A PROJECT to convert two of Warwick’s most important historic buildings into homes has received millions of pounds of National Lottery funding.
The development of St Michael’s Place will see the Grade II listed Master’s House and St Michael’s Chapel in Saltisford sensitively and sympathetically converted for residential use.
West Midlands Historic Building Trust, a building conservation charity working in partnership with Warwick District Council on the project, has been awarded £2,825,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to repair and refurbish the two buildings.
Corinne Brazier, chair of West Midlands Heritage, said: “We have reached the very important delivery stage in our project at St Michael’s Place, Warwick, after much hard work from our dedicated team and incredible support from the local community. We’re delighted that we’ve received this support from National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added to the funding we have previously received from Warwick District Council, Historic England, and The Architectural Heritage Fund. We are now able to ensure that St Michael’s Place will have a very homely future.”
St Michael’s is a rare surviving example of a leper hospital and has a long history of use documented from the 12th century onwards.
A single-cell stone chapel and a timber-framed building constructed on earlier foundations, known as the Master’s House, are the only surviving structures and date from the 15th century. Both are Grade II listed, have suffered long-term dereliction, and are on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
WDC’s housing spokesperson Coun Helen Adkins added: “I’m delighted that with the support of West Midlands Heritage, Historic England, The Architectural Heritage Fund, and the National Lottery players we will be able to preserve the legacy of the site and rescue these long neglected historic buildings, offering them a sustainable future.”
