The vital works to repair Newstead Abbey have taken a step forward.
Nottingham City Council has lodged its plans with Gedling Borough Council for the re-roofing, roof repairs, stonework repairs, ceiling repairs and other works to the Grade I-listed Newstead Abbey in Ravenshead.
The historic structure is set in 300 acres of parkland and is steeped in more than 800 years of history. It originally acted as a monastic abbey from the 12th century and was also the former home of the Romantic poet Lord Byron in the early 1800s.
However, the City Council has said the building is “rapidly deteriorating” due to water getting through its fabric from “continued heavy downpours” and set out a five-phase repair programme in October 2025.
These initial plans put forward to Gedling Borough Council relate to phase one, which includes replacing the lead and copper roofs, removing the cast-iron water tank, repairing the Sussex Tower, and carrying out other works to enable re-roofing.
They come after the City Council accepted around £1.5 million of government funding in October to help protect the fabric of the building.
At the time, the council said the total cost of the five-phase repair programme would be around £8.5 million.
If the plans are approved by Gedling Borough Council, the copper roof coverings to the Salon, Library, Cloister, Byron’s Stair and Byron’s Dressing Room will be replaced with new copper coverings, and the Sussex Tower roof will be replaced with new lead, along with associated works.
Ian Wells, of the Nottingham Civic Society said the proposals are about “giving the building a future”.
He said: “It’s very welcome, provided it’s done tastefully and with respect to the original building… People seem to think the place was a bit of a liability.
“[Buildings] can become dilapidated so easily. The strange weather we have now means it’s either torrential rain or no rain at all, and the living fabric gets pulled either way.”
Local historian Bob Massey, from Arnold said: “It does need work. It’s been known for years, and it’s important it’s done as soon as possible.
“It’s important it’s dealt with at an early stage so it doesn’t end up being a multi-million-pound project… There’s a tendency to leave buildings because it becomes expensive, but then it becomes even more expensive [to fix].
“The interior of the building is important as well… The damage [bad weather] could do could cost millions. The stuff in there is irreplaceable. You don’t want the weather getting in there at all – this sort of thing could be disastrous.
“It’s important the building is retained for the next generation and the generations after that – too many important buildings have gone for all sorts of reasons because the cost of repairing them [is high], and then they had to be demolished.”
Planning documents say the majority of the works will be “like-for-like” repairs, which should have “no impact” on the basic design of the existing building, and the proposed changes to the roof of the lower Sussex Tower area will have “no visual impact”.
Planning documents say: “The preservation and repair of the fabric of the building is a key aim, but also the protection of the Byron collection, lace and textiles that are held and cared for on site.”
Phases one, two and three relate to the replacement of “life-expired” lead, copper and slate roofs across the site, along with upgrading security and fire alarm systems, removing the water tank and carrying out repairs to the Sussex Tower.
Phase four would involve the replacement of the heating and electrics to make the building safe and environmentally sustainable, and phase five includes alterations and improvements to facilities such as the toilets, café and visitor route.
Newstead Abbey has been on the Heritage at Risk Register since 2004 due to its poor condition.
By Lauren Monaghan, Local Democracy Reporter