Bolton Abbey Estate, North Yorkshire

Site Sensitivities: Listed Building / Scheduled Ancient Monument

The Devonshires own many estates throughout the UK, including the Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire.

The site is a mixture of ancient ruins, converted buildings in domestic properties and a number of facilitators such as tea rooms, a hotel, church, community space and even a book shop.

The Estate allows visitors access to the ruins every day with multiple areas to park and explore. Much of the site is focused on the Abbey ruins and the river running through the Estate. However, the wider site encapsulates many architectural curiosities.

These include the old chimney - the remaining relic of the old infirmary - and the aqueduct that crosses the road and once serviced the mill. Other points of interest include the many boundary walls of varying ages and the converted gatehouse, which is now luxury accommodation.

Commission 

Shaw & Jagger Architects was commissioned to undertake a series of condition surveys and a schedule of repairs for the following ruins:

- the ruined Abbey

- boundary walls 

- Barden Tower and its northern ruins 

- the aqueduct

- the old chimney 

The first task was to complete a detailed risk assessment. One of the recommendations was to have the Estate clear extensive vegetation from the site which enabled us to get better and safer access.

As part of the project, we also recommended a detailed photogrammetry survey and measured survey. This would provide a good record of the structures at the time of survey and provide an excellent baseline for monitoring condition over time to inform a repair schedule.

Status: Ongoing