VIDEO: Sneak look inside multi-million pound Northampton abbey restoration

A new video has revealed a sneak peek inside the south range of Delapre Abbey in Northampton as part of a multi-million pound bid to turn the ruins into a tourist attraction.
Work has been progressing in the south rang of Delapre Abbey. Pictured are cabinet member for regeneration at Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Tim Hadland and Vikki Pearson of the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust.Work has been progressing in the south rang of Delapre Abbey. Pictured are cabinet member for regeneration at Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Tim Hadland and Vikki Pearson of the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust.
Work has been progressing in the south rang of Delapre Abbey. Pictured are cabinet member for regeneration at Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Tim Hadland and Vikki Pearson of the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust.

Hirst Conservation and Robert Woodhead Heritage Limited have been working to restore the 900-year-old abbey as part of as a £6.3 million, Heritage Lottery Fund-supported project.

Once complete, the south range of the abbey will host weddings and conferences, while the rest of the grounds will be open to tourists.

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The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has contributed £3.65 million to the restoration, which is also being part-funded and overseen by Northampton Borough Council.

Once Robert Woodhead Heritage completes the restoration, the abbey will be handed over to Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust (DAPT), which will continue raising funds for further work.

DAPT community engagement officer Vikki Pearson said: “Watching the restoration of these spaces progress is incredibly exciting and the trust can’t wait to start to develop these spaces and dress them so that we can share Delapre’s many stories with our visitors.”

The new video, compiled by Robert Woodhead Heritage and released on Youtube shows work being carried out in the drawing room, where conservationists are restoring a fresco ceiling depicting a variety of exotic and domestic animals, as well as several members of the Bouverie family who once owned the abbey.

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Jonathan Platt, head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “I’m sure that everyone in Northampton will share our excitement at the unveiling of these impressive architectural features.

“It’s great to see the difference National Lottery players’ money is making and we look forward to the day this precious building is opened up to the public for the first time.”