Sacred Stones: Shared Stories

Rochester Cathedral has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Sacred Stones: Shared Stories project.

Made possible, thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to restore and preserve the medieval ruins of the Cathedral’s Chapter House and Cloisters. These ancient buildings will be made more accessible to visitors, and new interpretation and programmes of volunteering and learning will enable many more people to connect with their heritage and learn new skills as they help to preserve it.

Development funding of £259,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help the Cathedral to progress their plans to apply for a full grant of £2,312,000 at a later date.

The surviving elements of the Cathedral’s Chapter House and Cloisters date from the 12th century and retain some of the most significant historic stone carvings in the country, yet it is in a perilous state. Without this funding from the Heritage Fund, it could be lost forever.

The historic fabric requires extensive and careful conservation and repair on a stone-by-stone basis. Lasers will be used to clean the stone and remove pollution crusts without damaging historic surfaces, and joints will be repointed with breathable lime mortar to prevent moisture retention. Some stones that cannot be conserved will be replaced.

To prevent further masonry loss, a shallow pentice roof will protect the facades of the Cloisters and Chapter House from the elements.

Alongside these capital works new interpretation will improve visitors’ understanding of the importance of these structures. The Cloisters once housed the most important elements of the medieval monastery; the places where the monks worked, slept and ate.

This is also the place where King Henry VIII first set eyes on his future queen, Anne of Cleves, and these same buildings were turned into a royal palace by Henry’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I. These stories, and many more, will be retold as part of a new interpretation strategy focused on improving visitors’ knowledge of the Cathedral and its role in the nation’s story.

Volunteers, local groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through events and training opportunities, allowing even more people to enjoy and play a part in Kent’s heritage.

The Very Reverend Dr. Philip Hesketh AKC DL, Dean of Rochester said: “We are delighted to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding will enable us to develop our plans to preserve and protect the ancient monastic cloisters whilst making them more accessible. This will greatly enhance the visitor experience."

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to give our initial support to Rochester Cathedral. The Cathedral’s Chapter House and Cloisters are hugely important and a much-loved part of Medway’s heritage, and this project will help safeguard these for future generations. As one of our Heritage Places, we see enormous potential for heritage to inspire and connect communities across Medway, and this project is a great example of this. We look forward to working with the team as they progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Rochester Cathedral has initially been granted round one development funding of £259,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £2,312,000.

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.