A GRANT is being requested to maintain one of the oldest barns in the county, famed for being used to prepare food for Cardinal Wolsey's feasts.

The tithe barn, known as Wolsey's Slaughter House after Henry VIII's cardinal who had a mansion in Moor Park, has been dated somewhere between 1396 and 1401.

The 600 year old barn is in the grounds of St Joan of Arc School, High Street, Rickmansworth and is used by the school for storage.

In recent years, it has deteriorated with some of the roof tiles needing replacing.

Last week, English Heritage met representatives from the school, which owns the barn, and Three Rivers District Council, to discuss an application from the school for funds to maintain it.

English Heritage said it had sent an application form to the school to apply for funding for the Grade II listed building.

Grants of up to 80 per cent of the total cost of maintenance are can be offered, although the usually candidates receive a quarter of the cost.

An English Heritage spokesman said there was no limit on the amount it pays out, but the organisation rarely funds all the work.

She said any application would take six months to process. She said: "We need to look at exactly what the works will be and how much the owners are going to put in before a decision is made."

A council spokesman says it is backing the school's application but was not looking "at this stage to assist with funding".

He said: "It is an historic building in our area and we like to help to look after such buildings. But we are really looking at English Heritage to fund the work."

July 2, 2002 17:00