A Tudor manor house dating back to the reign of Henry VIII is getting £450,000 makeover

The 16th Century Bruce Castle in Lordship Lane, Tottenham, is thought to be one of England’s oldest brick buildings and holds important archives charting the history of Haringey.

The house is in dire need of repair, and £450,000 has been invested for maintenance of the original timber sash windows, stonework and the roof.

Dean Appleton, a chartered building surveyor at Ingleton Wood, which is conducting the repairs, said: “This is an important regeneration project for an iconic building that has stood for 500 years.

“It’s a real privilege to be involved in this project and hopefully through these works we can ensure the castle will last a few hundred years more.”

Deborah McGhee, a building surveyor from Haringey Council, said: “Bruce Castle is a hugely important historical site for the borough.

“We look forward to getting the refurbishment works underway so that it can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Bruce Castle opened as a museum in 1906 and now houses the Borough of Haringey’s history collections and archives.

Exhibits include a history of the Post Office in recognition of former occupant Sir Rowland Hil,l who is credited with creating the modern postal system, including the invention of the postal stamp.

Other displays include a collection of early photography of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Set in 20 acres of parkland, the manor is named after the House of Bruce, who formerly owned the land on which it is built.