AN IMPORTANT architectural feature of an historic house in Christchurch is to be preserved following concern from borough councillors.

The proposal to remove the "clumsy looking" belvedere turret window and replace it with a dormer window to match the existing ones at Priory House was turned down by councillors who want to preserve the architectural and historic character of the Grade II listed building.

Officers from Christchurch Borough Council's planning department had recommended the application for approval but councillors refused to give the scheme the go-ahead despite the structure proving to be severely rotten and requiring major reconstruction.

The house was originally built as a retirement home in 1763 for former Bank of England chief Gustav Brander, who local historians believe used the house as a lookout for smugglers but which is now used for a variety of church, cultural and community purposes.

Leading local historian and former mayor of Christchurch, Michael Hodges told the planning committee the belvedere was a "genuinely rare architectural feature and the proposed removal seems extraordinary for a listed building."

According to Mr Hodges, the local history society believes that Brander was a "venturer", someone who is a financial lookout for smugglers, and built the house intentionally to be out of site so he could keep watch over Christchurch harbour.

But applicant David Hewitt, chairman of the Priory House Trust, said: "Trustees cannot believe that Brander would have associated himself with any criminal activity. As the current custodian of the fine house, we do not feel the belvedere should be rebuilt but replaced with a dormer matching the other two late 18th-century windows."

Mr Hewitt's plea to the planning committee was supported by Cllr Peter Hall who agreed that aesthetically the dormer would be an improvement and said: "The scheme before us does enhance the building."

But Cllr Colin Jamieson said: "I sat here and tried to imagine what would have happened if a planning committee at the end of the 18th century had to make this decision.

"What is there is part of a Grade II listed building. It doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to be there."