Views sought on preserving leper hospital site

The team want to "sympathetically redevelop the two remaining buildings" for residential use, says the council

A team renovating two buildings dating from around the 15th Century at a former leper hospital is seeking views on how the site can be best preserved.

The project aims to "rescue and reuse" the Master’s House and St Michael’s Chapel in Saltisford, Warwick, as affordable housing, the district council said.

But it also wanted to ensure "the history and significance" of the former Saltisford Leper Hospital "was easy to access by all".

The team, a partnership with the West Midlands Historic Building Trust (WMHBT), has sought residents' views on the future interpretation of the rare site.

"As part of the project the site will be landscaped, and we hope to research and capture some of the history of the site to share with future generations," the council added.

Chris King, portfolio holder for place at the council encouraged people to have their say by taking part in the WMHBT's St Michael’s Place survey.

The site is a scheduled ancient monument and the two buildings are Grade II* listed.

“Dating back to 1275, St Michael’s is one of only three remaining leper hospital sites in the country, it is therefore vitally important that its history is preserved for future generations," Mr King said.

People can learn more about the plans at an information event at the Saltisford Canal Centre in Budbrooke Road, Warwick, from 13:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Thursday 12 September as part of the district’s Heritage Open Days festival.

The St Michael’s Place project was awarded £40,000 by Historic England last year for specialist archaeological investigations to take place.

It has also received £138,838 National Lottery funding towards the development of the historic interpretation programme.