Winning Tudor building to reopen

In pictures: the restoration work

One of the finest historic buildings in Birmingham has reopened following a £3.5m renovation after winning the nation's hearts.

The Tudor Saracen's Head, in Kings Norton, won the BBC's Restoration show in 2004 along with the neighbouring Old Grammar School.

Both Grade II* listed buildings had been crumbling before the appeal.

The Saracen's Head, which dates to 1492, was officially opened by the BBC's Director General Mark Thompson.

Historians have claimed that the wife of Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria, stayed overnight in the building, which sits in the Kings Norton Green, during the English Civil War in 1643.

It was originally built as a house for a wealthy merchant but later turned into an inn.

In the 19th Century part of it was turned into a shop and tea rooms, but it was eventually closed in the first part of the 20th Century.

'Stunning and wonderful'

Canon Rob Morris, who has been heading up the campaign, said the building would be used for a number of different uses, including as a wedding venue.

He said: "We're all far more excited than we can possibly put into words.

"The efforts that so many different people put in, giving their best in so many different ways.

"What we have got in the end is something that is more wonderful, stunning and wonderful than we ever thought possible."

The Saracen's Head was given the special Grade II* listed status by English Heritage, which puts it with only 4% of listed buildings, and gives it more protection than Grade II listed sites.

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The BBC's Sarah Campbell took a tour of the property with one of the volunteers

Up to 20,000 sites were originally considered for the Restoration programme and the Kings Norton buildings received more than 750,000 votes to be named the winners.

The Old Grammar School has since been restored and reopened as an educational site, offering local history talks and a look at how education was taught hundreds of years ago.

The Saracen's Head, which will open to the public from Saturday, will continue to house parish offices and community rooms.