PRITI Patel was given a tour of Layer Marney Tower to inspect the extensive new works being undertaken at the site.

The Witham MP visited the tower for a tour and inspection of new works being carried out using the major funding the tower has received from the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The Marney Partnership, which maintains the Tower and grounds, received £62,200 this year and follows the grants awarded to them last year of £150,700 and £82,800.

Priti was given a full tour of the building and grounds by Sheila and Nick Charrington, the Trustees of the Layer Marney Partnership.

A major project to restore the Essex Barn in the Tower’s Courtyard began in 2020 and is due to be completed later this summer.

Priti said: “These awards are excellent news which give us all a boost as we head into the key summer months.

"They amply demonstrate the strong cultural heritage we have here in the Witham constituency and I was both delighted and impressed to see that the money has been put to such good use at the Tower.

"The restoration work is outstanding and a credit to the craftsmen involved. I haven’t visited the Layer Marney Tower for a long time, so it was great to be back here and to catch up with what has being going on in the last few years."

Sheila said: "Our long term aim is to make the Layer Marney Tower self-funding and we are very grateful for the support we have received from Priti over the years, toward reaching this target. We are now open for visits from schools, for whom this is an ideal centre of learning.”

Layer Marney Tower is a Tudor Palace built in the 1520s surrounded by 120 acres of land and is England’s tallest Tudor Gatehouse.