After nine months work by York-based stone and conservation specialist company William Anelay, and at a cost of £1.9million, one of the North East of England’s top heritage attractions now reveals even more of its history.

As one of the North East of England’s most widely recognised historical buildings, Hexham Abbey, which still has a working parish church, is a genuine example of living history, with its origins dating back to medieval times – as the Abbey publicity says: 1,300 years of monks, gore and a whole lot more!

It is history that is also a whole lot more accessible following the attention paid to the building by stone and conservation specialists William Anelay, based in York.

The new exhibition that has resulted is called The Big Story, with a lot to attract youngsters, including state-of-the art touch screens showing what the Abbey would have looked like 1,300 years ago and how it has changed over the years.

Visitors can even have a go at building their own Gothic arch and find out how the medieval masons lifted a stone the weight of a small car, as well as ringing the bells of Hexham Abbey on a historic model.

Some of the history on show was revealed with fascinating discoveries unearthed during major refurbishment works. These works have effectively put right damage caused to the building by King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and the gradual deterioration of the stonework in the 475 years since then.

This imposing church and abbey in the centre of Hexham, Northumberland, has undergone a nine month long, £1.9million makeover carried out by specialists from William Anelay under the auspices of architect Purcells. The project management was by Turner & Townsend.

There has been a church on this site in Hexham since the times of Saint Wilfrid in the 7th century. It was constructed originally almost entirely of Roman architectural remains, including stone salvaged from nearby Hadrian’s Wall, which was the source of stone for quite a lot of construction near to the wall after the fall of the Roman empire. A crypt constructed by the Saxons still remains at Hexham Abbey to this day.

For the latest William Anelay work, replacement stone needed was supplied by Dunhouse Quarries of Darlington. Dunhouse Buff sandstone was used for the ashlar while the new paving was Dunhouse Grey. Of course, as much as possible of the original fabric was retained and re-used, with the masons cutting, sorting and tooling on site.

In the 9th century the arrival of the Vikings in the North of England saw the church plundered and burnt to the ground, but it re-emerged as an Augustinian priory after the Norman conquest of 1066. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537, the Abbey became a parish church.

The latest work, which was six years in the planning, has involved extensive internal and external re-ordering of the Grade I listed Carnaby building, which dates to Tudor times and was instigated either by the last Prior of Hexham or by Sir Reynold Carnaby, King Henry VIII’s bailiff, who was given the property by King Henry when it was taken during the Reformation.

An adjoining building, at one time containing the Beaumont family ballroom and used until recently as a magistrates’ court, has also been refurbished.

The whole project has created a major new visitor centre, the Big Story exhibition, a café, two large function rooms and new meeting rooms for conferences and community use as well as a base for educational activities.

In addition, a new glazed, beamed and slated welcome porch has been created which has become a key feature entrance for the Abbey.

Andy Gabel, William Anelay’s Site Manager, explains the scope of works. “When we arrived on site in September 2013, the first challenge was dealing with the Carnaby building, which was in need of extensive restoration.

“We spent the first month stripping out the building and returning it to a bare shell. We protected the structural integrity using steel rods in the downstairs area to replace demolished retaining walls.

“Most of the work on the Carnaby building has been focused on the interior with attention also paid to roof leadwork, chimney stacks and external decorative stonework.

“There were just so many features and mysteries that we came across every day… it’s all been documented by eminent locally-based archaeologist Peter Ryder and well-published historian Eric Cambridge.

“Both were on site every week during the work, cataloguing findings that included medieval drainage, garderobes (or medieval latrines), old tombstones used as lintels and many other fascinating features.

“Many of the garderobes, for instance, have remained hidden away behind walls for hundreds of years and one particular demolition job, to open up a space, led to interest from the local television who came down to film it.”

Archaeologist Peter Ryder has been excited by the finds made during the renovation work. “We have uncovered a number of interesting finds and features as a result of the works being carried out, and undone a lot of the damage caused as a result of re-ordering projects that have taken place over the past 475 years.

“As well as revealing secret chambers, fireplaces and garderobes, the works have allowed us to more closely examine many of the stonework features, including the Carnaby coat of arms.”

The project involved a lot of reclamation, with substantial amounts of stonework being restored and replaced in its original position. Old floor slabs are among the stone it was possible to re-use.

The welcome porch is a key new feature. Andy: “The porch area is a focal point of the project and a signature piece for the work we’ve carried out here.

“The oak frame was manufactured in Devon and is constructed with a slate roof and bronze framed windows. It was one of our last jobs onsite.”

Andy was in charge of an average of 25 skilled workers from William Anelay who had to work around the public visitors as the site remained open during the work.

Andy: “You have to be very careful working in such a busy environment. You have to ensure deliveries don’t clash with school runs, for example.

“We were very much aware of our Considerate Contractor status. Including the requirement for minimum disruption in our plans was a prerequisite.

“Another key test was carrying out a sympathetic restoration that took account of the many historical influences that have been brought to bear on these buildings. I think we’ve achieved that.

“This has been a real team effort with all parties pulling together in the same direction and the end result is something of which we can all be proud.”