The renovation of the old Chapel is well under way, and will soon be ready as a market hall.
The renovation of the chapel at the Hanging Gardens in Llanidloes, Wales, was part of a broader effort to restore and enhance this unique venue. The chapel, which dates back to the 19th century, had fallen into disrepair over the years. The renovation aimed to preserve its historical features while making it suitable for modern use.
Key aspects of the renovation included restoring the chapel’s distinctive architecture, updating its facilities, and improving accessibility. The project also focused on maintaining the chapel’s spiritual and community significance, ensuring it could host various events and activities.
The renovation was well-received by the local community and aimed to breathe new life into the chapel, making it a vibrant part of the Hanging Gardens experience.




Our mission. To develop and renovate the chapel and hall
whilst preserving what we can.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDINGS
THE SITE
Bethel Hall and Chapel run back from Bethel Street, one of the internal lanes extending off an axial road in the medieval town. Although an earlier, 7th century settlement may have been built around St Idloes Church, what we see of the street plan of Llanidloes today is a ‘planted town’ first mentioned in 1263 and given market status by Edward I in 1280. Adjacent to Bethel Hall would have been one of the town gates whilst the medieval defenses once ran along the north side of the Hall.
This area of Llanidloes has seen the demolition of a number of historic buildings, with a fine row of timber-framed cottages opposite Bethel Hall being demolished in the 1950s. To the north, outside the town’s medieval defenses, the area of Brook Street was once at the foot
BETHEL HALL
Bethel Hall has a long history. The Royal Commission on Historic Monuments for Wales notes that Bethel Hall Chapel was first built in 1770, enlarged in 1804 and demolished and replaced in 1821. However, when the concrete render was stripped off the rear wall of the hall in 2020 this revealed a substantial stone wall with a number of phases of build. Clearly visible are the remains of the 1770 Welsh Chapel, inserted into an existing building which was probably built in the 17th or early 18th century. The building lies on the eastern edge of the medieval town and (as noted above) adjacent to one of the medieval gates in the town and butting up to the town’s defenses. This first phase of the Hall was built of massive fragments of stone perhaps obtained from a quarry at Penstrowed. Recording of the rear wall of the hall reveals a loading door at first floor level, suggesting the building may have been a warehouse (most likely for the wool trade, before flannel manufacturing took over in popularity).
In 1770 a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel was inserted into the warehouse. Work comprised the rebuilding (in hand-made bricks) of the front wall and one of the side walls, on top of the earlier stone foundations. The front wall was rebuilt so that the double entrance doors and windows of the chapel could be incorporated. This was a ‘laterial-façade’ chapel with its double entrances on the long wall, rather than in the gable end. Much remains of this chapel including most of the window openings (four with their original sash windows surviving) and the double entrances off the street frontage. When the interior was refloored in 2021 three rows of brick sleeper-walls were recorded, along the back of the hall, where a raised area of pews had once been built. Internally much of the original lime plaster and some wooden paneling survive. The chapel was sold when a new Welsh Chapel was built on China Street in 1873. A number of Welsh bibles (and one in English) dated the early 19th century, were uncovered in a blocked up window in the chapel.

BETHEL CHAPEL
Bethel Chapel was an English Presbyterian Chapel built in 1872. The foundation stone was laid by Edward Davies Esq on October 14. The front elevation (gable entry) was built of hammer-dressed dark rubble stone (from Penstrowed quarry) with ashlar dressings of Grinshill sandstone (Shropshire). In 1887 an organ was installed, built by Henry Jones & Sons, South Kensington – the first organ of its kind in Llanidloes. The organ was electrified in 1944.
Renovation of the chapel was carried out in 1922-26 and in 1931-3 a toilet block was added (or probably extended) to the rear of the chapel. In 1937 the organ was cleaned and repaired. A gas boiler was installed in 1950 and the tower taken down in 1960 as it was unsafe. Sadly, the cast iron gates and railing were removed from the frontage in 1972 and replaced with a low brick wall. The chapel closed its doors in 2004.
In 1898 the old Welsh Chapel was purchased by the English Presbyterian Chapel (next door) and converted for use as its social centre. Renovation work was started in 1899 with the foundation stones being laid by David Davies Esq of Plasdinam and Rev Maurice Griffiths MA on December 20th 1899. As part of the build a brick extension was added to the front elevation to serve as a raised stage over a basement. This work necessitated the removal of the tall windows in the lateral-façade of the 1770 chapel. New doorways were inserted in the side walls of the chapel which provided access via staircases to the 1st floor balcony supported by six cast iron pillars. This may have been the time when the south wall was slate hung, over a lime render. Gas lighting was also installed. By 1907 the burden of debt forced the sale of the Social Centre.
In 1932 Benbow and Co Ironmongers purchased the building and this venture continued until its closure in 2010. Since then the building has remained empty, save short-term use for the sale of tools by Benji Ltd and later as an auction house.