Cloister Gallery display

On entering the Cloister Gallery, you will find a unique display of medieval stonework mounted against the Abbey's north wall. While the exact provenance of the stones is not known, most will have come from the extensive monastic buildings destroyed in the 16th century.

The aim of the Cloister Gallery display is to tell the story of the Abbey building and illustrate the craftsmanship of the medieval stonemasons. We wanted to create an unforgettable display which would stimulate and excite visitors, arouse their curiosity and make them want to know more. It had to satisfy the needs of visitors of all ages from primary schoolchildren to the informed adult, and to encourage them to look further for architectural features in the Abbey itself.

The display, in its unique cloister-like setting (the pentice), was opened on 10 September 2005. In the following year it was awarded a plaque by the Oxford Preservation Trust, was commended in The Independent's Awards for Excellence at the Museums & Heritage show (Permanent Exhibition class) and was longlisted (in the last 10) for the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize: no mean achievement for a project costing little more than £100,000.

The display has also received many personal commendations. Malcolm Airs, Professor of Conservation and the Historic Environment, University of Oxford, wrote: 'I am writing to say how impressed I am with every aspect of the new Cloister Gallery display. It is beautifully designed and laid out, and contains just the right amount of information to fully engage with the subject and to appreciate the quality of the artefacts. It adds a dimension to the understanding of the church which in my experience is without parallel anywhere else in the country.'

Sir Simon Jenkins, author of 'England's thousand best churches' said 'It is vital to bring new uses to old buildings. I can think of no finer one for a church than a gallery of this sort.'

Visitors' comments have included 'It moved me to tears', '... the most innovative, bold and exciting ecclesiastical display to have been undertaken in this country in recent years ...', or just simply '"Wow!"'

The making of the Cloister Gallery display

The pentice, a cloister-like annex, was built against the north wall of the Abbey in 2001 to house the central heating plant, disabled toilet and the Cloister Gallery. Designed by McCurdy & Co Ltd (of Globe Theatre fame) and Martin Ashley Architects, it captures the atmosphere of the medieval cloister through its massive oak framework, York stone floors and gothic openings into the Cloister Garden, and provides a perfect setting for the Cloister Gallery display.

Our first task was the detailed analysis of the stones. Buildings archaeologist David Kendrick (Worcestershire County Museum) assessed and recorded the style and age of every stone and selected those of the greatest interest.

Key to a display that would capture the interest of all who saw it was the designer. Chris Hudson (of Chris Hudson Designs) was selected from a short list of four by a small Abbey committee assisted by advisers Peter McCurdy and Lauren Gilmour (Oxfordshire County Museum).

Chris Hudson had the vision to bring together the many different requirements of the design brief: a dramatic entrance, clearly visible stones, good interpretation, and continuing interest. The crucial element was that English Heritage would not allow the considerable weight of the stones to be put onto the Abbey wall. This was to be overcome by clamping the stones into a series of T-bars tied back to the wall, but whose weight was taken by a steel box frame resting on the floor. The long, narrow space of the gallery was to be divided by a series of angled buttresses to display the very best stones and to carry the interpretation. The lighting had to focus on the stones and create a suitably subdued atmosphere.

To bring this about, we brought together an enthusiastic team with very complementary skills. David Kendrick, assisted by Richard Riddell, advised Chris Hudson on the selection of stones for display. The contract to construct the display was awarded to Mike Harvey (Ashtead Engineering Co Ltd) assisted by Mike Cutler, Toby Kilner and their co-workers. Lighting was by Simon Knight (Lux Lucis), the etched glass entrance panel by Jane McDonald Glass, and the drawings to go with the captions to the stones by Pat Owen. Phil Clayden (Solid Art) built the heavy oak bench situated between the sarcophagi.

The interpretation by Sally Rousham allows visitors to view the Gallery at whatever level they choose. At one level it can be seen solely as an artistic display, from the glass panel simulating entering the original cloister to the stained glass panel of the monk receiving the Holy Sacrament. At another, the large clear typeface and the masterly and economical use of English gives an overview of the history of the Abbey. While at a third level, there is sufficient detail to secure the interest of the serious student of architecture. There is something here for everybody.