Grant to help secure future of treasured chapel in castle

The former Roman Catholic Chapel of St Mary, which dates back to around 1807, is attached to the castle, near Knaresborough, which has been described as one of England’s “national treasures”.

Yesterday it was announced that Harrogate Borough Council has now approved plans to give a grant of £10,000 to help assist the Gerald Arthur Rolph Foundation carry out much needed works on the chapel.

American millionaire, Gerald Rolph, bought Allerton Castle, near Knaresborough, in 1983, when it was semi-derelict and set about restoring it. The Gerald Arthur Rolph Foundation - a trust set up to ensure the castle’s future has secured a large chunk of cash for its £217,000 plans for the chapel but wanted the council to give a grant of £10,000 so the work can go ahead.

Much of the chapel interior has been stripped out for dry rot repair and members of the council were told critical works are needed to the roof and structure.

The chapel has been on the English Heritage Building at Risk register for many years but with the offer of financial support from the council there is a very good chance urgent works can be undertaken to remove it from the register.

English Heritage has indicated it is prepared to offer grant assistance but cannot offer sufficient support to allow the foundation to fund the urgent works.

Coun Alan Skidmore, the council’s cabinet member for planning, transport and economic development, said last night he hopes the council grant will now mean the foundation will also be able to accept financial support from English Heritage.

He added: “This is an important building in terms of the district’s heritage and I am pleased that we have been able to offer this support to the Foundation Trust.

“English Heritage are committed to removing assets from the buildings at risk register but also have limited funding available.”

The castle was built between 1848 and 1851 and was the ancestral home of the premier English barons Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton.