The Problem
Parts of Bath Abbey’s floor were collapsing, reducing our capacity to serve the city. The floor was sinking where bodies buried beneath it were decomposing. This resulted in large gaps being created, which had made the floor unstable.
The Process
While the Abbey floor was being repaired, all 891 ledger stones that make up the floor were lifted, documented and repaired. The stories behind the people recorded on the ledger stones have been meticulously researched by volunteers and made available to visitors. You can discover their work on our new website here: https://www.bathabbeymemorials.org.uk/.
To repair the floor, all the Victorian pews were removed. The pews at the East end were reinstated while the pews in the nave have been replaced with chairs. This has created a much more flexible and accessible space, with moveable seating, allowing us to better serve and adapt to community needs.
As a result of this work, the Abbey now has a stable, level floor that is accessible to everyone, making the Abbey a more hospitable place. Completing the Footprint Project has preserved and improved a vital part of the city’s heritage for future generations.
