HISTORIC England has awarded a grant of £343,000 towards the restoration of several garden buildings at Ripley Castle, near Harrogate.

The grant will fund repairs to the Orangery, Fire Engine House and adjoining pavilions and bothies - potting sheds - within the pleasure grounds of the 15th century country house.

This group of garden buildings are thought to have been designed around 1785 by York-born architect William Belwood for Sir John Ingilby.

In 1817-18, a glass roof was added to the orangery to convert it into a palm house.

Listed at Grade II, the Orangery, Fire Engine House, pavilions and bothies collectively are amongst the top ten per cent most important historic buildings in the country.

Owing to their poor current condition, they are on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register but the repair project will represent a significant step in ensuring their survival for future generations.

Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle, said: ‘‘The restoration of these buildings will be a big step forward in the ambitious programme to restore the walled gardens at Ripley Castle to their former glory.

"We are enormously grateful to Historic England for their help and support for this project, which will, when completed, help a lot of people to overcome the financial and mental trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic.’’