Newstead Abbey: Lord Byron's former home receives £100,000 in repairs

More than £100,000 has been allocated to fund repairs at Newstead Abbey.

The site, owned by Nottingham City Council, has been listed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register since 2004.

At this former home of poet Lord Byron, funding from Historic England is being used for roof and masonry repairs, as well as assessing the need for future restoration projects.

Newstead Abbey was founded in 1170 by Henry II as an Augustinian priory as penance for the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett, and was inherited by John Byron, who fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War.

In 1808 it became the home of the 6th Baron Byron, better known as the poet Lord Byron, who lived there until 1814, and in 1931 it was donated by philanthropist Sir Julien Cahn to Nottingham Corporation – the city council's predecessor.

Deborah Williams, Historic England regional director for the Midlands, said: “Byron is one of England’s greatest poets and Newstead is one of England’s greatest historic houses.”

“That’s why we have been working with Nottingham City Council since 2018 to secure the future of this great place and ensure that it continues to enable people to discover and enjoy Byron’s beautiful poetry and Newstead’s wonderful architecture for many years to come.”

Michelle Welsh, MP for Sherwood Forest, said the latest funding award was “fantastic news for our region”.

“It will help preserve the abbey for future generations and ensure more people can come and enjoy its beauty and heritage,” she said.