Part of a historic ‘hidden gem’ is expected to reopen in time for summer.

The 12th-century Eastbridge Hospital and Franciscan Gardens in Canterbury were closed to the public on safety grounds last year due to emergency repairs.

Now it is hoped that the beautiful two-acre garden, home to the Greyfriars chapel, will be opened up in time for summer.

The Grade I-listed building, however, is the subject of much more costly and extensive restoration and is unlikely to welcome visitors again until next year.

The Eastbridge Hospital – also known as the Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr – was founded around 1180 to provide accommodation for poor pilgrims travelling to the tomb of St Thomas Beckett in the Cathedral.

Over the centuries it flourished as a place of pilgrimage and a ‘haven of peace’, but also suffered periods of neglect.

Under the management of a trust since the early 1990s, it remains one of the city’s finest heritage assets as well as a destination for pilgrims to Canterbury and continues to provide almshouse accommodation.

It has an entrance hall and Chantry Chapel, a vaulted undercroft, the Juxton room – named after benefactor Archbishop William Juxton – and a Refectory and Pilgrims Chapel.

But serious structural issues in a number of areas of the building – including the collapse of the refectory ceiling last year – forced its closure.

The gardens also became out of bounds after a riverside wall collapsed, making it unsafe for visitors.

The gift shop remains open.

Together the work could amount to £1 million but as a small charity with a limited income from rentals, the trust has to rely on grants to fund the work.

“The trouble is that as soon as you start pulling something apart to fix it, you discover another problem, which is often the case with very old buildings, especially one with its feet in the water,” says trustee Nick Rooke.

“Yet the Eastbridge Hospital is a gem, albeit a bit of a hidden one behind its unassuming facade which is why sadly a lot of people have never visited.

“But it’s internationally important and I would even put it on level pegging with the cathedral, yet it’s the city’s best-kept secret.”

A priority for the trust is the restoration of the magnificent Norman-beamed upper chapel which fell victim to the ravages of the death watch beetle – leaving the charity with a repair bill of almost £300,000.

Mr Rooke added: “Obviously, we are applying for grants and have had some success with the National Lottery but need more support.”

The trust, whose patron is the Archbishop of Canterbury, also hopes to restore the collapsed Victorian greenhouse in the gardens so it can be used as a community space, potentially generating some extra income.

“The bad weather has held up repairs to the river wall but we hope to have the gardens open to visitors by May or June,” said Mr Rooke. “We would also be very interested in hearing from anyone who can support the restoration work we are doing for this remarkable building.”