Falstaff inspiration's Drayton Lodge saved from collapse

Vegetation was cleared from the walls and the wall tops repaired to prevent them from weathering

A lodge built by the man who inspired one of William Shakespeare's most famous characters has been saved from collapse after repair work.

Drayton Lodge was built in 1437 at Drayton, Norfolk, by Sir John Fastolf, who made his fortune as a soldier.

Shakespeare immortalised him as the cowardly, dissolute and clowning Falstaff, but this bears little resemblance to his true character.

The lodge had been on Historic England's at risk register for years.

Drayton Lodge, near Norwich, is an early example of brick construction in England and is contemporary to Sir John Fastolf's larger creation, Caister Castle

Fastolf inherited Caister and Reedham manors and used the wealth he acquired during the 100 Years War to buy more land in Norfolk and Suffolk

James Albone, inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said: "Drayton Lodge tells an important story about Norfolk during the 15th Century and the life of Sir John Fastolf.

"It's wonderful to be able to remove this historic site from the Heritage at Risk Register after over 20 years."

The scheduled monument is one of the earliest brick structures in the region, according to Historic England.

Made from soft, pale red brick, it was described as a plaisance (a pleasure ground), a hunting lodge and a strategic lookout post.

It first went on the Heritage at Risk Register in 1998.

Fastolf or Falstaff?

The late Sir Antony Sher as Sir John Falstaff in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Henry IV part I and part II

• Fastolf served Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI in the Hundred Years War between England and France

• Records in the National Archives reveal he had a distinguished military career in Ireland and France

• He was accused of cowardice, but later exonerated

• Falstaff is a comic character in Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V and the Merry Wives of Windsor

• Falstaff is a close companion of the young Prince Hal, but is later rejected

Sources: The National Archives/Encyclopaedia Britannica

Repair work included replacing poor-condition bricks in the base of the walls and reconstructing vulnerable sections with hidden stainless-steel pins and straps.

New bricks were specially commissioned from Bulmer Brick and Tile Company Ltd of Sudbury, Suffolk, to match the original historic bricks.

Historic England provided £11,000 for the repairs and worked in partnership with the owner Hidden Talents Homes, which is building homes at the Drayton estate.

Drayton Lodge was acquired by the Paston family, one of the most influential families in East Anglia, after Fastolf's death.

Information boards created by the Paston Society will tell the story of the lodge and its famous creator.

The building fell into disrepair and by the 18th Century was believed to be a recently-built decorative folly