External transformation of Poor Priests’ Hospital complete

Work is now complete on a dramatic external transformation of one of Canterbury’s most historic buildings.

Poor Priests’ Hospital in Stour Street, which is owned by the city council and dates back to the 12th century, has been under scaffolding for the past 11 months, but is now once again on show in all its glory to the public following extensive repairs to the building’s external fabric.

The key element of the project has seen the reroofing of the Kent Peg roofs and lead roofs.

The existing Kent Peg roofs were stripped back to the roof structure in their entirety, with salvageable tiles consolidated on selected roof slopes, mainly the later parts of the building.

The most significant parts of the Poor Priests’ Hospital – the main hall, solar and chapel – and some connected roofs were then completely recovered and carefully detailed to match the existing roofs using new, handmade Kent Peg tiles, including ridge tiles, bonnet hip tiles and valley tiles.

The tiles used were selected through careful and extensive consultation with Historic England and other expert organisations. 

And the roofs to historic parts of the building where the roof structure can be seen internally have been insulated using a fully breathable build up using wood fibre products and natural lime hemp plasters, which significantly improves the thermal performance of these roofs.

Other aspects of the project include repair and renewal of lead valley gutters and lead flashings, as well as joinery repairs and redecoration, including windows, soffits and facias with replacements provided where needed.

Stone repairs, replacement and cleaning, including flintwork and repointing, and brick repairs, cleaning and repointing, have also taken place.

And there has also been a complete rebuild of the chimney stack and structural brickwork repairs to the building’s bay window area.

All work has been carried out by highly skilled conservation contractors in accordance with Listed Building Consent and Historic England approvals, with the stonework carried out by the Cathedral Masons.

The repairs, costing a total of £1.6 million, have been paid for using government money as part of the council’s Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England project.

Cabinet member for heritage, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “This has been an absolutely fantastic project with stunning results. I am so pleased to see Poor Priests’ Hospital back on full show and enhancing the appearance of Stour Street once more.

“As you would expect with such an historic building, it has not been without its challenges. When you get right into the fabric of something like we have, it throws up all sorts of things you were not anticipating.

“But looking at it now, we can be proud of doing an exceptional and sensitive job, leaving the Poor Priests’ Hospital in a much improved condition and far better insulated to stand the test of time for many, many more years to come.

“I would like to thank all the highly-skilled craftsmen, masons, roofers, lead workers, scaffolders and carpenters who have joined us on this journey. Everybody has wanted to do right by this building and that has been excellent to see.”

Alongside many companies who have worked on the building, the council also acknowledges the excellent external consultants it worked with, Purcell and the Moreton Partnership, as well as the support provided by Canterbury Archaeological Trust.

Published: 19 June 2025