THE MANAGER of The Almonry Museum has praised its "fantastic" first community open day.

On Saturday the Evesham museum welcomed visitors for the free entry day, to learn more about what the museum does and tell visitors about the plans for the major restoration work needed to save the Almonry building.

The Almonry Restoration Project needs to raise £2.6m to carry out essential works on the fabric of the building and upgrade building services. 

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Ashleigh Jayes, The Almonry manager, said: "It was a fantastic day, we had lots of visitors, many of them visiting for the first time. 

"We had a programme of short tours and talks and well as having our plans for the restoration on display."

Amicorum re-enactment was showcasing medieval gunners and an English Civil War musketeer showing black powder weapons from 1390-1650.

There was also an archer and his family, a man at arms with his lady and a willow weaving monk. 

Andrew Tivenan, of Amicorum, said: "‘A great day was had by all from Amicorum. 

"The public were very engaging and we were well looked after by Almonry staff.  It was a pleasure to be back at such a historic building of such national importance."

Evesham Journal: The man at arms and his lady at The Almonry.The man at arms and his lady at The Almonry. (Image: The Almonry)

READ MORE: Evesham Town Council puts up £260,000 to save the Almonry Museum

In August, Evesham town councillors agreed to provide the funding necessary to help repair the Almonry.

Most of the funding to restore the building is expected to come from the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND).

In order to make an application to the fund, 10 per cent must come from other sources, with the council agreeing to put forward £260,000.

The fourteenth and early fifteenth century building was once home to the Almoner, one of the monks from the Benedictine Abbey that was founded at Evesham in the eight Century.

Today, the Almonry, which consists of two churches, a bell tower and a cloister arch, is all that remain of what was reportedly the third largest abbey in England.

The Almonry has also been an ale house, offices, tea rooms, and a private residence, until it was finally purchased by Evesham Borough Council in 1929, opening as a museum centre in 1957.