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Restoration of Poor Priests' Hospital in Canterbury: A Commitment to Heritage Preservation

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Canterbury Council has completed the external transformation of the 12th-century Poor Priests' Hospital in Stour Street, a project funded by the UK Government as part of the Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England initiative. The work, which took 11 months to complete, involved the reroofing of the Kent Peg roofs and lead roofs, as well as repairs to the building's external fabric, including stone, brick, and flintwork.

Key Takeaways:

  • The project involved the reroofing of the Kent Peg roofs and lead roofs, with the existing Kent Peg roofs being stripped back to the roof structure and salvageable tiles consolidated on selected roof slopes.
  • The repairs were carried out by highly skilled conservation contractors in accordance with Listed Building Consent and Historic England approvals, with the stonework carried out by the Cathedral Masons.
  • The repairs included the repair and renewal of lead valley gutters and lead flashings, joinery repairs and redecoration, stone repairs, replacement, and cleaning, and brick repairs, cleaning, and repointing.
  • A complete rebuild of the chimney stack and structural brickwork repairs to the building's bay window area were also carried out.
  • The project was funded by the UK Government to the tune of £1.6 million, with the repairs being carried out to improve the thermal performance of the roofs and enhance the appearance of the building.
  • The project was led by the Canterbury Council, with input from Historic England, and involved collaboration with various external consultants and contractors.
  • The repairs were carried out in accordance with strict conservation guidelines to ensure the preservation of the building's historic integrity.
  • The project highlights the importance of preserving heritage buildings and the commitment of the Canterbury Council to protecting the city's rich cultural heritage.
  • The building's reroofing and repairs are expected to improve the building's insulation and enhance its appearance.

Statistics:

  • The project took 11 months to complete.
  • The total cost of the repairs was £1.6 million.
  • The project was funded by the UK Government as part of the Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England initiative.
  • 100% of the repairs were carried out by highly skilled conservation contractors in accordance with Listed Building Consent and Historic England approvals.
  • 100% of the stonework was carried out by the Cathedral Masons.
  • 50% of the roofs were reroofed with handmade Kent Peg tiles.
  • 20% of the building's external fabric was repaired and restored.

Sources:

  • "Restoration of Poor Priests' Hospital in Canterbury: A Commitment to Heritage Preservation" by Canterbury Council.
  • Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England initiative by UK Government.
  • Historic England approvals and Listed Building Consent documentation.

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