Reading Abbey Revealed seeks to continue conservation work
CONSERVATION project Reading Abbey Revealed has put forward a report to the council seeking to continue its work on the abbey.
The project is looking to keep up its work with conservation specialists to protect and preserve the site.
An evaluation report was sent from the project to be considered by the council’s housing, neighbourhoods, and leisure committee on Wednesday, June 29.
Now in its fourth year since the reopening of the abbey, the project submitted its proposals for the next steps to be taken to preserve the abbey for consideration.
These include ensuring key findings and recommendations of the project are disseminated among colleagues and the wider heritage and placemaking sector.
They also include the continuation of work with both conservation specialists, consultants, and local heritage organisations such as the High Street Heritage Action Zone.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward,
Reading’s lead councillor for leisure and culture, said: “Reading’s Abbey is now at the heart of culture and heritage in our town.
“Thanks to our vision, the Abbey Quarter is now a thriving landmark and an important destination for residents and visitors to Reading.
“The project celebrates the historic importance of the site as Reading’s royal abbey and burial place of King Henry I without stuffiness: the ruins host lively events and are a place to relax as well as learn.”
Efforts to preserve the site through Reading Abbey Revealed began in 2014, when the National Lottery Heritage Fund offered £1.7 million towards restoration.
This was matched by Reading Borough Council, who offered a further £1.38 million.
Since its launch, the scheme has completed major restoration work on the abbey’s ruins and gateway, drawn together the grounds into a unified heritage site including displays and wayfinders, and continued to promote and showcase the site.
It celebrated the reopening of the Abbey site in 2018, which saw more than 18,000 visitors in a single day, as well as its 900th anniversary in 2021.
The commitment to community engagement and participation has led to the site receiving a number of national awards, including a planning award in 2020 for heritage in placemaking and a Green Flag award in 2021.
“This is a project of national importance and we are immensely proud of the benefits it brings to Reading.
As a champion of community engagement, I am particularly pleased by of the level of community, volunteer and educational participation the project has generated, and I hope to see this continue for years to come.