Works starts on Kilwinning Abbey makeover

Glasgow-based CBC Stone is carrying out the £435,000 fabric improvements on Kilwinning Abbey, with work expected to take a number of months.

The works will preserve its heritage and enhance the experience for locals and tourists who visit and are essential to ensure its long-term conservation. These include building fabric repairs and improvements that will ensure water ingress is prevented.

Lost features will also be reinstated, and a range of other improvements will be carried out to preserve the asset and enhance the visitor experience throughout the building.

The restoration works at Kilwinning Abbey Tower are being supported through a blend of investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, Crown Estate Scotland and North Ayrshire Council, maximising external funding to safeguard and preserve this important heritage asset for future generations.

Kilwinning Abbey Tower was built in 1816 on the site of one of the original medieval towers that were part of Kilwinning Abbey. It still contains the original clock mechanism from 1816.

Conservation architect Wylie Shanks Architects prepared the tender information with input from North Ayrshire Council and Kilwinning Heritage, and CBC Stone were appointed to undertake the fabric improvements.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “Due to the complexity of the works it has taken a lot of effort to reach this stage and we are delighted that CBC Stone are now on site. We are really excited to see works progress over the coming weeks and months.

“The Abbey is a source of great pride for the community and the whole of North Ayrshire, due to its cultural and historic significance. The dedicated team of volunteers from Kilwinning Heritage, who run the Heritage Centre located within the Tower, do a fantastic job and these works will safeguard the building’s future which will allow them to promote and support the landmark for years to come.”

The works follow a charette, undertaken in 2019, which identified Kilwinning Abbey, the Tower and surrounding grounds as of key local importance.

Following the global pandemic, the Kilwinning Place Framework was prepared, drawing upon extensive community and stakeholder engagement involving local residents, businesses, community organisations and relevant Services from across North Ayrshire Council. This informed a set of priorities and actions, through which enhancing the Kilwinning Abbey Tower was identified as a priority.

Within Kilwinning Abbey Tower, there is a Heritage Centre run by the volunteers from Kilwinning Heritage, telling the history of Kilwinning and the surrounding area. Volunteers will accompany visitors up the 143 spiral steps, visiting the original clock mechanism and the clock’s bells, before arriving at the roof, which gives stunning views across to the Ayrshire coastline.