AN historic landmark facing an uncertain future has been handed a lifeline.
The three-storey Paull Holme Tower is the last remaining part of what was a medieval grand manor house dating back to the 14th century.
It is believed the manor house would have been at the centre of the settlement of Paull and some buildings may even have been on this site since before the Norman conquest.
Now, conservation body English Heritage has awarded a £121,000 grant to help with a major programme of essential repairs to the structure.
Owner Simon Taylor, who opened the ruin to the public for the first time as part of the national Heritage Open Days event three years ago, said he is delighted.
He said: "We are building up a head of momentum that I am sure is unstoppable to not only save it, but also bring it back into use.
"The Heritage Open Day event in 2011 provided the inspiration.
"We lost count when more than 300 people had visited the tower by the morning of the second day.
"Afterwards, many people wrote letters of support to urge English Heritage to save the building.
"This helped inspire me and English Heritage to try even harder to save the Tower."
A feasibility study was commissioned last year to examine what options were available.
Following a public consultation event at St Andrew's Church in Paull, some emergency work was carried out to the barrel-vaulted ceiling and last remaining battlement structure.
But the latest English Heritage grant means a much wider programme of repairs is now on the horizon.
Mr Taylor said: "We are on a roll and with the extraordinary generosity of English Heritage, we have been able to appoint a professional heritage adviser to plan out the next stage of works, which is to carry out the major repairs. "At the end of this stage, we will have a sound and secure tower ready to start a new-build scheme or conversion into whatever we agree is the best option to save the tower in the long-term.
"Contractors will be invited to tender for the work next year.
"It is absolutely brilliant news after so many years of effort."
Ancient tower is last reminder of medieval manorOoverlooking the Humber, Paull Holme Tower is officially classed as a scheduled ancient monument and a grade one listed building.
It once formed part of a manor house complex surrounded by a rectan- gular moat, dating from the 14th century.
The outline of the moat can still be seen on three sides of the building.
The tower has three floors, each one featuring a single chamber.
While the manor house has long disappeared, the brick tower has survived and was partially restored in 1871, when new doors and windows were installed.
However, it has not had a roof since the early 20th century.
