Alistair Hardaker
Image: Newstead Abbey © Historic England Archive
Former home of Lord Byron to undergo roofing and stonework repairs with funding from Historic England as part of conservation partnership.
Historic England has awarded a £103,000 grant to Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire for essential roofing and stonework repairs. The funding will also support project development work, including feasibility studies to inform future funding bids.
The grant represents the latest stage of a partnership between Historic England and Nottingham City Council Museum Service that has run since 2018. During this period, Historic England has provided advice and funded surveys and repairs, including works on masonry for the main building and the cannon fort. Total grants to Newstead Abbey now exceed £260,000 since 2018.
The site has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register since 2004. Newstead Abbey was the former home of George Gordon Byron, the 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale, known as Lord Byron, who lived there between 1808 and 1814.
Deborah Williams, regional director (Midlands) at Historic England, said: “Byron is one of England’s greatest poets and Newstead is one of England’s greatest historic houses. That’s why we’ve been working with Nottingham City Council since 2018 to secure the future of this magnificent site, ensuring it lives on allowing people discover and enjoy Byron’s beautiful poetry and Newstead’s wonderful architecture for many years to come.”
Newstead was originally founded as an Augustinian priory by King Henry II in 1170. It was surrendered to King Henry VIII in 1539 during the dissolution of the monasteries and subsequently converted to a country house. In 1931, philanthropist Sir Julien Cahn gifted Newstead to Nottingham Corporation. Nottingham City Council owns the property today.
