It’s a unique piece of our heritage, but does it fit alongside a state-of-the-art multi million pound hospital?

That is the dilemma faced by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which opened the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury a year ago, over the future of the former Pembury Hospital chapel.

An application to develop an oncology centre and extend on-site parking on the site of the Grade II listed building was recently submitted, but a spokesman was quick to deny that any redevelopment was imminent.

Derek Shaw, director of estates and facilities, said: “The Trust always looks to explore future opportunities for its sites. However, at this time, there are no plans to take forward any of the mentioned developments.”

The Gothic style building, built in 1863/4, became the hospital’s chapel in 1938 when Tonbridge Workhouse became Pembury Hospital.

It still has the majority of its original pews intact and an original pipe organ, both of which are listed, along with the building.

It is closed to the public although people can apply in writing to look inside.

A Trust spokesman said: “The chapel is listed, which does restrict what we can do with the building. “However, it is a beautiful building and is an important part of the history of our Trust so we are happy just to have it on the site in view of our patients and visitors.”