VITAL conservation work to repair an historic Grade II listed building in Evesham has begun.
The west porch of Bengeworth Old Church, the last remaining part of St Peters which was pulled down in 1870, will be given a £17,800 face-lift after Evesham Town Council successfully obtained a grant from Historic England.
The bulk of the cash from the project, some £13,500, is coming from the grant, with the Town Council stumping up the remaining £4,300.
A recent assessment by Historic England found the roof of the building was at risk and salt erosion was causing stone damage by road and structural cracking on the south east corner of the porch.
Builders have now been drafted in to replace rafters, repair purlins and the roof, and to carry out general work to preserve the at risk building for a further 50 years.
The restoration project is expected to take about three weeks.
Town Clerk Stuart Carter said: “The Town Council worked with Historic England, when the former tower of the old Church in Bengeworth which is grade II listed, was put on the ‘at risk register’.
“The Town Council successfully applied for a grant from English Heritage of £13,500 to undertake conservation and preservation work, including repairs to the roof and stonework.
“The whole project including professional fees is expected to cost approximately £17,800- with the Town Council paying the difference.”
