A huge fire has broken out at a listed former chapel in Port Talbot, South Wales.
Footage from Thursday evening showed flames and smoke billowing into the sky as fire crews rushed to extinguish the blaze.
Further images from the scene appear to show the chapel has had its roof ripped off altogether – with multiple floors of the building gutted by the fire.
But as the blaze continued, some locals have voiced their incredulity that nearby shops were operating as normal.
As the blaze continued, some locals have voiced their incredulity that nearby shops were operating as normal
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Further footage from the scene appears to show the chapel has had its roof ripped off altogether – with multiple floors of the building gutted by the fire
One, Nathan Preece, wrote on social media: “Tesco, is it really safe to keep your PortTalbot superstore open when the building next door is ablaze? Not really.”
The former place of worship, Bethany Chapel, sits on the junction of Station Road and Forge Road in the historic steelmaking town.
Reference site British Listed Buildings says the chapel is protected as “a well-preserved chapel of its period” which “forms the focal point in the centre of Port Talbot”.
The chapel was designed and built by architect John Cound and contractor David Jenkins at a cost of £1,700 – almost £180,000 in today’s money.
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Bethany Chapel sits on the junction of Station Road and Forge Road in the historic steelmaking town
Its foundation stone was laid on August 14, 1879 by Sir H H Vivian – and Port Talbot “developed around it”, British Listed Buildings says.
Further historical records show the building was used as a library in the 20th century – and was still in use in 2002 before falling into disrepair.
GB News has approached Mid and West Wales Fire Service for comment.
More to follow…
