12th century priory to get a 2011 makeover

HOUSING Trust workers are going back in time to bring a 900-year-old priory up to date.

Plasterers, joiners, electricians, plumbers and painters and colleagues with other skills will spend two weeks next month giving Norton Priory Museum and Gardens – parts of which date from 1134 – a makeover fit for 2011.

From January 1 to 14 – when the priory’s buildings and grounds will be closed to the public – the Halton Housing Trust team will refurbish the main gallery, plasterboard and paint the walls, fix lighting and heating, improve plumbing and refurbish public toilets.

They will also improve storage and staff areas and generally improve the appearance of the buildings as well as give a fresh look to the outside areas and gardens.

All 250 of the Trust’s staff have volunteered one day of their time during the two-week period to paint the toilets, café and education room.

They will also help to renovate paths, cut down rhododendrons and shrubs and tidy up the 40 acres of grounds.

The Priory’s director, Claire McDade, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the Halton Housing Trust Team in January to give Norton Priory a ‘Changing Rooms’ type makeover.

“We ask our loyal visitors to bear with us and look forward to welcoming them back to see the extent of the changes from January 15.”

Halton Housing Trust is currently in the process of building a £2.3 million development at Clarke Gardens, in Runcorn, which has been designed following consultation with the Trust’s customers, who will live there.

The flagship development of 12 apartments and six bungalows will be completed early in the New Year.

Nick Atkin, Halton Housing Trust Chief Executive, said: “At a time when Halton Housing Trust is creating new homes for the 21st century for our customers, it’s appropriate that we are also helping to preserve the fabric of one of the most important historic buildings in the area.

“Norton Priory is one of our charity partners for 2010 and the refurbishment programme that will be carried out in January is another example of our commitment to the neighbourhoods in which we work and the local facilities that are available there.”

Norton Priory, which first opened to the public in 1975, comprises the remains of an abbey complex dating from the 12th to 16th centuries plus an 18th century country house, which is now a museum. The museum was built in the 1980s to house the objects which were dug up during a major archaeological excavation in the 1970s and 80s.

Established by Augustinian monks in 1115, the priory moved to Norton in 1134 and became an abbey in 1391. The largest mosaic floor – originally laid in 1300 – ever found in Britain was uncovered during excavations.

It is considered the most important monastic remains in Cheshire and is a scheduled ancient monument and Grade 1 listed building.