Band celebrates 200th anniversary of its home

Paul France joined the band in 1953, and members paid just £5 for the chapel more than 30 years ago and then set about restoring it

A Shropshire brass band has been celebrating the 200th anniversary of its home - a former chapel members bought and converted.

The Jackfield Brass Band bought the Coalford Wesleyan Methodist Chapel for just £5 more than 30 years ago and have since restored it.

The chapel, in the Ironbridge Gorge, now serves as practice room, a recording studio and is sometimes used by visiting bands and choirs.

Member Paul France, who plays the cornet, said the band loves the building and they were glad that it can be used by the community.

The original band started in 1893 and became a full brass band in about 1895, Mr France said.

He joined in 1953 and said the chapel had been unoccupied for some time when they purchased it from the then Telford Development Corporation.

"I was never a regular here, but both my sisters got married here and with living just down the road from the age of about seven, there's a lot of memories," he said.

Members decided to "do it properly" and take their time over improvements.

Extensive work was carried out on the building from 1999 to convert it for the band

"We took it back to brickwork and now see the results. It's lovely, absolutely lovely," he said.

"I love seeing people's faces... they come in and LED lighting, it's all double glazed.

"We took all the plaster off and [added] 20mm studding and 50mm plasterboard so it's all very quiet and proper heating in and a kitchen in the back, toilet and we've got a library - we've got everything we want."

'We're very proud'

The band had used a next door wooden hut, which was also used by a Sunday school, and ended up also buying that taking on and moving into the chapel in 1999.

"It's all been well worth it. We're very proud of it basically," Mr France added.

"That was part of the deal with the corporation, that we bought it for this silly amount of money - a fiver - and we had to pay their solicitor's fees, which came out about £700-odd on condition we refurbished it and maintained it and we have done."

He said other bands and local choirs have used the room to practice.

"It's used for what it's meant for - for the village," he said.

The band can now practice and record inside the chapel