Contact: Peter Atkinson, ext 6811

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given to a grant of £10,000 from the Archaeology and Heritage budget to the Friends of Hyde Abbey Gardens for the Hyde Abbey Gardens Jubilee Project.

2. Reason

2.1 To support the archaeological and historic interpretation of Hyde Abbey Church to the public.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 To allocate the grant to other archaeological or heritage projects, in whole or in part.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Hyde Abbey was an important religious establishment in the medieval period. In 1110 the remains of Alfred the Great and his Queen Ealswith, as well as their son Edward the Elder, were moved from the New Minster to the Abbey Church where they were reburied in front of the altar. The Abbey was dissolved in 1538 and quickly dismantled, although the Abbey gate can still be seen. The site of the Abbey Church was disturbed many times in history, and bones reputed to be those of Alfred the Great were removed and are now buried in St Barnabas churchyard.

8. King Alfred is one of the best known historical characters of this country. His statue is an icon of Winchester and tourists are drawn to the city for this association. Hyde Abbey is also an important place on the St Swithun's Way, a long distance walk recently established by Hampshire County Council. Recent archaeological excavations by Winchester City Council attracted national as well as local interest and uncovered the location and plan of the Abbey Church.

9. The City Council and others drew up a project brief for a garden with a simple, dignified representation of the discoveries. A Steering Group was formed, including representatives from Hampshire County Council. The chosen design was proposed by Kim Wilkie of Kim Wilkie Associates and funding is now sought to implement the scheme on the ground. The main features of the design have been described as:

(i) marking out the architectural elements of the church using planting, flint and ledger stones for the Royal graves;

(ii) an imaginative entrance with a glass screen showing an interior of the church; and

(iii) a pedestrian link to the city.

10. The cost of the project is in the region of £100,000. Winchester City Council, the landowner, has chosen the scheme as a Jubilee Project and has set aside £46,000. The Friends of Hyde Abbey Gardens have approached the County Council to provide match funding. A grant of £5,000 has been offered towards the cost of the project under delegated powers from the Historic Parks and Gardens budget. This report proposes a further grant of £10,000.

11. The 2002/03 Archaeology and Heritage budget is £55,000. A total of £33,393 has been spent or offered. The residual amount is earmarked to identified programmes, such as this grant to the Friends of Hyde Abbey Gardens. There are currently no other bids being considered. Once this is offered, no further projects other than those within the identified programme will be initiated from this budget.

7626/PA