Newstead Abbey is to benefit from a major programme of urgent repairs after Nottingham City Museums secured £1.73 million in funding to begin the first phase of essential works on the historic site.
The funding includes £1,482,882 from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) Round 4, and £249,828 of match funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The money will allow phase one of a five-phase, £8.5 million restoration plan to get underway, focusing on the replacement of life-expired roofs, upgrades to fire and security systems, and essential structural repairs.
The Abbey, which dates back to 1274 and was once home to Romantic poet Lord Byron, is owned by Nottingham City Council and managed by Nottingham City Museums. It is a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Monument, and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register for several years due to the deteriorating condition of its roofs and internal structures. A 2014 survey by conservation architects Purcell warned that roof repairs were urgent, and subsequent water ingress has worsened the situation to the extent that parts of the public areas have been propped to prevent ceiling collapse.
Newstead Abbey was gifted to the city in 1931 and is operated as a museum and visitor attraction within 300 acres of parkland. It houses important collections, including textiles, costume, and the nationally recognised Designated Lace Collection.
The first phase of works will include replacing the copper and lead roofs, removing an obsolete water tank, and carrying out repairs to the Sussex Tower. The council has confirmed that no council capital funding will be required for this stage, as it will be fully covered by the two grants. Procurement for contractors and specialist survey teams will now begin, with the main contract estimated at £1.4 million.
Further funding bids are being prepared for Phases 2 to 5, which will address the remaining slate roofs, upgrade mechanical and electrical systems such as heating, lighting and fire alarms, and improve accessibility to ensure the site meets modern standards for visitors. The council hopes to secure additional support from Arts Council England’s MEND Round 5, the Historic Houses Foundation, and further National Lottery Heritage Fund grants, with results expected in 2026.
The total cost of the full five-phase programme is forecast at £8,498,886, with five per cent of that budget allocated to a community engagement element required by the funding bodies.
To assist future phases, the council has ring-fenced £206,521 in existing reserves and donations linked to Newstead Abbey, and will also launch a public “Raise the Roof” fundraising campaign with the Newstead Abbey Partnership. The campaign will seek donations to act as match funding for upcoming grant bids and further restoration work.
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