Repairs will restore building for 'next 500 years'

Ancient Priors in High Street, Crawley, was built in about 1450

A 15th Century building in West Sussex is to undergo repair works that the local council promises will restore it for the "next 500 years".

Ancient Priors in Crawley was built in about 1450 and is Grade II listed.

Crawley Borough Council, which bought the medieval building in 2016, is to bring specialists in to complete the repair works, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The cost has not been confirmed, but councillor Sue Mullins said it was "really important that we don't just do a bodge job".

During a recent meeting of the council's planning committee, she added that "quality always costs".

The work will include repointing the chimney stacks using traditional lime mortar and repairs to rotten and damaged parts of the timber frame.

Council leader Michael Jones promised that "traditional methods and materials" would be used to preserve the appearance of the property.

"Once completed, the council will have restored one of West Sussex's most important historical properties back to its full splendour for the next 500 years," he added.

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