THIS old picture taken around 1909 is of the former Primitive Methodist Chapel in Gargrave Road, Skipton.

The site, long since demolished, was a venue for Sunday School as well as youth discos in the latter part of its existence.

The building consisted of a number of rooms with a large hall and stage.

There was said to have been a steep slope down to a back entrance where Sunday School was held with memories going back to the 1940s.

Many Skiptonians were married at the chapel.

The site of the former chapel is now a series of flats.

Developers tried to maintain a sympathetic feel to the old building by building the flats over three stories and emulating the basic style.

It occupies the same spot as the old chapel but today the outlook is onto the busy Gargrave Road; a far cry from the quiet roads and lack of traffic of earlier days. It also faces the old St Stephen's Catholic School building which is too to become domestic homes.

Much of the old building's surroundings have changed substantially in the past century with the creation of Coach Street car park and the building of the medical centre.

The old fire station and slaughter house is gone too to be replaced with retail premises.

The old picture was reproduced by permission of the Ellwood family and Mrs V Rowley.