Fr Wulstan at Heritage Open Day launch

The Abbey is participating in the national Heritage Open Days scheme this September, under which properties belonging to governmental, charitable and private owners offer free access to properties which are usually closed to the public or charge for admission, to celebrate England’s fantastic architecture and culture. It is a once a year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures.

All the Herefordshire buildings participating in this year’s Heritage Open Days joined in the Press Launch at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre on Wednesday 27th August. Belmont Abbey was represented by Fr Wulstan, seen above accompanied by a former soldier dressed in historic Herefordshire Light Infantry uniform, His Worship the Mayor of Hereford and a representative from the Coningsby Hospital (whose uniform the Chelsea Pensioners reputedly copied); and, below, standing in front of a display on the Abbey and the plans for the restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of Herefordshire Council.