Historic Buildings

Newstead Abbey: Sussex Tower Programme of Urgent Repairs

Newstead Abbey is internationally significant for its association with poet Lord Byron and as a site of immense historical and architectural importance. Built on the site of the former Augustinian Abbey it retains the original medieval cloisters and façade of the old priory church from 1274. Gifted to Nottingham City Museums (NCM) in 1931 it has operated as a museum since home to NCM’s house, costume, textile and Designated lace collections. The Abbey is on the Heritage at Risk Register due to its poor condition. Roofs, life expired over a decade ago, means long-term ingress has deteriorated the building to the extent that propping of internal public areas has become necessary due to the danger of ceilings collapsing. A priority area of the Abbey that needs re-roofing is the Sussex Tower which houses a redundant water tank. The tower is in serious risk of both the roof and ceilings collapsing.