SCAFFOLDING at one of the most famous landmarks in Furness will remain for the next few years, it has been revealed.
The news came as members were given an insight into the ongoing work to protect a historical attraction, which has cost English Heritage around £2m since 2008.
Dr Mark Douglas, of English Heritage, detailed work at the abbey at a lecture called "A Concrete Solution To A Medieval Problem - Saving Furness Abbey", which took place at The Forum in Barrow on Wednesday night.
Dr Douglas said that the work on the abbey started after concerns that sections of the attraction could have been prone to collapse.
He said: "All any ruin wants to do when walls, windows and the roof are removed is to fall over.
"Cracking in the wall of the presbytery area of the monastery was discovered in 2008 by a man doing a tour dressed as a monk."
Since then, English Heritage have gone through many complicated engineering and archaeological procedures to keep parts of the abbey in position.
One of the main concerns was regarding the structure of the presbytery area.
Dr Douglas added: "The walls of the presbytery areas were moving in the wind.
"We said to forget about underpinning it, we just wanted to stop it falling over."
As part of the scaffolding, a frame was fitted in the past to help keep the walls in position.
Since 2008, the work that English Heritage has undertaken has cost them around £2m.
Dr Douglas also said that the scaffolding currently around the abbey walls is set to be in place for the next few years, but that the work that has been done has improved the condition of the abbey.
He added: "Thankfully the walls have stopped moving right now, which is good news.
"However, it is something we will be keeping an eye on for the future to make sure the situation continues to improve."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here