History buffs and Shaftesbury lovers are being invited to watch Shaftesbury Abbey – The Movie online on Saturday, March 27.


In 2019 excavations were carried out in the abbey as part of the SAVED project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The dig explored parts of the great Abbey church and revealed some amazing finds.
The dig was filmed and Shaftesbury Abbey – The Movie was created, with plans for it to be shown at the Arts Centre in last year, but the pandemic meant these were cancelled.

The decision has now been made to showcase the film online, with the proceeds helping to fund ongoing work to the abbey. These works include some unexpected repair work to the crypt. Last summer the east wall of this below- ground structure bulged and then collapsed – fortunately while the gardens were closed. After some propping up of the remaining walls, archaeologist Julian Richards, who led the earlier excavations, has been investigating the collapse.

As with other parts of the abbey where restoration has already been carried out, investigations to distinguish original medieval stonework from 20th century rebuilds have been taking place and has found the crypt was originally built by medieval masons, but perhaps not as sturdily as the team might have expected.

To watch this fascinating film on Saturday, March 27, go to: shaftesburyabbey.org.uk.
 The abbey gardens will be open free to the public from the April 12 and it is hoped the museum will open on May 17.

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