A couple are giving a new lease of life to a historic chapel in the Peak District.

Chelsea Shoesmith and her partner Mark Eastman, co-owner of Shaw Street Garage in Macclesfield, have purchased Allgreave Methodist Chapel.

They are transforming the 154-year-old property into a holiday let, documenting their renovation journey on Instagram.

Photographer Chelsea, 34, said: "It's always been a dream of mine to have a little Airbnb-style property but I never thought it would be something I could achieve.

"I thought to buy a detached property with views like that you'd need hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds, whereas we got this for £86,000.

"Obviously, we will need to spend a lot on it but it just seems like a dream come true that we can buy such an iconic building.

"I know people love to follow renovations projects and then by the time it is ready to rent out, people will be excited because they know how much love and effort's gone into it."

Chelsea Shoesmith and Mark Eastman (Credit: Chelsea Shoesmith)

Chelsea and Mark only viewed the property for the first time on the day of the auction, July 3.

They were on their way to Blaze Farm for an ice cream when they saw the auctioneer doing a viewing.

Later that same day they attended the auction and ended up winning, paying £86,000.

"It felt quite brave to do that because I'd never been to an auction before and we were the only people there, everybody else was bidding online," Chelsea said.

"I didn't think we would get it, but we did in the end."

The couple picked up the keys at the end of July and have slowly but surely started work to transform the property into a holiday home.

Planning permission for such a development has been in place for over two decades.

Chelsea said: "I can't believe it's not been turned into a holiday home already, because the planning permission's been in place since 2003.

"Everything we do, we want to make sure we do it sympathetically and try and use natural materials, like stone windowsills and a cobbled driveway.

"We just want it to be a really tranquil space that people can go to if they enjoy the Peak District."

The couple are hoping to complete the renovation by next summer (Credit: Chelsea Shoesmith)

Mark and Chelsea already have some experience of home transformations, having completed the conversion of their current home, a former barn, and the renovation of their old terrace house in Macclesfield.

They are hoping to have completed the renovation of Allgreave Methodist Chapel by next summer.

You can follow their journey on Instagram.

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