Grant to help save ancient building
Historic England has made a grant of £36,000 to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) so that it can continue its work on the “Old House Project” – the repair of the Grade II* listed former St Andrew’s Chapel in Boxley. The grant will fund an engineering solution to reinforce the west corner of the building, and investigation work around the reasons for the structural movement which has occurred over the past 500 years.
Archive photos from the 1990s have helped confirm that much of the movement is historic and has not changed significantly in recent years.
St Andrew’s Chapel dates from the late 15th century and forms part of the wider monastic landscape at Boxley Abbey. Though originally used for worship it was converted to a house early on.
In its history, it has housed a relic of St Andrew, which was owned by the Tudor poet Thomas Wyatt, and more recently acted as the local post office between the 1930s and 1970s.
It has been empty since 1970.
Built from local Kentish ragstone, it has been extended over time to suit its many uses, including the addition of a timber-framed wing.
The building is on the Heritage at Risk Register and was purchased by the SPAB in 2018. The Old House Project is giving people the opportunity to get involved in hands-on conservation and craft skills training, following the Society’s ethos of sensitive repair.
Marion Brinton, the partnerships team leader at Historic England, said: “We are delighted to be able to support SPAB with their sensitive restoration. The many layers of history are evident in every room and by properly investigating the best way to support and repair the structural
issues identified, we can ensure the correct solution is found to allow this building to live on.”
Matthew Slocombe, the director of SPAB, said: “The biggest threat to St Andrews is the significant bulge in its west wall. “This area of wall could easily have collapsed.
“With voluntary help, SPAB has been able to introduce temporary propping, but we are
enormously grateful to Historic England for their assistance in developing a permanent structural solution.
“We hope to be in a position to implement the repair work during 2022, with the aim of conserving the wall rather than rebuilding it.”
The public can follow the progress of the restoration project by visiting www.spab.org.uk/oldhouse-project.
‘By properly investigating, we can ensure the correct solution is found to allow this historic building to live on’