A REVAMP of one of Worcester’s most historic buildings is set to reinforce the city’s role at the centre of English history.

Worcester City Council’s Conservative cabinet has given the go-ahead to a £260,000 project, which will include setting up a new Battle of Worcester exhibition and other improvements.

The scheme, which was agreed at a meeting on Tuesday, July 28, also includes warming some areas of the building in Sidbury, improving the Battle of Worcester Heritage Trail through the city and revamping the shop.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting cabinet member for sport, leisure and retail Cllr Mike Johnson said he was excited about the plans.

“There are many things we do in this council that are very earnest and good, but they are often very workman-like,” he said. “This is one of those things that lights the fire.”

But he said he felt more could be made of Worcester’s Civil War history.

“The Commandery is a great asset to Worcester,” he said.

“Our Civil War history is a great USP that makes Worcester stand out.

“Worcester does have an unrivalled pace in that part of England’s history that we are not making the most of. £260,000 in grand scheme of things is not an enormous sum of money but it’s a down payment to realise that vision.

“The payback on the extra investment is less than three years – in the Commandery’s long history we are talking the very shortest term in developing this.”

The majority of the project – £200,000 – will be paid for from the New Homes Bonus cash given to the council from the government while the remaining £60,000 will come from capital receipts.

The project comes after a report by Museums Worcestershire setting out a number of ways the Commanery could attract more visitors. Ideas mooted included using it as a wedding venue or holiday let and charging Worcester taxpayers, who currently get in for free.

Although none of these form part of the current plans, the cabinet have agreed to speak with the Heritage Lottery Fund about the possibility of securing more funding for further work.

Work is expected to get underway at the start of September and is expected to be fully complete by next summer. The building will remain open as normal during the work.

The Commandery was originally a hospital and place of pilgrimage and later became the Royalist headquarters during the Battle of Worcester, the final and deciding battle of the English Civil War.