Nothing goes to waste at Kings Barn rebuild

But every part of the former King’s Barn Mission Hall is being recycled and reused, with no part of it going to landfill.

The distinctive building on Rue du Gele, Castel, was a decorative place of worship, built from corrugated iron.

The structure was a mission hall for more than a century but has been vacant since 2018.

It was sold for £250,000 in February last year.

Nigel Chescoe bought the plot to build his new family home and hopes to move into it by September.

The original cornerstone, which was laid by Frank Carey, has been preserved.

‘It will be put on the gate fronting the carriageway, so it is visible to the public from the road.

‘There was no need to chuck it away, although it is a fragile lump of concrete which is very delicate.’

Mr Chescoe and wife Cate have salvaged the old oak timber frames from the church, plus its iconic peacock window, to be reused.

Any rubble will be crushed and reused.

‘From a sustainable recycling perspective, none of this has gone to landfill,’ he said.

‘Pig farmer Pete Bougourd is taking some of the corrugated iron cladding from the building and the windows are being reused.

Site electrics have been housed by utilising the former vestry roof, plus boards from the men’s toilet and the door from the ladies’.'

Building contractor Phil Hill-Smith undertook the work and took the frame down quickly and safely.

‘I took some brilliant photos of the top of the structure’s rafters, and will be making a diary of how this has evolved – the demolition is all part of that.

‘Having a sub-floor void kept the damp out of the well-ventilated hall. A few beams had rotted but otherwise the suspended floor structure was absolutely fine, so the original flooring will be retained.’

Mr Chescoe said that people passing by the development have been positive about the changes.

‘I’ve had no negative comments, everything has been positive and the neighbours are really excited.

‘They said before it was falling apart and looked ugly.’

An interested party took the church's organ before the structure was demolished.