LIKE many buildings that once played an important role in the community, the former Baptist chapel in Coedpoeth had fallen into disuse.
The chapel, which dates back to 1868, had been empty until former dairy farmer turned property developer Dave Allen saw its potential.
Mr Allen, from Penley, has converted the chapel into two upmarket dwellings and has also renovated the adjacent caretakers’ houses.
The building was not listed and could, in theory, have been demolished.
But the aspiring developer, on his first project, wanted to retain the structure and as many of its original features as possible.
While the inside might look very different, the facade is just as it was when the chapel was built 140 years ago.
Mr Allen explained: “I just fancied a change – this place came onto the market and, at the time, it was good value for money so we went for it.
“We’ve converted the chapel itself into two three-bedroom houses and the two caretakers’ houses have been renovated.
“The project has taken about 18 months and has run pretty smoothly.
“We’ve had a very positive response to the way we’ve done it and are very pleased with the way it’s turned out.”
Around Wrexham there are a number of buildings officially recognised as being ‘at risk’.
These are listed by CADW, the Welsh Assembly’s historic environment service, because of their perceived importance to the nation but, for whatever reason, are in a state of disrepair.
But there are many others that could be lost that aren’t listed, such as the Coedpoeth chapel.
Anna Irwin is senior conservation officer at Wrexham Council.
She said: “When a building is not listed there’s nothing to stop people knocking them down, so we need to encourage conservation.
“These buildings may not be of national importance but they will certainly be of local interest.
“Our preference would be to maintain them for community use but, if that’s not possible, then conversion to residential is certainly possible.”
Anna has recently finished compiling her ‘buildings at risk’ strategy, looking at those churches, important houses and other structures whose future is uncertain.
They include a Church of Wales outpost in Rhos, a chapel in Newbridge and many others.
The most well-known of the buildings at risk is probably the former Mines Rescue Centre in Wrexham.
The centre has made headlines several times over the past year since a portion of it was demolished.
Anna and her team are on hand to help the owners of historic listed buildings to look at ways of preserving them.
They can advise on grant funding, how best to approach restoration work or on measures to protect an important building in the short term.