Views sought on preserving leper hospital site...

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The team want to "sympathetically redevelop the two remaining buildings" for residential use, says the council



A team renovating two buildings dating from around the 15th Century at a former leper hospital is seeking views on how the site can be best preserved.

The project aims to "rescue and reuse" the Master’s House and St Michael’s Chapel in Saltisford, Warwick, as affordable housing, the district council said.

But it also wanted to ensure "the history and significance" of the former Saltisford Leper Hospital "was easy to access by all".

The team, a partnership with the West Midlands Historic Building Trust (WMHBT), has sought residents' views on the future interpretation of the rare site.

"As part of the project the site will be landscaped, and we hope to research and capture some of the history of the site to share with future generations," the council added.

Chris King, portfolio holder for place at the council encouraged people to have their say by taking part in the WMHBT's St Michael’s Place survey.

The site is a scheduled ancient monument , externaland the two buildings are Grade II* listed.

“Dating back to 1275, St Michael’s is one of only three remaining leper hospital sites in the country, it is therefore vitally important that its history is preserved for future generations," Mr King said.

People can learn more about the plans at an information event at the Saltisford Canal Centre in Budbrooke Road, Warwick, from 13:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Thursday 12 September as part of the district’s Heritage Open Days festival.

The St Michael’s Place project was awarded £40,000 by Historic England last year for specialist archaeological investigations to take place.

It has also received £138,838 National Lottery funding towards the development of the historic interpretation programme.

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Leper hospital gets £2.8m to restore into homes

More than £2.8m has been secured to transform two 15th-century buildings into affordable homes.

The St Michaels' Place project aims to "rescue and reuse" the Master's House and St Michael's Chapel in Saltisford, Warwick, after receiving the award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The two buildings on the 800-year-old leper hospital site are Grade II* listed.

Councillor Helen Adkins welcomed the funding. "We will be able to preserve the legacy of the site and rescue these long-neglected historic buildings, offering them a sustainable future," she said.

The project to transform the site is a collaborative effort between West Midlands Heritage and Warwick District Council to restore and convert the buildings that have been derelict for more than 50 years into affordable rented homes.

Corinne Brazier, chair of West Midlands Heritage, credited the work of her colleagues and support from the local community for reaching an "important delivery stage".

"We are now able to ensure that St Michael's Place will have a very homely future," she said.

As part of the project a heritage community assistant role is to be created. There will also be opportunities to learn about heritage craft skills and a series of local community events and activities will be held.