What’s happening?
30 years ago
Thirty years ago the Abbey was going to close. This prompted the formation of the Friends of Dore Abbey and the main roof was replaced with a grant from English Heritage.
Dore Abbey is on Historic England’s buildings ‘At Risk’ register due to the poor and deteriorating state of some of the sections of the roof and the fact that it is beyond the capacity of the small parish of Abbeydore to maintain a building of this size and national importance.
Ongoing repairs and projects
In 2025, we updated our sound system, repaired a corbel post in the south transept with an innovative stainless steel box (someone will get a surprise in 100 years time!), put in a motion sensor lamp so visitors can see the Abbey even on dull days, had ground penetrating radar to discover more about the old monastery buildings and begun the process needed to install a compost loo.
This year, we are pressing on with the compost loo project. Ground penetrating radar and test pits near the west lychgate where we’re planning on siting the loo, have not revealed anything… the archaeologists were disappointed but we are delighted! There are plans to carry out conservation work with the Minstrels gallery and this will include dendro-dating as there is the suggestion that it may be older than generally thought! We are waiting for the results of the ground penetrating radar carried out to the east and north of the Abbey, including the Chapter House… was it really 12 sided as always shown, which would be unique in a Cistercian abbey in England? We have met with a wall painting conservator. Meanwhile there are numerous small repairs needed, some urgent. An inventory of the stone collection currently stored in the east ambulatory has recently surfaced, and a feasibility study on the relocation, display or storage of the stones is planned.
The tower roof repairs were completed in 2023 and has been such a success, we’ve doubled our bat population! The next major repairs will be the north and south ambulatory roofs, which are leaking and then the internal plaster can be restored.
Support today
Please consider how you can best ensure that the Abbey remains special for future generations - not a roofless monument in the care of Historic England but a living, breathing place filled with worship, music and song, poetry and prose, people and laughter. We are a sparsely populated hamlet and surrounding farming community and are very grateful for the support given by many people.
Consider giving a monthly donation via the Parish Giving Scheme, more details on Funding page or a one off donation with Just Giving via the Support Dore Abbey tabs or become a member of the Friends of Dore Abbey. Visit their page for details and the membership form.
