VANDALISM of historic stained glass windows on a  landmark 700-year-old Chester church has prompted it to apply to install special protective window guards.

St Peter’s Church on Watergate Street by Chester Cross has submitted a planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council to fit stainless steel protective guards to six windows. These include the three lower windows in the south elevation, and the three main windows of the east elevation.

The application said the work on the Grade I listed church was necessary as it has seen ‘repeated episodes of vandalism’, causing breakages of the historic stained glass and requiring subsequent extensive repairs.

The application said: “These have also been fitted to Chester Cathedral Refectory amongst many other ecclesiastical buildings.

“They have been approved for use on listed and ecclesiastical buildings. Externally, there is very little impact on the historic fabric of the building and the original aesthetic quality of the church is kept intact.”

Planning documents said the guards have been designed specifically for use on listed and ecclesiastical buildings. They said they are not visible from inside the building and the design of the guards follows guidelines set down by English Heritage, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and other building conservation advisory groups.

The present Church of England structure dates from the 1300s but has been adapted and rebuilt over the centuries, and is located at the meeting point of the four main Roman roads in the centre of the city.

The plans can be viewed on Cheshire West and Chester’s planning portal under the following reference number: 24/02196/FUL