THIS month marks 100 years since Shaftesbury Abbey was designated a Scheduled Monument, preserving Shaftesbury’s unique heritage site.

Scheduled Monument status is the oldest form of heritage protection and is given to nationally important archaeological sited or historic buildings in the UK.

Scheduling began in 1913, although its roots go as far back as the 1882 Ancient Monuments Protection Act, when a ‘Schedule’ of prehistoric monuments deserving of state protection was first compiled.

Shaftesbury Abbey joined the list on October 15, 1924 so that it would be preserved and protected for the future.

Residents at that time had been concerned that the site was neglected and might be built on.

Today, it welcomes over 30,000 visitors a year and is looked after by the Shaftesbury Abbey and Museum Preservation Trust, a small, volunteer-led charity.

To mark the occasion a digital time capsule is being launched that will be packed with 100 memories to capture the events and people at the Abbey since 1924.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “Over the course of the year, we aim to collect one hundred entries – memories, significant events, celebrations and thank you’s to people who have made a difference to the Abbey over time, including our volunteers and sponsors.

“Everyone is welcome to take part so please contact us with any thoughts, suggestions or memories of your own about Shaftesbury Abbey.

“Have you performed here in a play or festival? Did you discover a find during excavations in 2019?

“Did you walk the St Edward the Martyr’s Pilgrimage in 1979? Or were you here when the Vikings invaded Shaftesbury in 1949?

“We will be highlighting noteworthy events and happenings from the last one hundred years on our website and social media, plus interviews with This Is Alfred Radio, with archive films links and press cuttings, images and reminiscences.

“We would love to hear your stories about Shaftesbury Abbey to add them to our time-capsule, so please get in touch.”

To get in touch, email office@shaftesburyabbey.org.uk