Gorton Monastery pipped by St Paul's

Gorton Monastery was commended for the Building Conservation Award at a RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) ceremony held in London last Friday. St Paul's Cathedral took the title, but the commendation is another accolade for the monastery, after it was given the RICS North West Project of the Year Award last May.

Built in the 1860s, the Grade II listed monastery of St Francis is a masterpiece of the gothic revival. It was designed by EW Pugin, the son of the designer of the Houses of Parliament, and was home to a brotherhood of Franciscan friars. In 1989, however, it was forced to close due to dwindling numbers and financial difficulties. After a project to convert it into flats failed, it fell into disrepair, prompting English Heritage to place it on the Buildings at Risk Register.

In 1996, the Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust took over ownership and commenced a £6.5m restoration project. The building has since been part restored; the spectacular body of the church now provides a venue for weddings, conferences and banquets, whilst the cloisters have been turned into meeting rooms. The building also supports a local community centre.

The restoration work was praised for its high standards. All treatments were in line with the original building features, and minimal modern interventions were allowed. Traditional skills such as lime mortaring, lime plaster, and slating were used, as well as traditional materials.

Debbie Dance, building conservation judge, said: “To see this important building come to life again lifts the spirits. The conservation work is exemplary, with the future of the building in safe hands."