Project to repair medieval monument begins

St Oswald's Priory is currently on Historic England's at risk register

Work has begun to conserve and enhance a "vital" historic monument.

St Oswald's Priory in Gloucester was built by Alfred the Great's eldest daughter and later became the resting place for the relics of the Christian martyr St Oswald and also Queen Aethelflaed.

The monument has been previously targeted by vandalism and graffiti and is currently on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register.

Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, from Gloucester City Council, said: "I'm delighted to see this project get under way and look forward to seeing the results."

The local authority received grants of £20,000 from Historic England and £16,000 from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund to carry out the work, which includes improvements to the landscaping, new architectural lighting and CCTV cameras.

Small scale repairs to the stonework and improvements to the gravelled area are due to be carried out as well as the installation of interpretation panels telling visitors more about the history of the monument.

It is hoped that the work will lead to the monument being removed from the at risk register.

Ross Simmonds, south west regional director at Historic England, said: "St Oswald's is a fascinating monument and a vital part of the story of Gloucester.

"We're pleased to support the council to help keep it safe and in good repair, so that it can continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors to the city for years to come."