A KNUTSFORD estate agent has pledged part of its community fund to a Grade I listed building in the heart of the town.

Gascoigne Halman has donated a £500 slice of its £25,000 Community Challenge fund to Brook Street Unitarian Chapel on Adams Hill.

Brook Street Chapel applied for funding to help repair its Grade I listed chapel. The ancient oak beams inside the building needed urgent repair to maintain a safe environment for visitors and parishioners.

The chapel has a variety of uses in the community including, social activities, exhibitions, concerts and regularly hosts local meetings.

The chapel itself is situated in Brook Street Heritage Site, home to an exhibition about famous English novelist, Elizabeth Gaskell and her life in Knutsford, which attracts visitors from around the world.

One of the charity’s fundraisers, Beulah Cornes said: “We are so grateful for this generous donation. The chapel hosts concerts, exhibitions and social activities that bring the community together and with this donation we can continue to provide these services.”

“The chapel offers locals access to good quality events right on their doorstep. It’s a fantastic place to find companionship and friendship and helps to combat loneliness in our community and that’s why it is so important to the local area.”

Gascoigne Halman celebrated its 25th anniversary by setting up a £25,000 fund to support local causes. The aim was to select charities and community groups that create a positive impact on the community whilst providing long term benefits for the area.