Councillors have agreed to extend funding for a historic building in Romsey, one of the oldest buildings in Hampshire.

Test Valley Borough Council has provided grant funding for a further year to support King John's House in Church Street.

The house, which houses a museum, dates back to the mid-13th century.

In 2022, King John's House applied for a three-year grant under Community and Leisure’s Revenue Grant Programme to support the salaries of the general manager and deputy manager.

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At the time, they were awarded a one-year grant but with provision to fund for a further two years to align more closely with the wider tourism activity and a future Test Valley Tourism Review to inform how best to meet the tourism sector needs of the Borough.

The review of Test Valley's tourism sector has since taken place, with the borough council proposing to continue supporting King John's House until 2025 to enable it to become self-sustaining.

Therefore, the grant for 2024/25 will support staffing as per the original application but maintain the flexibility agreed at Cabinet on November 15 2023 to help support the transition activities identified in their Strategic Action Plan.

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At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 28, Cllr Terese Swain proposed the recommendation.

She said: "The purpose of this report is to propose the extension of a grant to King John's House for a further year. It requested a grant of £48,107. I propose the recommendations be approved."

The proposal was seconded by council leader Phil North.

Cllr Adams-King said: "I fully support this. King John's House is an integral part of Romsey with people coming to see that and the abbey in equal measure and means we really need to make the most of both and look at the best way we can support it to keep people travelling into our borough, and think it is certainly something we should support."

Cllr David Drew said: "I'm delighted that King John's House has a business plan and I wish that every success but we do have an important heritage aspect here that it is vital to support. We have the financial standing, flexibility and ability to support this which I think is important. I'm very happy to support this motion."

Councillors voted in favour of extending the grant for a further year to cover 2024/25.