Defra supports 12th century restoration

A Defra-backed restoration of a chapel and priest's house on a Roman site in Dorset has been completed coinciding with National Archaeology Week (15 – 23 July).

The project at Lyscombe Chapel and the Priest's House in the Piddle Valley took one year to complete.

It involved a 12th century chapel and 16th century priest's house that can be seen from the many walking routes that Lyscombe Farm is found on.

The farm was converted to domestic use in the mid 16th century and occupied until the 1950s.

Building renovations concentrated on stabilising and rebuilding the masonry work.

A complete new oak roof structure and wheat straw thatch, obtained locally from Bridport, were also added to the chapel.

While inside, the arch columns have been rebuilt using local Marnhull stone from Sturminster Newton.

A sheep wash has been restored in the field in front of the chapel, which it is believed was used to clean sheep prior to shearing or market.

Archaeological excavation also revealed that the previous foundations for the nave of the chapel were approximately 30 cms bigger than the existing building.

The whole site is a protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, while the Chapel is Grade II and the Priest's House Grade II listed.

The work was carried out with the help of a number of parties

Land owner Mark Russell funded the restoration work and was supported by Defra's Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) scheme – an initiative designed to conserve England's countryside and secure widespread environmental benefits.

The ESA scheme work was carried out by the Rural Development Service (RDS), the biggest deliverer in the England Rural Development Programme and an adviser and regulator of rural services.

English Nature, the independent Government agency that supports wildlife and geology conservation throughout England, also played an important role.

“The restoration has been carried out to a very high standard using traditional methods and materials, many of which were recovered from nearby, so that the site is preserved for many years to come,” explains Richard Belding, a south west RDS adviser.

“The standard is so high that the work has just won a Town and Country Design Award for the south west from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

“Defra has been pleased to support the restoration of this site of national importance through our grant scheme as it is such a part of the landscape character of this area, and will be seen by so many walkers as they walk through this beautiful stretch of the Dorset countryside.”

Mr Russell is now planning to create a signed farm trail on the land with the help of Dorset Countryside.

Further information

See

• National Archaeology Week
• Rural Development Programme
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas