St Edmundsbury Cathedral has announced a £7.137m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project – a partnership project with English Heritage and West Suffolk Council.
Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn awarded £7.137m delivery grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project will reunify the fragmented 60-acre Abbey of St Edmund site, creating a coherent, accessible and sustainable cultural destination for local communities and visitors.
The Abbey of St Edmund was once one of England’s greatest monasteries. It is named after Edmund, a Saxon king of East Anglia who was killed by Danish raiders in 869. Within a generation, Edmund was celebrated as a martyr and saint, and his shrine made the Abbey one of England’s most popular destinations for pilgrims.
The project will conserve the medieval Abbey ruins, secure their long-term sustainable future, and create a Visitor Centre and West Cloister to provide orientation, interpretation and flexible community space.
A 1.4km accessible circular route will support mobility, sensory and cognitive needs, physically and visually reconnecting the Abbey ruins, Cathedral and historic town, and strengthening understanding of the site’s national significance.
An activity plan will deliver 47 coordinated community activities, 200 volunteering opportunities and 21 training opportunities across 19 roles, two apprenticeships and five funded staff posts, in collaboration with 29 local organisations spanning heritage, biodiversity, archaeology and the creative sectors.
Biodiversity enhancements along the rare chalk stream Rivers Lark and Linnet will enrich the historic landscape, while a successor CIO will ensure strong, resilient governance and secure a free-to-enter destination with lasting cultural, educational, environmental and social impact.
The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said:
“We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. So much hard work has gone into the project to get to this stage and thanks to National Lottery players, we can now realise the exciting plans we have for the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn with building works commencing from Spring 2027. This will be a landmark project for Suffolk.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to support the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn partnership project, which aims to reunify this historic site and secure its future as a cultural destination.
“Heritage has a powerful role to play in bringing communities together to celebrate and preserve the past, while also driving regeneration, supporting nature recovery and creating opportunities to be part of the story. This project will strengthen people’s connection with the Abbey, the Cathedral, the town and the surrounding landscape, creating a more accessible and welcoming place that everyone can enjoy, shape and take pride in for generations to come.”
Kate Logan, English Heritage’s Operations, Experience and Engagement Director, said:
“This is quite simply, brilliant news and we’d like to thank the Heritage Fund for this game-changing grant for Bury St Edmunds.
“This major project will better knit together the Cathedral, the Abbey and the town. It will also see the Abbey ruins getting the tender loving care they deserve through an in-depth conservation programme. Finally, it will involve the community in these much-loved, local landmarks, breathing new life into them.
“The success of this bid demonstrates the power of partnership, bringing together the Cathedral, West Suffolk Council, English Heritage and local communities behind a shared ambition to reconnect, conserve and celebrate one of England’s most important historic places.”
Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at West Suffolk Council, said:
“This is great news for everyone who loves this wonderful part of West Suffolk and its place in our history, heritage and culture.
“This funding announcement comes at a time when we are exploring the cult and mythology of Saint Edmund at Moyse’s Hall Museum and the story that shaped our town and identity a millennium ago.
“Now, thanks to the fantastic support of the Heritage Fund and the work led by the partners, the Abbey will be reborn, helping more people better understand the former Abbey site, preserving the ruins for years to come, and making other improvements to aid the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.”
The £9.83m project is led by a partnership of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, English Heritage and West Suffolk Council, who have come together as members of The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership. The Partnership comprises 29 organisations and individuals who care about the Abbey and are working together to develop and deliver the project.
