Member Article

Patrick Parsons secure Hexham Abbey restoration project

An iconic landmark of the Northumbrian market town, Hexham Abbey dates back to AD 674 and played a significant role in the history of early Christianity. The original saxon crypt is one of the only examples still intact today.

After securing £1.8 million of lottery funding, the Abbey was recently able to reacquire the adjoining Carnaby and Court buildings, lost during the ravages of the reformation almost 500 years ago. The buildings were used as council offices for many years but are now in disrepair and in serious need of renovation work due to long-term water ingress and dilapidation.

An ambitious £5 million project will see public access restored to several buildings in the Abbey’s claustral range, including the restoration and refurbishment of the Carnaby and Court buildings and the 13th Century Monastic Workshop to create a visitor centre.

With work scheduled to begin on site in Spring 2013, Patrick Parsons is already engaged in providing extensive consultation work. Acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading conservation engineers,Patrick Parsons has a track record of working on prestigious heritage projects. Their portfolio includes several World Heritage Sites including Durham Cathedral, Saltaire and Fountains Abbey along with numerous scheduled ancient monuments and listed buildings.

At Hexham Abbey, Patrick Parsons is involved in providing extensive engineering services and conservation expertise, including advising on alteration works, repairs to the roofs due to long-term rainwater ingress and providing structural advice on the demolition of internal walls. The Patrick Parsons team are working closely with architects Purcell on the creation of several new-build elements to the project, designed to give the visitor centre a light, spacious and inviting aesthetic. These include an enclosed timber and glazed porch and a glazed courtyard area with a dramatic glulam (laminated timber) staircase.

The creation of the new porch is also significant as it will fundamentally change the way the public experience the Abbey. The Abbey is currently approached by the South Transept but the new porch will enable visitors to enter through the west end of the nave, as originally intended when the Abbey was first built.

Designed to provide state-of-the-art facilities including educational areas, exhibition space, a cafe and areas for research and study, the visitor centre is expected to be a significant draw, bringing in visitors from outside the locality as well as providing an excellent resource for the local community.

Speaking of the project, Mark Turner, Director and heritage expert at Patrick Parsons said “It’s a privilege to be involved in such a landmark project for Hexham Abbey. It encompasses restoration and regeneration in equal measure; reuniting the Carnaby and Court buildings with the Abbey and giving them a new and dynamic purpose through the creation of the visitor centre. Professionally the work is both fascinating and challenging and we’re delighted to be involved in such a pivotal moment in the Abbey’s history.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Kingston .