The National Trust has bought a 300-year-old chapel in the centre of Avebury.
The charity bought the former United Reform Church chapel, which dates back to 1670, as a visitor centre.
The former chapel, which is an unusual example of a Christian chapel placed inside a prehistoric stone circle, housed a tourist information centre until 2011. The condition of the chapel deteriorated over the second half of the 20th century - with the dry rot getting so bad that in the 1980s an organist reportedly fell through the organ loft floor during a service.
The chapel was still used for worship until 2015, when it was offered for sale. A local group attempted to buy the chapel, but their bid fell through.
Jan Tomlin, National Trust general manager, said: “Our vision is to develop this unique and beautiful building into a welcome and information space for both local communities and visitors to share our passion for the landscape, its abundant nature and world-renowned archaeology.”
The National Trust team will be opening the chapel next week to give local residents and interested visitors a chance to speak to bosses from the charity.
The chapel will be open on Wednesday July 5, 3pm to 7pm. For more, visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury.
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