Client:

The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

Project Outline:

Restoration and Renewal Project

The Abbey is a beautiful Grade 1 listed medieval building, located in the historic village of Sutton Courtenay, near Oxford. The Abbey was built in the early thirteenth century as an administrative centre for the great Benedictine Abbey of Abingdon. It soon passed into the hands of the Courtenay family, Lords of the Manor of Sutton, and over the next two centuries it developed its present charming courtyard form. Its acquisition by the Dean and Chapter of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1485 guaranteed its survival until 1900, when it passed into private ownership.

The present charity, called The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay (ASC), rescued the house from a property developer in 1980. The small resident community now seeks to return the place to its early roots as a space for spiritual and practical work, reflection and social witness.

The Clarkson Alliance were appointed in November 2006, following a competitive tender process, as Project Managers to manage the Stage 2 application to the HLF for a first class restoration programme to secure the fabric of the Abbey and upgrade its facilities to meet modern expectations of safety, efficiency, comfort and accessibility.

The Abbey operates as a facility for
o holding public events
o running courses, meetings and workshops, both residential and non-residential
o running educational courses and retreats
o offering the opportunity for practical work in community life
o providing a setting for the exploration of truth
o preparing people for active engagement with the world.

In 2004 the Management Committee of The Abbey Sutton Courtenay identified the need for substantial investment in the Abbey buildings and related structures and for works on its estate. The need was caused by a combination of:

The serious deterioration of major elements of the structure of The Abbey itself, a Grade 1 listed building.

Requirements of the Disability Access Act (DAA) which require significant changes to access routes in the Abbey and the Residential block.

Changes in Fire Safety Regulations, requiring upgraded fire safety measures to be implemented.

The enhanced expectations of venues in the 21st century, of visitors and groups using the Abbey.

Following detailed professional advice and surveys, a schedule of necessary works was agreed by ASC and proposed to the HLF (Heritage Lottery Fund). After detailed discussions, HLF offered £200,000 for development costs, contingent upon SCA providing £55,000, and also offered £1.8 million contingent upon SCA providing matched funding of £1.5 million.

The Clarkson Alliance were appointed with the responsibility of putting the HLF stage 2 bid together.

The Stage 2 Bid consisted of
Detailed plans and specification for the works developed to RIBA Stage E.
A Conservation Management Plan, augmented in line with the advice given during the Stage One assessment.
Access and Learning Proposals
A Business Plan
Application for Listed Building Consents and Planning Consents
A detailed Cost Plan for the project

The Stage 2 application was submitted to the HLF in April 2008 and we are awaiting the outcome of the HLF Committee decision.

Budget: £3,347,000

Project Manager: Julian Bullen