ELY Cathedral is to receive a £107,000 grant to restore the blackened East side of the building - some of which has not been maintained since the 19th century. English Heritage announced the grant as part of a £1 million restoration scheme for cathedral

ELY Cathedral is to receive a £107,000 grant to restore the blackened East side of the building - some of which has not been maintained since the 19th century.

English Heritage announced the grant as part of a £1 million restoration scheme for cathedrals across the country.

Jane Kennedy, surveyor to the fabric of Ely Cathedral said: "The work to repair the masonry and glazing of the east front of Ely Cathedral is the second phase of three phases of work to clean and conserve the 13th century masonry which was last repaired in the 19th century when the great east window was inserted."

The scheme was launched in 1991, prompted by a survey that revealed that England's cathedrals had a huge backlog of repairs that they were unable to complete on their own.

Now English Heritage is to turn its attentions to churches and church buildings across the country. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "In many ways, our parish churches are suffering from a similar back-log of repairs as our cathedrals were in 1991.