£4.5m project at historic priory complete

MANCHESTER-based architect Buttress has competed work on a £4.5m project to redevelop and extend Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Cheshire.

Norton Priory Museum and Gardens is a 47-acre historic site that contains the both the remains of an 12th century abbey complex and an 18th century country house.

The site is considered to be a monastic site of international importance and opened as a museum in 1982.

The project has seen the undercroft – the only part of the priory still standing – incorporated into the existing museum building. This involved building a gallery space that sits above the undercroft, offering visitors views across the remains and gardens.

Other works have included relocating a historically significant 14th century statue of St Christopher into a prominent position in the museum space and repositioning the visitor entrance to make it visible from carpark, replacing the previously obscure approach.

A complementary colour palette was adopted throughout the project to tie the new developments to the existing buildings and the historic environment.

Stephen Anderson, associate director at Buttress, said: “The previous museum complex was in-situ for more than 30 years and required some changes in order to tell the story of Norton Priory to its fullest.

“The developments we have made recapture the Priory’s rich history and provide improved access to a site of renowned archaeological importance.

“We’re pleased to announce the completion of the project and look forward to seeing the new space attract and inspire visitors.”

Buttress worked in consultation with English Heritage and the Norton Priory Museum Trust, which runs the museum, throughout the project.