A SAWMILL in Royal Wootton Bassett has supplied the wood for restoration work at the Tower of London.

Vastern Timber supplied premium English oak for the reinstatement of the drawbridge which dates back to 1834, as well for the production of furniture for the restoration of the iconic Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, pictured.

Following years of planning and five months of construction, the drawbridge has been completely reinstated and officially unveiled.

Tom Barnes, director at Vastern Timber, said: “English oak is an ideal timber for these historic restoration projects. It is robust enough to last centuries and is the most iconic of the English woods.

"The Tower of London is one of the country’s most prestigious and popular tourist attractions, so it is wonderful to think that we have provided the timber that will be enjoyed by countless millions of visitors for many, many years to come.

“These projects also serve to underline the superior credentials of British timber. We are strong advocates of the Grown In Britain campaign which aims to raise awareness of the importance of choosing timber from well managed domestic sources over imported timber.

"We consider these Tower of London projects to be a fantastic case study to illustrate that British timber can deliver at the very highest levels.”