St Mary's Church tower to be revealed after two-year repair

Scaffolding surrounding a centuries-old tower on a Warwick church is being dismantled after two years of repairs.

St Mary's has remained open while the long-running work has been carried out to restore 12 shields and the building's clock faces.

The restoration cost about £1.8m with much of the money donated by charities, councils, businesses, and individuals, the church said.

They hope to raise a further £70,000 for final work to a window and clock.

The tower will open for visitors to climb and take in views of the town, Warwick Castle and racecourse.

The Grade I-listed church was founded on its present site in 1123, by Roger de Newburgh, the Earl of Warwick at the time.

Its Beauchamp Chapel was built in the 15th Century to house the tomb of Richard Beauchamp, the Earl of Warwick, father-in-law of notorious "kingmaker" Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick.

Restoration work on the chapel, described by English Heritage as being "of exceptional interest", was undertaken in 2014.

Its four windows, containing stained glass which dates from the 1400s, were considered to be among the oldest of their kind in Europe, the church said.

The church said it was very grateful to its many donors, having used all of its building reserves to also enable the work to be undertaken.

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