New uses for ruined churches

Everyone knows that when a castle or a church tumbles into ruin, it’s an opportunity for the locals. All over Europe and beyond, once majestic buildings have found new uses as humble farm labourers’ cottages, or a house for the local blacksmith, or … whatever’s needed really. Round here there are at least two houses whose builders hadn’t merely appropriated the stone, but also reinstated the windows found in a tumbledown place of worship.

This house is two farm-workers’ cottages knocked into one. The original tiny dwellings have been here for centuries: but being humble didn’t stop them from having fine windows once part of a church that no longer exists.

Not far away is a handsome farm house. That too benefits from a spot of recycling.

Monday Window

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and living in North Yorkshire, where I walk as often as I can, write, volunteer, and travel as often as I can.

41 thoughts on “New uses for ruined churches”

  4. This brings me to thinking of a church I saw in the Languedoc that had been converted to a house…must dig out the image sometime

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  7. Those deliberate conversions happen a lot here too. But this was simply ransacking a disused building and purloining the bits you fancied!

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  10. Pingback: A former Monastery with a new life | WordsVisual

  14. Innovative ideas for recycling! Back on the blog after a bit of a hiatus (sadly a bereavement in my husband’s family). I think you are coming out of lockdown now so fingers crossed things go well 🙂

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      1. Thanks Margaret for you kind wishes – difficult time for many people living far apart at present. No one could have foreseen how the world would change in such a short time. We’re all well here though in WA – the seasons have really shifted over and we’re going into winter now. Love the log fires! 🙂

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  15. The abbey that was the burial place for King Alfred has ended up all over the city and in the surrounding villages. At least they re-use unlike most modern knockdowns!

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  20. You’ve reminded me of my sweetheart in the early days of visiting England when the idea of a castle was very alluring. We went to Bishop’s Castle and drove up a slender, hilly street looking for it. Eventually someone told us the castle was long gone and the stones had been used to make the local pub.

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