Building Restoration Work Starts At Historic Warwick Site
Building Restoration Work Starts At Historic Warwick Site
Heritage restoration work has started at an important historic site in Warwick. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project will see historic buildings at an 800-year-old former hospital site transformed into new affordable rent homes.
St Michael's Place, derelict for over 50 years, is of particular historic interest due to below ground remains of a 13th century leper hospital, designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The site has been on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register since the first edition in 1998.
West Midlands Heritage and Warwick District Council are working in partnership to restore and convert the empty listed buildings. The collaboration between a Building Preservation Trust and Local Authority to rescue heritage buildings at risk for sustainable use as affordable rent housing extends a model that West Midlands Heritage has used in Worcestershire and tackles two important issues: creating a viable secure use for historic buildings, and providing more affordable rent homes.
Key Handover Event
Left to right: Cllr Jess Melrose, Graham Leach and Cllr Pam Redford (Warwick District Council), Kieran Harper (Splitlath Limited), Ed Barron and David Trevis-Smith (West Midlands Heritage) and John Dimbylow (Splitlath Limited) on site at the scaffolded Master's House, St Michael's Place, Warwick.
The project has reached a key milestone of appointing building contractors, Splitlath Ltd, a specialist building conservation company that has been trading since 1867, with their roots firmly in the West Midlands.
Volunteers, local groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through events and training opportunities, allowing people opportunities to enjoy and play a part in Warwick's heritage.
St Michael's Chapel & Master's House
The historic buildings at St Michael's Place, Warwick, prior to scaffold protection of the Master's House.
“We are delighted to have reached this important point in the delivery stage of our project at St Michael's Place, Warwick, after much hard work from our dedicated team and incredible support from the local community. This has only been made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery players via The National Lottery Heritage Fund, adding to funding awarded by Warwick District Council, Historic England, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and Warwick Town Council. We are now able to ensure that St Michael's Place will return to providing homes, continuing a thread in time that stretches back for 800 years on this site!”
Corinne Brazier Chair of West Midlands Heritage"Thanks to National Lottery players, these remarkable medieval buildings will be rescued from decades of dereliction. Their new lease of life will benefit Warwick and complement our other investments in the historic town such as the Lord Leycester Hospital."
Liz Bates Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Heritage Lottery Fund“It is great news that work is finally starting to bring the Chapel and Master's House back into use. This has been a key Cabinet priority, preserving an important part of Warwick's heritage while securing its future. I am grateful to the dedication and commitment of the team involved especially those at West Midlands Heritage and the funders for this project.”
Councillor Jess Melrose Portfolio Holder of Housing, Warwick District Council“We have been working closely with partners towards a solution for St Michael's Place Warwick for many years now and to see the hard work of the Trust, as well as other partners, coming to fruition is wonderful. These beautiful buildings will now have the chance to be cherished and used by future generations.”
Deborah Williams Historic England Midlands Regional DirectorWest Midlands Heritage has been able to progress the scheme through various stages since the start of the Trust's involvement in 2016 thanks to funding awards over that 10-year period from Warwick District Council (£1,213,000), The Architectural Heritage Fund (£390,304), Historic England (£440,000), The Pilgrim Trust (£15,000), Warwick Town Council (£5,000), and The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£2,964,199).
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Press Release: St Michael's Place Digital Interpretation
Heritage Restoration To Feature 21st Century Digital Interpretation
Heritage restoration work at an important historic site in Warwick is to feature 21st Century digital interpretation.
Over the past 800 years, St Michael’s Place Saltisford has evolved from a medieval leper hospital to alms houses and Chapel with a Master’s House, and even partial conversion at one time to a blacksmith’s workshop, before the entire site fell into disuse. The new interpretation will enable residents, students and those further afield to explore these layers of history in an engaging and accessible way.
Leamington Spa-based digital specialists, Fish in a Bottle, have been commissioned to produce the St Michael’s Place heritage interpretation. The studio has been operating for over twenty years and has built a body of work that ranges from BBC Bitesize educational games and the Science Museum's Wonderlab+ to science communication interactives in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Working closely with the local community, Fish in a Bottle will create an immersive digital experience to bring the rich history of St Michael’s Place to life.
“We're delighted to have been appointed to deliver the digital interpretation for St Michael's Place. The site has an extraordinary history, and we're excited to work alongside West Midlands Heritage, local schools and the wider community to help bring those stories to life for as many people as possible. Through the project, we'll be creating an experience that can be explored in schools, at home and at community events, enabling people to connect with the heritage of St Michael's Place in new and engaging ways.”
Laura Seymour Managing Director, Fish in a BottleSupporting Traditional Heritage Skills
The digital programme will also support learning among school-age children by highlighting traditional heritage skills such as carpentry, masonry and thatching. Raising awareness of these career pathways aligns with Historic England’s Historic Environment Skills and Careers Action Plan (HESCAPE), which aims to address critical skills shortages across the sector.
“We're particularly excited by the opportunity to showcase the traditional skills, crafts and careers that have shaped and preserved historic places for generations, inspiring young people to see heritage not just as something to learn about, but something they could one day be part of.”
Laura Seymour Managing Director, Fish in a BottleA Sustainable Future and Community Collaboration
This work is made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Heritage Fund is supporting West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, part of West Midlands Heritage, to deliver vital repairs and refurbishment to the Master’s House and St Michael’s Chapel. Both are Grade II* listed buildings dating from the 15th century.
In partnership with Warwick District Council, the Trust will restore and convert these long-derelict buildings, unused for over 50 years, into much-needed affordable rent homes, securing a sustainable future for the site.
Community engagement is a core part of the project. Volunteers, local groups and schools will be invited to take part in workshops and events to help shape the digital interpretation, ensuring that local voices play a central role in telling Warwick’s story.
“We are thrilled to have reached this important delivery stage for St Michael’s Place after years of hard work and incredible support from the local community. Appointing Fish in a Bottle is a significant milestone, helping us bring the story of this unique and historically important site to life. This project would not be possible without funding from National Lottery players via The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Warwick District Council, Historic England, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and Warwick Town Council.”
Corinne Brazier Chair of West Midlands Heritage"Thanks to National Lottery players, these remarkable medieval buildings will be rescued from decades of dereliction. Their new lease of life will benefit Warwick and complement our other investments in the historic town such as the Lord Leycester Hospital."
Liz Bates Director, England, Midlands & East, The National Heritage Lottery Fund“It is great news that work is finally starting to bring the Chapel and Master's House back into use. This has been a key Cabinet priority, preserving an important part of Warwick's heritage while securing its future. I am grateful to the dedication and commitment of the team involved especially those at West Midlands Heritage and the funders for this project.”
Councillor Jess Melrose Portfolio Holder for Housing, Warwick District CouncilWant to find out more about this historic conservation project?
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