York-based building conservation and restoration specialists William Anelay were mixing with royalty in February when the Prince of Wales and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall visited Gorton Monastery, Manchester.

William Anelay are principal contractors for the £6million, 18-month restoration of the famous Pugin-designed 19th Century sandstone landmark two miles from Manchester city centre that is due to re-open this summer as a venue for conferences, banquets, weddings and other functions.

The Royal couple inspected the work being carried out at the monastery, most of it involving Stoke Hall sandstone supplied by Stancliffe, as well as viewing a range of masterclasses in heritage craft skills, including stonemasonry. They also met students from Cedar Mount High School who were there as part of the proposal to establish a Heritage Skills Academy at Gorton.

William Anelay\'s managing director, Vernon Carter, said afterwards: Gorton Monastery represents a real landmark project for William Anelay. It is an added bonus to have the royal visitors interested in the extensive conservation and restoration work we are doing here.

Paul Griffiths, the chairman of the Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust that has been responsible for saving the building, said: It\'s a great honour to be able to show their Royal Highnesses this wonderful building at such an important stage in the project. The restoration work being carried out by William Anelay and their sub-contractors is on time and close to completion.

This summer we will see the completion of the major restoration work and we will be looking forward to re-opening Gorton Monastery as one of the region\'s premier multi-function events venues, although we continue to have a further £1million to raise to restore all the architectural features and altars.

Gorton Monastery, completed in 1872 (125 years after William Anelay, one of the oldest surviving companies in Britain, was formed) was founded by an order of Franciscan friars. The friars said their last mass at Gorton in 1989 and after years of neglect the site was acquired by the Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust in 1996.