WINCHESTER’s civic chief is poised to make an £80,000 grant to the cathedral towards restoring its priceless medieval Bible.

Cllr Stephen Godfrey has agreed the donation which will be split over four years.

The money would go towards the preservation and digitisation of the 12th century book, made in the cathedral in 1160-75, after it was commissioned by Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester and grandson of William the Conqueror.

It is widely considered to be one of the greatest medieval treasures in Europe. The cathedral has been its home for more than 800 years.

The cathedral began conserving the Bible in January 2014 as part of a wider plan to improve the interpretation of the cathedral building and precious artefacts.

Each volume will be re-bound in authentic Romanesque style and a full digital copy taken of the pages – a process which will enable the recording of hitherto unseen scribe’s notes hidden in the margins.

Cllr Godfrey said: “The cathedral is expecting to receive a significant number of additional visitors to view what might be the largest and finest 12th century bible in the world. This visitor increase will bring more visitors and more business to the whole of Winchester, which, I believe, fully justifies the relatively modest grant that the city council is making to the cathedral.”

Annabelle Boyes, cathedral receiver general, said: “We are delighted that the council has joined a range of national and international donors in supporting the £675,000 costs of conserving the priceless 12th century Winchester Bible and of putting all four of its volumes back on display. It is a key part of our major exhibition, Kings and Scribes – The Birth of a Nation.

“The beautifully illuminated Bible is commonly recognised as being a candidate for the greatest work of art produced in England. It is remarkable as being one of the only books of its era to have spent almost all of its lifetime in the place where it was made. Making the Winchester Bible better known will be of benefit not only to the cathedral and its visitors but to the reputation and economy of the whole city.”

It is expected that Kings and Scribes – The Birth of a Nation will open fully to the public in 2018.

The cathedral is running an appeal to raise money to improve the display of its treasures.

The book measures 583mm x 396mm and is the largest largest surviving 12th-century English Bible.

Although many of the illuminations remain unfinished, the Latin text text itself is complete and is thought to have been the work of just one monk.

The Bible’s illustrations, including the use of gold and lapis lazuli, are as bright today as when they were created.