Church Heritage Record 634128

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Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Major Parish Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

634128
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Salisbury
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Sherborne
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Sherborne with Castleton

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is a Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct
View more information about this Scheduled Monument on the National Heritage List for England web site

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Sherborne

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Early Medieval

Exterior Image

Exterior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Caption:

603242 

Exterior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph Taken on 6 October 2011
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

2011
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Mike Searle
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Mike Searle

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Conventionally laid out in cruciform plan with a central tower, and side chapels, it has raised levels in the chancel giving emphasis to the high altar. At the east end are the Ambulatory and Lady Chapel which also comprise a Regimental Chapel of the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.sherborneabbey.com

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Antiquarian Horological Society (2015) AHS Turret Clock database Unique Number ID: 969 [Digital Archive/Data]
21/09/2015
http://www.ahstcg.org
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9265/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Historic England (2021) Heritage List https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110826 [Bibliography/Index]
Digby Memorial
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
Historic England (2021) Heritage List https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1324348 [Bibliography/Index]
South gates
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
Historic England (2021) Heritage List https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110825 [Bibliography/Index]
North East gates
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
Historic England (2021) Heritage List https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110824 [Bibliography/Index]
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
Mike Searle (2011) Exterior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Mike Searle (2011) Interior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~41365~108762 [Archive/Graphic material]

Gallery

ICBS File Number - 00164

Coverage - 1819

Created by ?ELLIS, Thomas: fl. 1819-24 of Sherborne

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~41374~108763 [Archive/Graphic material]

Gallery

ICBS File Number - 00164

Coverage - 1819

Created by ?ELLIS, Thomas: fl. 1819-24 of Sherborne

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If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: ST 637 164

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Dorset County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Sherborne Abbey proclaims thirteen centuries of Christian worship, dominating the town centre. The Churchyard was cleared in 1856 when the new cemetery was opened, and is now largely laid to grass. The central feature of the Close is the monument erected in 1884 to George Digby Wingfield-Digby, whose munificence helped to fund the great restoration of the 1850s.  In an enclave towards the southeast a war memorial was erected in 1921 and additions were made following the Second World War including, in particular, the names of American soldiers who died in a land mine accident near Sherborne. The main south gates are listed Grade II*; the east gates are listed Grade II.

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

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Dimensions

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

1779 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The Abbey has been a centre of Christian worship for thirteen centuries: cathedral, monastery and, since 1539, the parish church. Certainly, except for the eastern chapels, the present church is the same size as its Norman predecessor, and many Norman details survive, particularly the great nave and transept crossing arches and piers. The Normans widened the earlier Saxon nave aisles. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Saxon west tower and transepts may have survived until the 14th century, when they were replaced by the Perpendicular church of All Hallows, whose remains survive west of the Abbey. This great rebuilding took over a century to complete. After a great fire in 1437 Abbot Bradford completed the beautiful choir. Abbot Ramsam (1475-1504) rebuilt the nave, remodelled the north transept and built the now destroyed east bay of the Bow chapel at the east end. Little systematic repairs were done to the fabric before 1850. In 1884 R H Carpenter restored the tower, inserting two great brick relieving arches to supplement the earlier oak trusses. Major repairs carried out in 1978-81 cost three quarters of a million pounds, a sum raised by a nationwide appeal and a generous grant from the Department of the Environment. In 1998 a new West Window depicting the incarnation was designed and made by John Hayward and dedicated in the presence of H.M. The Queen. A window commemorating the dedication of the West Window and the arrival of the Benedictine monks in 998 was added in the south aisle at the millennium. In 2004 the entrance in the southwest porch was ramped to improve accessibility for disabled. In 2011 a complete new lighting scheme was installed. 

