Frederick Hervey, Marquess of Bristol, backs The Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn. The £730k project enhances Abbey Gardens.
Frederick Hervey is the patron and he’s the Marquess of Bristol. The project’s name changed to The Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund gave about £729,553. They want to fix the Abbey Gardens ruins, build a visitor centre, and plan a cloister at the Cathedral. Footpaths are also part of the plan, and they will use digital tech to tell stories for all ages.
The Hervey family used to own the Abbey Gardens. Then, the borough council took over. Now it is West Suffolk Council that owns it.
The Marquess loves the Abbey Gardens and likes the visitor centre idea because it connects to the town. He wants peace in the gardens and feels linked to the Abbey since his title is very old, almost as old as the Abbey itself.
The Cathedral got support in April from West Suffolk Council and English Heritage. The National Lottery Heritage Fund offered support initially.
The project needs more money, and a decision on £6.7 million is coming. The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership helps, and twenty-nine groups preserve the ruins and help with the project.
Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, is happy about the patron and hopes for a good partnership. They want to deliver a good project for the people of Suffolk.