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."

How much do you know about Furness Abbey?
Following the lecture on the future of Furness Abbey, why not test your knowledge on what is considered to be one of South Cumbria's greatest assets?


What year was Furness Abbey founded (at Furness) and by whom?
1127 King Stephen I
1130 Empress Matilda
1100 Henry I
Where did the original 12 monks come from?
York
Savigny le Vieux in France
Avignon in France
What colour habits did the monks wear at Furness Abbey?
Burgundy with white cowl and scapula
White with black cowl and scapula
Red and black
What was discovered at Furness Abbey in 2010?
Bronze Age weapons and tools
A Viking hoard
A skeleton of an abbot with a crosier and ring
Which King did the abbot wine and dine at Dalton in 1324?
Robert the Bruce
David II
Alexander II