Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey sits at the heart of the historic city of Bath

where there has been a place of Christian worship on

the site for more than 1,300 years. The Bath Abbey

Footprint Project sought to ensure the 17th Century

Grade I listed building remained a focal point for

generations to come. The project aimed to sensitively

renovate parts of the Abbey whilst modernising its

facilities to cater for present-day demands in a building

whose origins date back to 1499.

Allgood worked with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

and Emery Bros Ltd to provide a complete package

of ironmongery and a comprehensive access control

solution. The project required many bespoke items to

accommodate the Abbey’s historic architecture.

Given the age of the building, there were particular

challenges to overcome during the specification

process. A highlight being how to bring a 400-yearold

lock back into working order as part of a modern

access control system. The lock on the main doors of the

Abbey had not been used in decades and the key had

been lost many years ago. Allgood delivered the lock

to its specialist partner, Guardian Lock & Engineering

Company, who called upon the services of one of their

retired locksmiths to diligently disassemble the lock,

repair, and service it before crafting a new key.

Another particular specification issue was improving

access control for the ancient catacombs which needed

constant airflow to maintain the right environmental

conditions, but they also needed to be secure.

Allgood worked with the architect on several options

to balance these needs in a way sensitive to the 17th Century surroundings. The solution was a door designed

to have a clear gap on either side for airflow but narrow

enough to maintain security. Allgood Secure also revised

the internal exit and a second card reader was fitted to

boost security, allowing a read in, read out system to give

full visibility of people arriving and departing. To complete

the work, a specifically designed stainless-steel cover was fitted to house the electronic locking system.

Alex Morris, Associate at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios,

commented: “From early stages in the project, we

have been very pleased to work with the Allgood team

on the ironmongery and access control for the Bath

Abbey Footprint project. We have benefitted from

their expert advice and extensive range of high-quality

products, needed to deal with the wide range of project

requirements.”

The Mode 3570 lever handle in a bronze Spectra finish

was specified throughout the Abbey, as well as a full

suite of matching door furniture. This fully coordinated

range not only provided the desired aesthetic but is also

designed to last. The comprehensive 25-year warranty

and Quadaxial rose, which is tested up to one million

cycles, means the lever handles are perfect for the high

foot traffic the Abbey receives. Allgood Secure also completed an access control system

for the Abbey. Because many of the doors and frames

were protected by Historic England listing requirements,

the team had to develop a sensitive yet functional

solution. All visible products had the same Spectra bronze

finish to match the ironmongery, as well as installing entry

controls for much narrower doors than usual.

A video entry system was also required - but one that

could function without disturbing events in the Abbey

including the regular choir practices. Rather than an

audio alarm, the team created a visual beacon using a

25mm LED fixed to the choir room wall, allowing for an

unintrusive system that would draw attention but not

disrupt any rehearsals.

The entire access control system is networked so

that each door can be monitored, and access rights

managed easily via a simple database. The Allgood

Secure team has provided full training to all those

who need it and have offered a package of ongoing

maintenance and support for the Abbey.