 

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Conventionally laid out in cruciform plan with a central tower, and side chapels, it has raised levels in the chancel giving emphasis to the high altar.  At the east end are the Ambulatory and Lady Chapel which also comprise a Regimental Chapel of the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
Marcus Chantrey
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
08 Jul 2022
To:
08 Jul 2027
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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HAM HILL STONE (15th Century)

Interior Image

Interior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior Photograph of 634128 Sherborne: Abbey Church of St Mary
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph Taken on 6 October 2011
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
2011
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Mike Searle
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Mike Searle

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The woodwork of the choir stalls is largely from the great restoration of the 1850s, including a striking set of angels, and depictions of nesting blackbirds on the stall ends.  However, the back row includes a set of 15th century misericords set into Victorian frames, and carved elbow-rests.  There are three major monuments.  In the Wykeham Chapel in the north transept lies the tomb of Sir John Horsey who acquired the Abbey estate at the dissolution; in St Katherine's Chapel is the tomb of Sir John and Joan Leweston; and in the south transept, where a raised floor covers the Digby burial vault, is the monument to the last Earl of Bristol. 

In Bishop Roger's Chapel, now the Choir Vestry, is an array of monuments removed from the Chancel in the great 1850s restoration.

At the west end of the nave is a series of brass plates recording the activities of the Dorsetshire Regiment in the late 19th century, and a large bronze plate which is the Dorsetshire Yeomanry memorial of the First World War.

 

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
BELL (1 of 8)
BELL (2 of 8)
BELL (3 of 8)
BELL (4 of 8)
BELL (5 of 8)
BELL (6 of 8)
BELL (7 of 8)
BELL (8 of 8)
BELL (Fire)
BELL (Sanctus)
CLOCK (18th Century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: ST 637 164

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

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The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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Designation TypeNameGrade  
Scheduled Monument Sherborne Abbey, remains of View more
Listed Building Digby Memorial II View more
Listed Building Sherborne Abbey First World War Memorial And Second World War Memorial Wall II View more

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Major Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

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GATE (1625)
GATE (1625)

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Fabric Significance Level:
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Fabric Significance Description:
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Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Church Renewables

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Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Major Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 3
Total number of animal species 3
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 1
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 4
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Major Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Major Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Major Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

Common nameScientific nameHas this species been recorded yet?Is it a ‘blurred’ species? Last recorded sighting
Great Crested Newt
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Triturus cristatusNoNoNone
Natterjack Toad
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Epidalea calamitaNoNoNone
Sand Lizard
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Lacerta agilisNoNoNone
Common Lizard
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Zootoca viviparaNoNoNone
Adder
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Vipera berusNoNoNone
Grass Snake
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Natrix helveticaNoNoNone
Smooth Snake
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Coronella austriacaNoNoNone
Slow-worm
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Anguis fragilisNoNoNone
Eurasian Red Squirrel
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Sciurus vulgarisNoNoNone
Eurasian Badger
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Meles melesNoYesNone
Hazel Dormouse
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Muscardinus avellanariusNoNoNone
Swift
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Apus apusYesNo2023
House Martin
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Delichon urbicumNoNoNone
Bat
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
ChiropteraNoYesNone

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Major Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Major Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

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WhoActionWhen
Daniel CrookeAdded an Architect, Artist or Associated Person/OrganisationWed 13 Nov 2024 16:54:14
Daniel CrookeRemoved actor asset linkWed 13 Nov 2024 16:53:32
Daniel CrookeAdded QI inspectionWed 13 Nov 2024 16:53:11
Daniel CrookeCreated asset source linkWed 13 Nov 2024 16:53:10
Daniel CrookeModified asset data - Modified the Statutory Designation informationWed 15 Jun 2022 13:30:47
Oliver LackModified exterior feature typeWed 12 Jan 2022 14:37:14
Oliver LackAdded exterior feature typeWed 12 Jan 2022 14:36:28
Oliver LackAdded exterior feature typeWed 12 Jan 2022 14:35:20
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionWed 12 Jan 2022 14:32:33
Oliver LackAdded image of the interior of the buildingWed 12 Jan 2022 14:30:54
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