Historic England to give new life to medieval sites

The Worksop Priory and Gatehouse will be bought back into use after 25 years

Two medieval buildings in Nottinghamshire are to be restored after Historic England announced grants of more than £320,000.

St Mary Magdalene Church and Worksop Priory and Gatehouse will be repaired and have space created for local community events.

Both date back to the 14th Century and are Grade I listed, meaning they are of "exceptional interest", a status shared by only 2.5% of listed buildings.

The money will see them removed from the Heritage at Risk Register, which identifies historic sites that are most at risk of being damaged or lost.

St Mary Magdalene Church in Newark-on-Trent will receive £151,163 to help fund the final phase of masonry repairs.

The project aimed to undertake "huge" renovations which included the roof, heating and "failing masonry".

The "reawakening" project was funded partly through the community, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Church of England and Historic England.

They currently plan to complete all repairs by December.

Work originally began to repair St Mary Magdalene Church in 2019

Andrew Fearn, church warden and project lead for Reawakening St Mary's, said he was "delighted" by the news.

"This means we can future-proof the church for three or four generations," he added.

Heritage sites like these "are a part of our national fabric", said Mr Fearn.

The Worksop Priory and Gatehouse will receive £178,147 towards new facilities like a kitchen, office and media studio.

The repairs and renovations will bring the building back into use for the first time in 25 years.

It will also begin to deliver heritage skills training for people in the community.

The location has featured on the risk register since 1998.

Fran Walker, chair of the trustee board of the Worksop Priory and Gatehouse, said the site was "one of the most important artefacts in the country" and removing it from the register could help emphasise its "local, regional, national and international importance".

"It's a brighter future for the Worksop Priory and Gatehouse," she added.

The Worksop Priory and Gatehouse will be receiving £178,147

The money comes as a part of a £15m Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

St Mary Magdalene Church and Worksop Priory and Gatehouse are two of nine sites across the Midlands and 37 across England to be awarded funds.

According to Historic England, the fund "prioritises heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities with strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events".