---
title: "High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn"
description: "Located in Ireshopeburn, County Durham. Built 1760; extended and raised 1871. Grade II. Wesleyan Methodist chapel style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Methodist Church","County Durham","Ireshopeburn","Grade II","Wesleyan","Weardale"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/high-house-chapel-ireshopeburn"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:53:14.987Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T16:00:06.382Z"
location: "Ireshopeburn, County Durham"
country: "England"
county: "County Durham"
town: "Ireshopeburn"
address: "Ireshopeburn, County Durham, DL13 1HD"
postcode: "DL13 1HD"
built: "1760; extended and raised 1871"
denomination: "Methodist Church"
grade: "II"
style: "Wesleyan Methodist chapel"
materials: "Sandstone rubble with quoins, plinth and ashlar dressings; Welsh slate roof with stone gable copings"
website: "http://www.weardalemuseum.co.uk/highhouse.html"
openingHours: "Open 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Easter and Bank Holidays. May, June, September and October (Wednesday to Sunday inclusive). Every afternoon in July and August. And, at any time, by appointment only, for organised groups."
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1230009"
gridReference: "NY 872 385"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets in church"
---

# High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn

High House Chapel is a Grade II former Wesleyan Methodist chapel on the A689 at Ireshopeburn, Weardale, County Durham, now owned with the adjoining former minister’s house by the Weardale Museum.

## Overview

Historic England records a Wesleyan chapel of 1760, extended and raised in 1871, with a minister’s house set back to the left. Fabric is sandstone rubble with quoins, plinth and ashlar dressings under a Welsh slate roof. The chapel is two storeys and three windows; the west front has a four-panelled double door and shaped fanlight under a wide two-centred arch. Inside, slender tapered cast-iron columns support a three-sided gallery; the west gallery stands behind a high pulpit with Gothic flower panels, and an organ occupies the west gallery.

Opened in 1760, the chapel claimed to be among the oldest purpose-built Methodist chapels in continuous weekly use until services ended in 2019. John Wesley visited Weardale thirteen times and in 1772 recorded a large revival; High House then became the biggest society in the Dales Circuit. Ownership passed to the museum trustees in 2020 for restoration as exhibition and events space. Simon Jenkins called Ireshopeburn the best of Weardale’s early chapels.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1230009](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1230009)
- [Weardale Museum: High House Chapel](https://weardalemuseum.org.uk/high-house-chapel)