ELLERTON Priory celebrates its 800th anniversary this year with a series of special events.

The priory, 14 miles south-east of York, has been undergoing restoration work since 1995, transforming the building from a derelict ruin to its former glory.

Phil Thomas, chairman of the Ellerton Church Preservation Trust, will get the festivities off to an exciting start with an illustrated lecture on Friday.

Mr Thomas, who also co-ordinates the care of churches in the diocese of York, remembers shovelling "90 barrow-loads of pigeon muck" from the floor of the church at the start of the restoration process.

Since then stonemasons, woodworkers, and other craftsmen have worked alongside villagers and the army to bring the priory back to life.

Ellerton's resident family of barn owls have even been given custom-made accommodation.

The lecture, in Ellerton village hall, starts at 7.30pm and the entrance fee of £1 includes a raffle ticket.

Updated: 08:37 Tuesday, April 22, 2003