Warden Abbey
Warden Abbey
Client: Landmark Trust
Services:
Brickwork
Lime Mortar
Skills Coaching
A major conservation project for a rare Grade 1 Schedule Ancient Monument, requiring high level brick conservation, repairs and rebuilding major features of the property. Brickwork and pointing had suffered considerable erosion, losing a lot of decorative features, including a barley twist chimney requiring considerable work.
Funded through a Covid Recovery Grant (through Historic England’s partnership) the project required a shortened lead time of only 9 weeks, to meet financial deadlines to secure the grant.
A Covid Recovery grant deadline required the entire project to be completed in just 9 weeks
Landmark Trust anointed Mathias as principal contractor and project lead, including all liabilities, health & Safety protocol, and all logistical delivery. The team was also joined by a Princes Foundation placement, to provide experience in historic brick conservation.
Project restored much of the high-level brickwork, including the decorative chimney, using rubbing brick to restore decorative features and highly finessed joinery.
The decorative chimney was repaired using rubbing brick to restore decorative features and finessed joinery
Project Gallery
About Warden Abbey
Warden Abbey, located in the village of Old Warden in Bedfordshire, England, holds a rich history spanning eight centuries. Originally founded as a Cistercian abbey in 1135 by the Countess of Warwick, it served as a haven for monks seeking solace and spiritual enlightenment. The abbey flourished throughout the medieval period, becoming renowned for its agricultural leadership and vast estates, stretching several counties. However, like many monastic institutions during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, Warden Abbey fell victim and was left abandoned and the estate being sold off.
Under new ownership, most of the estate buildings were demolished in 1552, selling on a lot of the remains for materials, and constructing a new red brick mansion under the name of Warden Abbey House. By 1790, most of the Abbey was pulled down by its new owners, the Whitbreads, leaving the north-east wing, which stands today. Rescued in 1974, by the Landmark Trust, the building has been beautifully restored for public access, exclusively through Landmark Trust holiday rentals.