A TEAM working to promote a historic Furness attraction are looking to attract more tourists to the area.

Members of the Furness Abbey Fellowship, along with help from English Heritage, have been part of the efforts to raise the profile and protect the structure of Furness Abbey in Barrow.


HERITAGE: Furness Abbey Fellowship chairman Gill Jepson. PICTURES BY JON GRANGER Gill Jepson, chairwoman of the Furness Abbey Fellowship, said: "The more awareness we raise, then the more people can see what is going on at the abbey.

"We are looking to develop further and reach out to attract extra visitors.

"We really want to bring back the importance of Furness Abbey and it is an important part of national history."

The Furness Abbey Fellowship has recently expanded, adding more members, and they are aiming to engage with local schools and colleges to raise awareness of the abbey's significance.

At a lecture earlier this month in Barrow, Dr Mark Douglas, of English Heritage, outlined the situation on the work to protect the structure of the abbey.
JOIN US: Furness Abbey Fellowship member Paul Littlewood with the organisation's membership leaflet. PICTURES BY JON GRANGER

English Heritage has been working on protecting the abbey since 2008, at an estimated cost of around £2m.

At the lecture, Dr Douglas said: "The walls of the presbytery areas of the abbey were moving in the wind.

"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." 

Furness Abbey will be hosting its Easter Extravaganza next month on Sunday, March 27 at 10.30am.

This will include an Easter egg hunt, decorated egg competitions, bunny hopping and a number of stalls for people to enjoy.

On May 29, the abbey will host the Heritage Hobble at 1pm. This will involve a fun walk around the four-mile Greenway loop, and all members of the family and pets are invited to attend.

There will also be a prize for whoever turns up in the best heritage costume. Costume is optional and entry will be £5 for families and £2 for individuals.

Furness Abbey factfile

  • Furness Abbey was founded in early 1127 by Stephen, Count of Blois, it was built originally for the Order of Savigny, entirely out of local sandstone;
  • The Cistercian monks took over the abbey in 1147 and gradually enlarged and rebuilt the original ornate church;
    An artist's impression of how Furness Abbey might have looked in its prime.
  • By the 15th century, it had become the second richest and most powerful Cistercian abbey in the UK, behind Fountains Abbey, and been completely re-modelled;
  • The monks from the abbey were heavily influential on the Isle of Man. One of the kings of Mann and the Isles is buried at the abbey, as are many of the bishops of Sodor and Man. Rushen Abbey, on the island, was built on land owned by the monks;
  • In 2010 the remains of a medieval abbot were discovered with a silver-gilt crosier and gemstone ring.
  • The monks also owned mines on the island and built Piel Castle to control trade between the Furness peninsula and the Isle of Man;
  • The monks occasionally found themselves in between the regularly warring Scots and English. When Robert the Bruce invaded England, the abbot paid a ransom to the Scots king and entertained him in his own lodgings rather than trying to defend the abbey and its property;
  • The abbey was disestablished and destroyed in 1537 during the English Reformation under the order of Henry VIII.