Our sister organisation, The Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust, have announced that they have been awarded a £4million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to carry out a once-in-a-generation restoration project that will bring the Abbey Buildings into the 21st century.

The three-year project will see the site completely transformed, with a major and long overdue enhancement programme to weatherproof the buildings and make them fully accessible. This includes:

• undertaking a major programme of conservation work to the buildings so they can carry on providing a welcoming space for Abingdon residents into the future
• installing windows to fully weatherproof the Long Gallery for year-round use
• making sure all parts of the buildings are fully accessible with a new lift and level floors throughout
• a new glass-fronted lobby in The Unicorn Theatre with new retractable seating and disabled toilets for flexible use
• new interpretation to bring to life Abingdon Abbey’s rich history so more can learn about its heritage
• running a series of activities and events to share its heritage with the community

As well as the Heritage Fund grant, the Trust has already raised over £1.2m in support from the Abingdon Town Council, the Wolfson Foundation, the Historic Houses Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and the Oxfordshire Buildings Trust. The Trust will now be launching a public appeal to raise the remaining funds and start the works, hopefully by the summer of 2025.

For full details see https://www.abingdonabbeybuildings.co.uk/abingdon-abbey-to-be-restored-thanks-to-heritage-fund-grant/