Hexham Abbey

Overview and Introduction 

Centre

REVEALING THE PAST - ENRICHING THE FUTURE
a proposal for the new Hexham Abbey Centre

In 1537 Henry VIII ordered Edward Jay, the last Abbot of Hexham, to be hanged from the gateway of his own abbey.

The unfortunate abbot had opposed the king’s plans to dissolve England’s monasteries and, with his execution, ten centuries of monastic tradition in Tynedale came to an end.

For almost a thousand years Hexham’s ancient Abbey had provided the people of Tynedale with a place of worship, a hospital, a school, a meeting place, a hostel for pilgrims and a refuge in time of war.

Now, for the first time since Henry VIII’s Reformation of the English Church, there is a unique opportunity to recreate the Abbey’s original combination of spiritual and secular roles - by building a new Hexham Abbey Centre.

The Hexham Abbey Centre
Though the Abbey’s church was retained as Hexham’s parish church, Henry VIII gave Hexham Abbey’s monastic buildings to a Tudor nobleman named Sir Reynold Carnaby and these buildings have remained outside the Abbey’s use for nearly 500 years.

This lack of space has meant Hexham Abbey has long been unable to develop many of its essential roles to their full potential.
As a matter of urgency Hexham Abbey is in desperate need of:

• Permanent meeting spaces - both for religious groups and secular community activities.
• Exhibition spaces - to display the Abbey’s wealth of historical treasures in their proper context and provide space for modern displays.
• Interpretation spaces - to present the Abbey’s long and fascinating history more clearly, to both local people and visitors.
• Educational areas - where people of all ages can study both the historical and cultural significance of the Abbey in more detail and explore contemporary social issues.
• Essential amenities - such as toilets, kitchen and refreshment facilities.

The Hexham Abbey Centre will satisfy these needs by restoring the principle monastic buildings to the Abbey.

The Proposals
The proposed Hexham Abbey Centre will create new and exciting spaces suitable for 21st Century needs but not at the expense of the existing medieval architecture. The new buildings will be designed to blend seamlessly with the old and will open more of the original Abbey to the public than is currently accessible.

The main work will be an innovative recreation of Hexham Abbey’s original cloister. The current plans propose:

• Creating covered walkways around the perimeter, whilst preserving the open lawn in the centre as space for performance, exhibitions and events.
• Using the covered cloister areas to house education and exhibition spaces and an extension to the Abbey shop.
• Restoring the principal monastic buildings to the west and returning them to public use, providing a range of spaces for meetings, exhibitions, interpretation and education and include the provision of much needed toilet facilities.
• Providing a kitchen and refreshment areas for use by members of the public, the congregation and the Abbey staff.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to prepare Hexham’s ancient Abbey for a modern and meaningful future.

"THIS IS A RARE CHANCE TO EXPAND AND BROADEN THE WORK OF HEXHAM ABBEY. THE NEW CENTRE WILL PROVIDE AN EXHIBITION AREA AND CONCERT SPACE AS WELL AS A REFECTORY, EDUCATION AND MEETING ROOMS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE VITAL TO PROVIDE A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS, WIDER COMMUNITY AND CONGREGATION."

The Revd Canon Graham Usher, Rector of Hexham