THE PROJECT to restore two historic buildings in Warwick after half a century of neglect has been given a significant boost.
The £2.8million restoration of the buildings at St Michael’s Place on Saltisford has received a £335,304 award from the Architectural Heritage Fund as one of 10 new Capital Grants through their Heritage Revival Fund.
The Saltisford site is home to St Michael’s Chapel, a rare surviving example of a leper hospital with a long history of use documented from the 12th century onwards. Dating back to 1275 it is one of only three remaining leper hospital sites in the country.
A single-cell stone chapel and a timber-framed building constructed on earlier foundations, known as the Master’s House, sits next to it and dates from the 15th century.
Both Grade II listed buildings, which have been left to rot for decades, have been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register for years.
The Heritage Lottery Funded project, which is being undertaken by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust in partnership with Warwick District Council, will see both buildings sympathetically redeveloped into affordable rented homes.
The cash from the Architectural Heritage Fund will go towards the repairs and restoration.
Corinne Brazier, chair of West Midlands Heritage, said: We are thrilled that St Michael’s Place has received this vital support from the Heritage Revival Fund. The funding will enable us to bring the historic buildings back into use and work with the local community through a programme of skills development. We are grateful to the Architectural Heritage Fund for recognising the historical importance of this site and supporting its future.”
WDC’s housing spokesperson Coun Jess Melrose, added: “This is wonderful news for Warwick. We are delighted that this additional support from the Architectural Heritage Fund, will help us to realise our ambition of rescuing these important buildings and offer them a sustainable future, whilst also preserving the legacy of the site for future generations.”
