A new chapter in the remarkable history of Canterbury's Westgate Towers has begun with the re-opening of its museum on a daily basis for the first time in two years.

The city’s prison for four centuries, the attraction was threatened with closure after the city council claimed it could no longer afford to run it.

But then businessman Charles Lambie, who owns the adjoining former Victorian jail in Pound Lane, stepped in with a rescue package and was given a 40 year lease to take over the management of the Towers Museum.

He is investing £1 million in creating a new attraction which will link the Victorian jail with the medieval one and will include a new cafe, shop and even a small hotel, using the old 19th century cells as bedrooms.

On Saturday the museum had a ‘soft’ re-opening with its former attendant Bob Collins back in the guardhouse and keen to share his considerably knowledge of the historic building with visitors.

He said: "It will be great to be back and able to tell people the inside story about this fantastic building. It’s absolutely steeped in history - some of it bit grim," he said.

An atmospheric meeting room, complete with hooks and the fittings for prison shackles, is being restored as a school and group meeting room for presentations.

Mr Lambie says that when the restoration work is completed this summer the two historic gaols will together form Canterbury’s newest tourist attraction, complete with a glass enclosed café in the old prison exercise yard.

For more information visit www.canterburywestgatetowers.com