CASH-STRAPPED Winchester Cathedral is waving goodbye to centuries of tradition in a bid to make some money on the commercial letting market.

Prestigious properties in Cathedral Close, where exclusive residential houses have been reserved for members of the cathedral community since the Middle Ages, are to be put up for rent.

Falling visitor numbers have threatened the cathedral with financial crisis in recent years with 264,000 people visiting the cathedral in 2002 compared to 274,000 in 2001.

Responsible for the cathedral's day-to-day management, receiver general Commodore Adrian Munns, confirmed that 10 Cathedral Close, which has its origins in the 13th century, is on the market - the former home of chief organist David Hill who left last year.

Commodore Munns said: "I am sure the cathedral community would be pleased to know that the chapter is making the best use of its assets to ensure the cathedral's future is more assured than it has been hitherto.

"I am sure they would also appreciate that we are not letting empty properties go to waste. We want to get the best value from them.

"We can't support the cathedral's mission and ministry without a revenue and in line with national trends we are seeing fewer visitors than last year."

Instead of members of the cathedral community being given a property in the Close automatically, an analysis of need will now be conducted.

A small cottage on Cathedral Close was let commercially in September 2002 and two apartments were also rented out this year but 10 Cathedral Close is the first of the main houses to meet a similar fate.

Traditionalists have voiced their dissent on the issue with many believing the cathedral is forsaking its core values for commercial gain. City Councillor Patrick Davies, a member of the City of Winchester Trust and a local resident living on Canon Street, said: "It's extraordinary that they are doing that. I thought they might have had some social conscience about the needs of Winchester.

"I can understand the need to raise funds to maintain the fabric of the cathedral but I would have thought that the use of Cathedral Close is something they should have some sort of social awareness of before making their decisions.''

Alan Weeks, chairman of Winchester City residents' association, said: "It's a change in their basic philosophy to go into the commercial world and to see everything in terms of money seems to be anomalous to come from the senior members of the Church."

Brian Freemantle, of Great Minster Street a stone's throw from the cathedral said: "I think it's as sad as doing away with the Lord Chancellor's office. Winchester is a historic city and I wonder if the dean and chapter are not becoming far too commercial."

Winchester-based property consultants Dreweatt-Neate are handling the leasing of the Grade I listed building.

Company representative Louise Newnham said they have received "quite a lot of interest" in the property that will be fully renovated and completed by early July.

She confirmed that offers in the region of £3,500 to £4,000 a month rent would be accepted for the house which has stained glass windows and Jacobean oak panelling.