Building 'needs £100k to avoid falling into river'

An 800-year-old almshouse and museum needs more than £100,000 of grant funding to avoid collapsing, its caretakers say.

Eastbridge Hospital has stood on High Street in Canterbury since 1180, when it was built as accommodation for pilgrims visiting the tomb of murdered archbishop Thomas Becket.

Louise Knight, clerk and receiver for the Eastbridge Hospital charity, said the undercroft where pilgrims once slept was "moving towards the river".

The charity is working with archaeologists to rectify the damage and expects it's "looking at over £100,000" to get repairs done, she told the BBC.

There are "so many noughts on the end of the quotes" that repairs are "now beyond the charity's means", the clerk and receiver said.

The Grade I listed building is waiting to learn if an application for addition to the Historic England heritage at risk register is successful.

It is also looking at grant funding options and will launch a fundraising appeal, according to Ms Knight.

She said: "We're trying to raise awareness of the plight of the building and what's happening and how devastating it would be if this building does end up in the river."

The property has served various purposes, reportedly including a schoolroom where playwright Christopher Marlowe was taught.

It became an almshouse, offering housing for elderly people, about 100 years ago and rents some rooms as holiday lets.

It still offers stamps to visiting pilgrims.

Members of the public used to be able to visit for a small fee but have been unable to do so for almost a year as it "wouldn't be safe", Ms Knight said.

Its Franciscan gardens remain open.

The clerk and receiver, who has held her role for eight years, said it was "incredibly sad that the front door shut".

"It's been an uphill struggle trying to keep on top of all the maintenance just because we're talking in the hundreds of thousands," she said.

"It's hugely important to keep the building going and it's important, I think, for people to be able to come in and understand the history."

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