Exeter Cathedral Roman Baths get funding setback

The Roman Baths were discovered in 1971 after excavating a Saxon burial ground

Plans to excavate Roman Baths at Exeter Cathedral are in doubt after a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) plea was rejected.

The £8.7m bid would have seen the "internationally significant" Roman Baths, hidden for almost 2,000 years, restored and opened to the public.

Cathedral Dean, The Very Reverend Jonathan Draper, said he was "very disappointed" and concerned for the future of the Cathedral.

He said he would now examine alternative funding options.

The site was discovered in 1971 but due to a lack of funds was reburied under the cathedral green to protect it.

In the 1970s the site was covered in sand and grass to prevent the remains degrading

Mr Draper said: "HLF told us they believe a project to uncover the Roman Baths has the potential to become a major attraction but that more work may need to be done to safeguard the future of the Cathedral itself first.

"It is very clear to us that doing nothing is not an option; just keeping the Cathedral open costs £4,000 a day and we get very little government or publicly funded support."

He said other ways to increase visitors to the Cathedral were being looked at.