A FORMER builder was allowed a glimpse back in time at one of Ledbury’s most iconic buildings – and he took his camera with him.

Barry Tweed-Rycroft, of Woodleigh Road, Ledbury, gained permission from the site manager of the Master’s House, Ed Mandrell of Speller Metcalfe, to take images of the massive 15- century timber frames and wattle and daub walls.

Many of these structures, more than 500 years old, are usually hidden from view by canvas coverings.

In fact, shortly after Mr Tweed-Rycroft took his remarkable images, including a view across the canvas-shielded roofscape, internal scaffolding started to go up, and this meant that the photographer’s images were timely indeed.

He said: “Some of what you see on my photographs you won’t be able to see again.

“What attracted me was the beautiful detail of the building itself.

“It was time for a lasting record.

“It’s remarkable that those beams from the 15th century are still there and in such good condition.”

Mr Tweed-Rycroft started working life as a photographer before working in the building trade.

Now he has returned to his first love, photography, and is specialising in taking images of interiors as a professional.

The Master’s House, part of the St Katherine’s Hospital complex, is currently undergoing a £2.9 million restoration and will house the town’s library and other community facilities when it is completed by the late summer of 2014.

The tiles are set to go back on the roof, but this will be a lengthy process that will take until the late spring of next year.