Constructive conservation at Abingdon Abbey
Earlier this month, our Bristol team welcomed representatives from Historic England and other heritage organisations for a series of tours of Abingdon Abbey, a collection of Grade I listed buildings and a Scheduled Monument in central Oxfordshire.
Project architects Clare Phillips and Nuria Garcia led the tours as part of Historic England’s Constructive Conservation programme, providing an opportunity to showcase the revitalising conservation works currently being undertaken by Purcell.
The Constructive Conservation programme highlights exemplar projects that demonstrate how significant listed heritage assets can be sensitively adapted to remain relevant, sustainable and valuable to local communities.
Purcell were appointed by the Friends of Abingdon Abbey Trust in 2017 to help secure the site‘s future, which began by conducting detailed condition surveys and a feasibility study, informing the creation of a development strategy to restore the buildings and improve visitor experience.
In 2024, after eight years of effort by the Trust and our project team, Abingdon Abbey was awarded a £4m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The space currently operates as a community asset, offering spaces for weddings and performances. Purcell’s proposals look to enhance the buildings’ cultural offer and improve its accessibility, while futureproofing the buildings.
– Richard Peats, Principal Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas, Historic England
During the visit, the group were guided through the buildings, exploring their historical significance, the challenges they face, and the rationale behind the proposed works. Discussions centred on the growing pressures faced by smaller heritage trusts, including increasing maintenance costs, the need for professional management, and the importance of generating income to secure the long-term future of historic sites.
Our proposals balance conservation and contemporary use, demonstrating how carefully considered interventions can help ensure nationally important heritage assets remain viable, active and accessible.
