Historic Buildings

Treasures of Blanchland: conserving and sharing our medieval Abbey village

Blanchland rises from C12 Abbey foundations, nestled within glorious countryside, its tenacious community telling centuries of stories. The Grade1 Abbey church is core for residents and visitors: they seek authenticity, solace, beauty, and connection here. Yet Blanchland’s Treasures aren’t accessible, are decaying and most are unstudied: Inundations overwhelm the Abbey’s gutters and drains, rotting roof timbers and mouldering walls and floor. C17 ironwork rusts, C15 embroidery mildews, C18 books disintegrate, Woodworm threatens Tudor carvings. C15 stained glass monks in storage. Edward III’s campground lies undiscovered. Jacobite escapades languish untold. Steps, no facilities, and frigid temperatures limit participation inside the Abbey. Monastic infirmary and fishponds? Merely marked on old maps. Safeguarding these Treasures through repairs, research and warm accessibility, we will orientate the Abbey to share memorable experiences of this deep history. Our legacy will be the whetted curiosity of thoughtful visitors and a heartened community, both sustaining this venerable place.