Chapel and cottage in Matlock with links to Florence Nightingale goes under the hammer

Lea Chapel and Cottage in Main Road, Upper Lea, near Matlock, has a guide price of £150,000 and over and comprises of a Grade II-listed former chapel with adjoining cottage in a heavenly location.

The chapel was built in 1671 in coarse natural stone and has Gothic-style windows and is an attractive feature of the village.

It is believed to have had a strong connection with Thomas Nightingale, a relative of Florence Nightingale, who lived in the village.

The chapel building comprises an entrance hallway with cloakroom, large main chapel area with pulpit and balcony, and a school room with a vaulted ceiling and access to Beech Cottage.

The cottage is gas centrally heated and has a lounge, kitchen and pantry, with a galleried-style landing leading to two double bedrooms and a bathroom.

The properties occupy a large plot with the potential for an additional building, subject to planning permission.

Robert Stone, head of auctions East Midlands, said: “This is a beautiful property in a beautiful location, surrounded by the dry stone walls characteristic of this area and with masses of potential to become a stunning family home and for a separate building plot, with the necessary permissions.

"It could also be suitable for a holiday home, as Matlock and the Peak District are just up the road.”

This property is one of three in SDL Auctions’ national property auction, which takes place over two days on Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30.

Lots will be split into residential and commercial, with Lea Chapel and Cottage.

Already the auction features more than 150 lots and properties are still flooding in.

Last month’s auction featured 240 lots, SDL Auctions’ biggest yet, and took the total raised this year for sellers to £130 million.

There is still time to enter your property into the auction.

For more information, or request a free no-obligation auction valuation, call the friendly team on 0800 046 5454 or visit www.sdlauctions.co.uk/free-sales-valuation.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor