EVESHAM'S iconic bell tower which is undergoing extensive renovation work has received a boost from funding generated from new homes.

A windfall of £50,000 has been awarded to the project from Wychavon District Council as part of its New Homes Bonus funding. The money was given to Evesham Town Council after they submitted a request for the project.

Evesham’s bell tower is a Grade I listed building and is one of the few detached bell towers in England of late medieval structure. The tower is currently surrounded by scaffolding whilst essential repair and restoration work is carried out from plinth to pinnacle.

The last restoration and conservation work to the bell tower was carried out over 60 years ago. Weathering and the effects of two very harsh recent winters has taken its toll and the historic structure has now been placed on the English Heritage ‘at risk’ register.

It took dedicated fundraisers 18 intense months to gather the £500,000 needed to carry out the repairs which was followed throughout with regular updates by the Evesham Journal.

The Bell Tower, which has been standing proudly above the historic abbey for almost 500 years had fallen prey to the elements with every part of it falling apart. There was a fear that without renovation it would not stand for much longer and a part of the town's heritage would be lost for ever.

Sue Ablett, chairman of the appeal, said: “We are hugely proud of what we have achieved and what it means for the town.

"I always thought we would do it. We stayed optimistic and it paid off. It has been hard work. For over a year, Stan Brotherton, appeal treasurer, and I lived, breathed and slept the appeal, but it was well worth every minute.

"Diana Raphael and the ringing master, Chris Povey, have also been hugely hard-working members of the committee, with others serving for short periods during the appeal.

It was always intended that grants would contribute around three quarters of the total needed, and in the end around 85 per cent of the £500,000 came from grants.

An award of £200,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a donation of £25,000 from Severn Waste £5,000 from the Rooftop Community Fund and the £50,000 from the New Homes Bonus funding have helped ensure its future.

Councillor Audrey Steel, the chairman of Localism and Community Funding Advisory Panel, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support Evesham Town Council with this New Homes Bonus funding. The conservation of the Bell Tower will help preserve Evesham’s heritage for the benefit of people today and future generations.”

Fred Kaler, Evesham Mayor added: “The Bell Tower is a symbol of local pride as well as a key attraction to visitors to the town, and getting people to visit, shop, stay and come back again is vital to the town’s future prosperity. How we preserve our heritage also sends out a powerful message to everyone and shows how much we love our town.”