Original features at a Peterborough landmark are set to undergo painstaking refurbishment thanks to a team of students from the College of West Anglia (CWA). The 360 year old Thorpe Hall, in Longthorpe, now the setting for a Sue Ryder hospice, has earned a Grade 1 listing, partly because of its high standard of preservation. Now King’s Lynn and Wisbech students are set to work on restoring elements of the building to help retain its historic importance. CWA carpentry, plumbing and Anglian Water’s Alliance students will be working with their experienced tutors and the Sue Ryder team to repair Victorian shutters, install outside taps to enable staff, volunteers and patients to water the gardens, and repair a leaking roof. Alan Seeley, programme manager for construction at CWA, said: “The College of West Anglia is always willing to get involved with community projects and this restoration project is no exception. Not only is this benefiting Sue Ryder as a charity it is giving our students the chance to practice their skills.” Thorpe Hall Hospice’s head of support services Martin Russell said: “We are delighted to have the team from the College of West Anglia working with us. Maintaining Thorpe Hall is an ongoing project and can be very costly – this type of partnership is really valuable to us.” The work the students will be doing will in turn save the charity money – the repaired shutters will be used during the winter to keep out chills and lower heating bills while the stripped back bathrooms will be transformed into rooms available for hire and rent, generating income for the hospice. Alan Seeley said: “The students are enjoying this great opportunity, not just working on an historic building but also working with Anglian Water’s Alliance staff to install the water service pipework. Anglian Water’s Alliances have been invaluable in this project – their staff are working with our students and they have supplied all of the necessary materials.”