07/04/2025

Volunteer Opportunity – Tour Guides at Muchelney Abbey

English Heritage is currently recruiting Volunteer Tour Guides to support the new guided tour programme at Muchelney Abbey, with the first events scheduled for the end of April.

This is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in local heritage, storytelling, or public engagement.

You can find the full role description and apply here:

https://english-heritage.rosterfy.uk/roles/iHGBeKCgdpZF0SZbpyzclSdoXQxs0R

As many will know, the Parish Meeting has submitted a separate proposal to English Heritage regarding seasonal volunteer-led access to the Abbey’s exterior grounds. We’ve recently been advised that the proposal is currently being reviewed and that we should expect an update toward the end of April.

31/03/2025

We’re pleased to share that English Heritage has responded to our recent communications regarding the future access arrangements for Muchelney Abbey.

They have confirmed the appointment of a new Volunteer & Engagement Manager, Ed McGregor, who will be responsible for Muchelney Abbey and other regional sites from 1 April 2025. Ed will be reviewing the seasonal access proposal submitted by Muchelney Parish Meeting and is expected to make contact shortly to discuss.

We will provide another update once we’ve heard further.

18/03/2025

Following our recent community meeting, discussions were held regarding the changes to public access at Muchelney Abbey and the impact this may have on the village.

As a result, the Muchelney Parish Meeting has now submitted a formal proposal to English Heritage requesting seasonal grounds access under a volunteer-led system for opening and closing the Abbey’s exterior grounds. This would allow continued public engagement with the site while aligning with English Heritage’s operational requirements.

The proposal includes:

• Seasonal access from April to September, including October half-term.

• Opening on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holiday Mondays, with potential for future expansion.

• Volunteers handling only gate access, with security and site management remaining under English Heritage’s control.

• A designated volunteer coordinator already in place to oversee scheduling and communication.

• We have also requested clarifications from English Heritage regarding reporting structures, operational feasibility, and any requirements they may have for volunteers.

We will provide further updates once we receive a response from English Heritage. In the meantime, we appreciate the community’s continued support and interest in maintaining access to this important heritage site.

If you have any questions or wish to express interest in supporting this initiative in the future, please feel free to get in touch.

13/03/2025

We have now received further clarification from English Heritage regarding the future of Muchelney Abbey. From 1st April 2025, the Abbey will no longer operate under its current open access format and will instead transition to a limited, event-based model.

English Heritage has stated that while they are still developing their plans, their current expectation is to:

• Open the site for guided tours one weekend per month, beginning at the end of April.

• Continue to accommodate school visits.

• Explore additional event-based access in the future, though details have not yet been confirmed.

Why is this happening?

English Heritage has cited financial pressures, rising maintenance costs, and a decline in visitor numbers as key factors behind this decision. The organisation manages over 400 historic sites across the country, and in recent years, has had to reassess how resources are allocated. Many sites with lower visitor numbers are seeing changes to their access arrangements, with some—such as Muchelney Abbey—shifting to an event-led approach rather than remaining open for general visits.

At present, there is no indication that regular public access to the Abbey’s exterior grounds will continue outside of scheduled tours and events. The exact format of access beyond the monthly tours is still under discussion, and English Heritage has expressed a willingness to engage with the local community to explore options.

We have already reached out to English Heritage to discuss possible ways to maintain some level of access to the Abbey’s exterior grounds. One of the primary suggestions is a volunteer-led model, where local volunteers could be responsible for opening and closing the grounds, allowing continued community access without placing additional financial strain on English Heritage. Another suggestion is the introduction of donation signage at key entry points, enabling visitors to contribute towards the site's upkeep even when staff are not present.

To ensure the local community has an opportunity to discuss these changes and contribute additional ideas, we will be holding a public discussion meeting on:

Monday, 17th March 2025 at 7PM

Venue: St Peter and St Paul's Church, Muchelney

This meeting will provide an opportunity for:

• Community members to offer suggestions on ways to maintain public engagement with the site.

• Those affected to explore potential solutions before English Heritage finalises their plans.

We are also reaching out to English Heritage to attend the meeting, but due to the short notice, their availability is not yet confirmed.

If you are unable to attend but would like to share your views, please contact us.

We understand that these changes will be disappointing to many who have enjoyed visiting Muchelney Abbey over the years, and we will continue to advocate for the best possible outcome for the local community. Further updates will be provided as more details emerge.

There is currently a role with English Heritage for Keykeeper at the Abbey should anyone wish to apply, this is related to the event openings, monthly tours and school trips only: https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8f9ffa80625bdbb9