Historic Buildings

Cookham Abbey Connects

Cookham Abbey is the 'lost' Anglo-Saxon royal monastery forgotten for 1,200 years, ruled by Mercian Queen Cynethryth and set in the sacred landscape of the Middle Thames. 'Cookham Abbey Connects' is a new year-round engagement project responding to local and national interest in the dig. Partners University of Reading (UoR) and Friends of Cookham Abbey (FCA) will increase heritage interpretation and conservation, co-create new learning opportunities and link communities representing the vibrant mix of cultures and faiths locally to the spiritual sites of the middle Thames region. Cookham Abbey's rich archaeology will be the catalyst for engagement. With three month-long annual digs confirmed, we will capitalise on the momentum of each dig to enable hundreds more people from diverse backgrounds to participate year-round, sharing the region's fascinating heritage in exciting, relevant and accessible ways. We'll embed understanding about this sacred landscape across our communities and build a sustainable, UK-wide legacy.