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New life for The Old Deanery

A Grade I listed building in the precincts of Rochester Cathedral will be given a new lease of life following a deal struck with one of the country’s oldest charities.

The Rochester Bridge Trust is taking a five-year lease to use The Old Deanery as office space for its expanding workforce and to accommodate community activities, such as its regular series of Bridge Wardens’ lectures.

Under the agreement, the Trust will pay for a refurbishment of the building to protect its structure and to make it suitable for modern office use.

Simon Lace the Chapter Clerk & Executive Director of the Cathedral said: “We are delighted to be working with the Trust to refurbish this building and bring it into new use. This will bring in much needed income to support the work of the Cathedral and help to secure a positive future for this building.

“The arrangement deepens our existing partnership with the Trust, which has been a generous supporter of the Cathedral over many years through grants for work to the fabric of the building and a forthcoming exhibition which the Trust and Cathedral will be holding in the newly refurbished crypt from October.”

The Bridge Clerk (Chief Executive) of the Trust, Sue Threader, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Trust as we expand our engineering, education and other community engagement activities. The new space at the Old Deanery will accommodate our expanding team and ensures that we can continue to work in the heart of Rochester.

“It was important for the Trust to choose accommodation which gives us the opportunity to invest in one of Rochester’s historic buildings as this is one of our charity investment priorities. It is an added bonus for us that we will be continuing to support the Cathedral, which has been one of our closest partners since the Trust’s foundation in 1399.”

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