CHESTER Cathedral is to receive a Government grant of almost £200,000 so its Grade I listed Abbey Gateway can undergo much-needed conservation and maintenance.

The Cathedral is one of 142 historic sites across England benefitting from the Government’s latest Culture Recovery Fund grants totalling £35m.

Abbey Gateway – the grand entrance to Abbey Square and part of the historic Abbey site – will be undergoing an intense programme of long-overdue conservation and maintenance, including addressing areas of deterioration, preventing the effects of weather on the exposed masonry, and repairing decayed aspects of fabric.

The project will also include training opportunities for the Cathedral’s works department as they work with contractors to revitalise the building.

The grant the Cathedral will receive is worth £198,599.

The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester Cathedral, said: “Abbey Gateway is an important part of both the Chester Cathedral site and the visible heritage of the City of Chester.

"Its imposing structure provides not only the main vehicular and pedestrian access to the Cathedral estate but is also an on-street reminder of the Cathedral’s pre-Reformation Abbey status.

"Indeed, its prominent position on site – as well as the sheer scale of the project – has meant a large conservation project has not been possible in recent years.

"We are therefore immensely pleased to receive this funding from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund to enable this project to address the needs of the building and invest in our heritage."

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: "From local churches to ancient buildings and landscapes, the UK's unique heritage makes our towns, cities and villages stronger, more vibrant and helps bring communities together.

"This latest funding – £35 million from our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund – will help protect sites including Jane Austen's House and Hampton Court Palace for future generations and help them build back better from the pandemic."