The 16th century chapel of Dukinfield Old Hall sits in the grounds of Bardsley Construction Ltd and is not normally accessible to the general public. However, it is for one day a year as part of the Heritage Open Days. Below are some photos taken on 13 September 2009.

Dukinfield Hall was the home of the Duckenfield family from the 12th to the mid-18th centuries. It was originally one of the grandest manorial houses in the Tameside area. Ultimately it was converted into cottages and eventually demolished in 1950 when it was in a state of dilapidation.

But part of the building remains in the shape of the family chapel built around 1580, replacing the original chapel that stood on the site. It is an important landmark in the history of non-conformity in religion and was possibly the first congregational church in England.

The chapel was incorporated as part of a larger congregational church in the 1860s. Attendances dwindled in the 20th century as the area became more industrialised and more and more families moved to new housing in the east of the town. Eventually the church moved to Dewsnap Lane. (See Dukinfiled Congregational Church website)

A fire in 1978 destroyed the Victorian part of the building, but the original chapel was left standing, albeit without a roof and badly damaged. It has remained in this state ever since and was only visible from the Peak Forest Canal. In December 2008, planning permission was granted for the retention of the listed building as a controlled ruin. (See application documents)

A condition of the permission is that work should begin by December 2011 although it is not known how this might be funded given the present economic climate.