HAXBY’S first Methodist chapel has been marked with a blue plaque - the seventh in the local area.

Haxby and Wigginton history group sleuth Alan Clark - who has researched Methodism in the area - found out that, from 1782, meetings were held in what was believed to be a converted cottage on North Lane.

He pieced this together with detail from official sources, including the 1911 Inland Revenue survey.

In 1813, the Methodists moved their swelling congregation into a larger building in Haxby - now Miller’s chip shop, which also has a blue plaque commemorating its history.

After that, it appears the building came full circle and has been a residence ever since.

It is now owned by Sue and Brian Straker.

They bought the cottage in 1969, subsequently purchasing the cottage next door and renovating.

It was only then they found evidence that there had been a religious building on the site.

The local history group unveiled the blue plaque at 7 North Lane in December.