Northampton’s Delapre Abbey awarded nearly £20K of Government funding which will help ‘animate the site’

Delapre Abbey has been awarded funding to help the site recover following the pandemic. Photo: Chalk Original.

A historic abbey in Northampton has been awarded nearly £20K of Government funding as part of the Culture Recovery Fund.

The Architectural Heritage Fund’s £1 million grants programme has seen the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust granted £19,250.

The funds, handed out to help places of cultural interest recover from the effects of Covid-19, will enable the attraction to develop plans to protect the heritage of the abbey’s 19th century stables and support the development of a new fundraising strategy.

The money will help to protect the 19th century stables.

Richard Clinton, Chief Executive of Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust said: “We welcome the announcement that we have been successful in securing funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund.

“This grant enables us to further develop a feasibility study into how we can best repurpose the sadly dilapidated 19th Century Stables to serve the needs of our diverse community, promote wellbeing, animate the site, and create a new destination for the town.”

Cllr. Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, added: “This grant will enable the Delapré Abbey team to take this exciting project forward to the next stage.

“The award is recognition of the importance of the Abbey to the community, and the work of the Trustees, staff and volunteers in bringing it to life.”

A new business plan sees the trust focussing on heritage and culture, wellbeing and the environment, food and beverage, and animating unloved spaces, with the aim to broaden reach, put communities first, and inspire through programmes and activity.

The trust also recently announced that 7,500 families will be gifted an annual pass for 2021/2022.

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