WE DID IT

WE DID IT!

Buildwas Abbey is a beautiful site in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, so I jumped at the chance to lead a team of volunteers to renovate the disused visitor ticket offi ce and turn it into the fi rst bookshop at a free-toenter site. Having previously enjoyed the exciting times volunteering on the Iron

Bridge during the conservation work,

I had no reservation in accepting this new challenge.

The renovation An initial team of fi ve volunteers started ripping out the interior and painting the inside and outside of the hut previously used as a Members’ ticket offi ce. This was under the guidance of another Iron Bridge volunteer, Bryan Street, who fortunately had all the relevant DIY and health and safety knowledge. My home became an Amazon depot and book store, and within fi ve weeks we were able to start recruiting more volunteers at an on-site recruitment day picnic. We were fortunate that the weather was perfect during the renovation.

Meeting with each volunteer enabled me to understand why they wanted to volunteer, their expectations in volunteering and what support they expected from me and English Heritage. This helped me fi nd the role they would be best suited to and happy with. In addition to running the abbey bookshop, we're also meeters, greeters, and explainers of the history of the abbey.

Confi dence, knowledge and friendship It has been important for me to be able to keep in close contact with English Heritage staff and our brilliant team at Buildwas Abbey – a WhatsApp group proved the perfect solution. It has been invaluable to me for problem solving and the occasional cheerful ‘off-piste’ chatter. Personally, I have gained so much more confi dence, knowledge and friendship than I ever thought I might after retiring over fi ve years ago. I look forward to meeting and greeting many more volunteers and visitors at Buildwas Abbey and the bookshop in the future, and I thank English Heritage for the opportunity and support they have given me.

The headline 'Bookshop volunteers wanted’ shouted out to me one day last summer as I was scrolling through Facebook. I read on eagerly. I’d always wanted to own a bookshop, but life, two children and 38 years of teaching had always got in the way. OK, it wasn’t ownership but the next best thing: setting up a second-hand bookshop at picturesque Buildwas Abbey near Ironbridge in the beautiful county of Shropshire, a county to which

I had retired only two years ago. I applied there and then, and after an informal interview with Ginny some days later I was on board.

Many people, but principally Ginny, Emma, Wendy and Bryan, turned the tired kiosk into a space full of books. Yours truly completed a bit of decorating and helped in the construction of a few bookcases.

Opening day The transformation complete, we opened in September, my volunteering day being a Tuesday. It wasn’t the brightest day of the year and if you know the gorge you know that means dark. As I opened up, the rain, already heavy, intensifi ed and my fi rst day was literally a damp squib as I locked up again, went home and went for a long walk instead. Visitors: 0, book sales: 0. Never mind I thought, there are lots of Tuesdays coming up.

Subsequent Tuesdays have dawned dry and brightish. There have been visitors of the two-legged and four-legged varieties. I’ve met some interesting people from all over the country and further afi eld. I’ve heard life stories, family histories and even sold a few books. My own history knowledge has improved and I can speak knowingly(ish) about the abbey, and I tell everyone how wonderful it is, but they soon discover that for themselves.

A tranquil and atmospheric site At this time of year the autumn colours are a glowing kaleidoscope. The birdfeeders are popular with fl ashes of colour from the blue tits, great tits, robins and nuthatches prominent and the less colourful but quirky wrens also feeding.

Buildwas Abbey is a wonderful site, peaceful, tranquil and atmospheric. I’m sure next spring and summer visitors will fl ock to our bookshop and sales will really take off. It’s been a great effort by all those involved. I enjoy my day there chatting to visitors, passing on my knowledge to them but also learning from our visitors; that’s really what it’s all about, I think, preserving our heritage and lifelong learning for all, so here’s to my (a man can dream) little bookshop. ■

Left and below Buildwas Abbey Above The former ticket offi ce, now home to the bookshop Right Wendy and Andrew

FIND OUT MORE For opening times and more information, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/buildwas-abbey