Complex sentence: A further seven years passed whilst attempts were made to raise funds for the project, until at last a proper programme of restoration began under the direction of William Burges, another famous architect of the Victorian era, funded almost entirely by the Council.
Split into simpler sentences: A further seven years passed whilst attempts were made to raise funds for the project. At last, a proper programme of restoration began under the direction of William Burges, another famous architect of the Victorian era, funded almost entirely by the Council.