical workshop, managed by a local man,
Mr. Ledbury.
