KILRIE children's home could be saved from demolition because it may have holy status.

The site of the Northwich Road home - which saw the last of its children leave last month - has been earmarked for 22 new houses.

But a former care worker claimed the front of the imposing Edwardian mansion was a consecrated chapel - and believes the bulldozers will not be allowed on to the site.

"The front part of the house was a chapel and it was consecrated," she said. "I have a niggling feeling that if an area has been consecrated it has to be undone. You can't simply knock it down."

Before the house was a children's home it served as an Anglican ordination college for would-be vicars.

But it was the family who first lived in the house, the wealthy Longridges, who built the chapel at the turn of the century.

The woman remembers the chapel being used as a place of rest for a young child who had died at the home as recently as the 1940s. Local historian Joan Leach said there was a chapel in the house - but wasn't sure if it was there.

Chester Diocese spokesman Tim Barker said if any chapel would need to be deconsecrated under ecclesiastical law.

But he suspected the Knutsford chapel may have been 'dedicated' instead - a much less permanent status than consecration.

"We don't know yet," he said. "The only way of knowing is if we can get access and have a root around to see if there is some sort of plaque."

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