Historic Buildings

Lesnes 500

Bexley Council would like to mark the 500th Anniversary of the dissolution of Lesnes Abbey, one of the first religious houses to be dissolved by Cardinal Wolsey. This anniversary provides a unique opportunity to promote the historical significance of this site, through partnership community events and legacy programmes. Activities will range from; local schools learning about the history of the abbey, creating large historical banners to parade and gather at the abbey cloisters to see a specially commissioned play; devising a Woodland Festival to celebrate our ancient woods with a focus on heritage crafts, through to organising a community archaeological dig. A new medieval inspired herb garden will be created as a fragrant legacy, along with conservation work to safeguard the abbey. Volunteers will be trained in biological recording, records to be published in a new British Woodlands book and used to help manage the site for future generations.