Archive
Downside Abbey Archive is one of the largest collections of research material in the South West of England.
The archive contains the congregational archive of the English Benedictine Congregation as well as a collections from Downside Abbey’s daughter foundation at Ealing, London.
Please note if you want to reproduce any material from Downside Abbey’s archive, you are required by law to seek written permission from the Trustees. The reproduction of photographs also requires the written permission of the Trustees. For further details please contact us here.
The Archive includes:
Our archive can be viewed at collection level via The National Archives Discovery Catalogue.
- St Oliver Plunkett’s, Prison Letters.
- A large collection of letters and architectural drawings ranging from Sir Ninian Comper, Pugin, Dunn and Hansom and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
- Papers of the First Baron Acton – the celebrated historian.
- Augustine Baker: Benedictine mystic and ecclesiastical historian.
- Edmund Bishop: liturgical scholar and historian.
- Abbot Christopher Butler: Abbot of St Gregory’s, Abbot President and auxiliary bishop of Westminster.
- The papers of the abbots and priors of Downside Abbey (St Gregory’s).
- The Camm MSS.
- The papers of Aidan Cardinal Gasquet: Vatican Librarian and Prior of Downside
- Ethelbert Horne: Benedictine monk and archaeologist.
- Downside School Archives (historic): please contact us for details of access rights and permissions.
- Photographic Archive: over 10, 000 digital images of the Abbey’s extensive photo archive.
Our contact details are:
Abbey Archive and Library,
Downside Abbey,
Stratton on the Fosse,
Bath
BA3 4RH
Tel: 01225 694603
Email: heritage@downsideabbey.co.uk