£7.137m National Lottery Grant Moves Abbey Project Ahead

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, West Suffolk Council and English Heritage, project partners of The Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn have announced a £7.137m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, contributing to a total project of £9.83m.

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 being celebrated as a martyr and a saint. Edmund’s shrine made the Abbey one of England’s most popular destinations for pilgrims.

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn project reunifies the fragmented 60-acre Abbey of St Edmund site, creating a coherent, accessible and sustainable ‘place making’ cultural destination. Elements of the project include:

• Medieval Abbey ruins will be conserved securing their long-term sustainable future, whilst a Visitor Centre and West Cloister will 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, strengthening understanding of the site’s national significance.
• An activity plan will deliver 47 coordinated community activities, 200 volunteering 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.
• A successor CIO will ensure strong resilient governance, securing 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 millennia 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.”

Led by a partnership of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, English Heritage and West Suffolk Council (the project partners) have come together as members of The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership (comprising 29 organisations and individuals who care about the Abbey) to develop and deliver this project.