The Almonry Restoration Project

The Almonry needs your help.  After 600 years, the building is in desperate need of repair and restoration.  The timber frame is failing, the stonework needs attention and the roof needs replacing; in short, we must save this building.

In 2016, Historic England placed the Almonry on the Heritage At Risk Register. The register helps to identify buildings that are at risk of being lost. You can read our listing on the Heritage At Risk Register on the Historic England website.

Since 2016 we have had a wide range of surveys and tests carried out on the building from structural survey to dendrochronology and even paint analysis to identify the age of the paint on the internal timbers.

All the surveys came to the same conclusion, we need to act now to save this wonderful building.

What’s the plan?

The plan is to carry out a 2-phase project.  Phase 1 will see the repair and restoration of the Almonry building.  We will fix the timber frame, repair the walls, and replace the roof; we will install new rainwater goods, fix the windows, repoint the stonework and remove internal modern C20th stud walling that hides the beauty of the building.  Alongside this we will be installing new energy efficient lighting and heating to make the space warmer, more welcoming and more sustainable. 

In Phase 2 will bring about the refurbishment of the museum, and the remodelling of the shop and the Tourist Information Centre.  We will improve access to the building where possible and re-interpret our beautiful garden. The origins and heart of the Almonry lies in caring, giving and supporting others.  We believe the future of the Almonry lies within this ethos.  Working together, new displays will be created, and new stories will be told.  There will be spaces for our communities to come together and share their stories.  You will be actively involved in co-curating these new spaces, in telling your stories and creating new experiences.  It is our belief that this is your museum, and you are essential to its future and achieving this aim.

But we can’t do this alone.  Phase 1 alone has been costed at over £2m.  Your help is needed to save this building and museum.  We are applying for major funding grants and we have been successful in securing support funding to develop the project but there is a long way to go.

Where are we now?

In February 2024 we undertook more research to roofs and plaster infill panels, firstly to look at the condition in more detail and to investigate what materials had been used where. The surveys were a success but it was clear that 2 of our roof slopes were in really bad condition and work needed to be carried out as soon as possible. More fundraising was needed to secure the grants to get this emergency work completed.

Working with a heritage roofing specialist, the 2 roofs were stripped and a temporary cover of ‘wriggly tin’ was put in place to keep the building weathertight. It’s not pretty but it’s dry! Where we can, we have salvaged the roof slates so they can be reused during the main restoration project.

In March 2024 we received the news that we had secured a grant of £2.1m from Arts Council England through the Museum Estate and Development Fund for the Restoration Project. We are in the process of getting the project team together and we’ll bring you news of the project as we progress. We are also preparing a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for funding for Phase 2 of the project.

Photograph showing scaffolding against the Almonry with a roofer preparing to take the slates off the roof.
Photograph showing Almonry roof with a section of Cotswold Stone slates removed in a vertical strip
Photograph showing the roof timbers after the roof slates have been removed
Photogrpah of the back of the Almonry showing the temporary tin roof and a pile of roof slates on the floor
Photograph showing a Cotswold Stone roof slate with the peg hole at the top

Above: Photos of the roof stripping in progress. Left to Right: 1) One of the roofing specialists preparing to strip the roof 2) The roof was stripped in sections, making it easy to cover first in protective sheeting before replacing with the wriggly tin. 3) This is the internal roof structure at the front of the Almonry 4) The wriggly tin being put in place above the pile of salvaged slates 5) This is one of our roof slates. Can you see the peg hole at the top? The wooden peg holds the slate on the battens, some of the slates can weigh as much as 7kg!

Over to You! How can you help?

You can go shopping!  The Almonry is on Easy Fundraising, sign up and select the Almonry as your good cause.  We earn money for the online shopping you do, and it doesn’t cost you a penny!

Download the app, sign up at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ or scan the QR code and follow the link.  Don’t forget to download the browser extension to remind you to use the Easy Fundraising every time you shop.

You can donate in person at the Almonry or via this link or click the green button.

You can hold a fundraiser or get sponsored to do something different like our pilgrims did! If you have any suggestions or if you would like to organise a fundraiser for us, please get in touch with the Almonry Manager ashleigh@eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk

You can sing it from the rooftops! Please share our story.  We understand that not everyone can help us financially, but you can share our story and let people know that we need their help. 

We are grateful to have received funding from Arts Council England Museum Estate and Development Fund for the Almonry Restoration Project and from Wychavon District Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund and from Historic England for the Enabling Works 2024.