Parts of Lancaster Priory so badly eroded a fist could fit through the gaps
Lancaster Priory’s ‘precarious condition’ was outlined during a weekend celebrating the city’s heritage.
As part of Lancaster Day events, the city’s oldest church, which was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register last year, hosted a talk about its Firm Foundations project and appeal which aims to raise awareness of its predicament and funds to save its structure.
The Grade 1 listed church has top priority rating in Historic England’s Register as the drains have collapsed and there’s evidence of movement in the foundations and walls.
Although some drains have since been repaired, another £100,000 is required for work on the drains under the north aisle housing the refectory and toilets.
“The biggest issue is stopping the water damage,” explained Becky Gilbert-Rule who has been inspecting architect at the Priory since 2022.
She said some parts of the building had eroded so badly that she could fit her fist through the gaps while the frame carrying the Priory’s bells – the heaviest set of ten bells in Lancashire – was so rotten that it’s too dangerous to ring them for the foreseeable future.
Vegetation growing in open joints at various places in the building needed to be removed too.
Structural engineer, David Wiggins painted an equally bleak picture, describing the church walls as ‘all over the shop’.
“It’s not just because the Priory is an old building. There’s some big ticket structural activity that needs grappling with.”
Now some drains had been repaired, engineers would take time to monitor the building before deciding what further repairs might be required though the Priory’s status as a Scheduled Monument and the presence of graves could present difficult issues.
Despite the Priory’s condition, it is hoped that the National Lottery Heritage Fund will look favourably at any multi-million applications planned for the future.
In the meantime the Priory, which receives no regular funding from the Church of England or the government, is organising its own fundraisers for the Foundations Appeal including a series of Afternoon Café events during the summer and a Come & Sing Fauré Requiem on June 20.
“Failure is not an option under our stewardship,” said Dave Russell from the Firm Foundations team. “We need people’s support, help and involvement to move this building forward.”
For more information about the appeal, visit https://lancasterpriory.org/