16th June 2010

For Immediate Release

£250,000 donation to repair
entrance gates to
Canterbury Cathedral’s Precincts

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral are proud to sponsor the conservation and renovation of the carved wooden gates in the Christ Church Gatehouse that fronts Buttermarket. The wooden gates are 350 years old. Last Saturday, on 12th June, the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral presented a cheque for £250,000 to the Dean of Canterbury during Friends’ Day for work on the conservation and renovation of the carved wooden gates at the Christ Church entry to the Precincts. The amount given also includes money for the cleaning of the inside of the gatehouse and repairs to the roof.

The work has been decided following a detailed survey of the wooden gates using the latest laser surveying technology, creating three dimensional drawings to aid carving. Detailed discussions with two specialist firms of renovation experts are well advanced and work should begin in the late Summer, lasting about three months. The three gates (the two main entrance gates - one with a night gate, and a pedestrian gate) may have to be temporarily removed while the restoration takes place, or the work may be carried out in situ. The work will also include a full report on the archaeology of the gates, which date back to the Restoration of King Charles II, as the earlier gates had been destroyed by the Puritans during the Civil War.

This project is the start of a bigger one to refurbish the whole gatehouse, including major repairs to the roof; further work will be required later to the ornate masonry and colourful shields on the front elevation.

Pam Doyle, the Executive Secretary of the Cathedral Friends, said “The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral have been supporting the cathedral since 1927 and have been responsible for funding many projects over the years. They first sponsored repairs to the Christ Church Gateway in 1931 giving £4,000 – a very large sum of money for those days. The Friends also gave £230,000 last year for major repairs on the Howley Harrison Library; £270,000 for new chairs throughout the Cathedral in 2007; and £500,000 in 2006 directly to the Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal for work on the roof and building. It is mostly thanks to legacies from their loyal supporters that they are able to donate such large sums of money to the Cathedral and help preserve it for future generations”.

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Notes to Editors

1. For more information, please contact Mrs Pam Doyle on 01227 865292 or Christopher Robinson on 01227 865282 or 07759 215537. To see a full list of projects supported over the years please visit their website at http://canterbury-cathedral.org/friends/what.html.
2. Photographs of the presentation in front of the gates are attached. (L to R) Ms Pam Doyle, Executive Secretary of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; Mrs Julie Wood, Director of Finance at Canterbury Cathedral ; and the Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury, with the cheque for £250,000

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral
27 & 28 Burgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2HA
Tel: 01227 865292 – Fax: 01227 865327
E-mail: friends@canterbury-cathedral.org
Web site: www.canterbury-cathedral.org/friends
Reg. Charity No: 256575