Typical story really of a council owning a building for decades and not really doing it justice, using it as a Records Office and just letting it fade away. The house still isn't open to the public, but in 2013 the Heritage Lottery Fund approved a £3.65 million grant for restoration, including rebuilding the conservatory and opening the south wing for events and public access. They also received council "match-funding" of £1.34 million, after nearly 15 years of the council generally faffing about and not sorting things out.There are various events organised here throughout the year, such as The Northampton Beer Festival and some music concerts, but the extensive park is open all year round for locals to enjoy. A volunteer group "The Friends of Delapré Abbey" runs a tea room on the premises. The organisation was granted charitable status in June 2006. They offer delicious cakes and cream teas in the walled garden at sensible prices. Northampton Borough Council founded "The Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust", intended to take forward the ownership of - and responsibility for - the Abbey. The Council intended that the Trust will work to secure the future of the buildings by finding sources of income streams to allow renovation of the buildings, so that the council can fob off as much responsibility for the building as possible onto someone else.You have a mixture of tended areas, grassed areas, formal gardens with some respectable works of art on display, tearooms and toilets, wooded areas, a large golf course, two lakes and some areas that have been left to run wild. This place offers something for everyone, it's a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon or evening and it is within easy walking distance of the town centre. It will be even better when the public eventually gain access to the buildings.
Delapre Abbey and Delapre Park are beautiful places to spend a few hours walking, with friends and with dogs. Close to town and plenty of parking nearby, it's a good place to bring friends when they come to visit for a bit of fresh air and local sightseeing.
Pleasant woodland park and walled garden with very good small friendly cafe with fantastic cakes. ‘Abbey’ building due for renovation to allow public access, not exactly stunning from the outside but has potential.
A lovely little cafe with a really good choice of homemade gluten free cakes. It is lovely to have some choice rather than the usual token cake which has sat around a bit too long. Well done and thank you.
Lovely gardens, nice little cafe.The house is being restored mostly by volunteers through various grants, will be beautiful again when completed.
Not many people know of this and so when we came it was a delight because being in northampton you still get the countryside feel when you go for a walk alongside the river NENE. There is a place for a cuppa and cake inside the grounds of the abbey and you can spend as long as you like just relaxing.
Bearing in mind this place is run by volunteers, the service is excellent, food lovely, setting cannot be better on a summers day in the garden. It's just great!
A really special place.No razzamatazz, just simple pleasures.Very good tea-room and very knowledgeable staff.
We went here for the recent Boyzone concert! Not been to Delapre before but it seemed all well organised and a beautiful setting, will definitely be coming back for any more events like this!
Great place to walk the dog, lovely lake with a cafe ran by cheerful volunteers who always have a "treat" for Buster the dog.I love the Abbey, kinda shame their "doing it up" as it has great atmosphere, and HAUNTED, took our Spaniel in to test a theory that digs got spooked in a particular corridor but it didn't affect Buster as all he was interested in was the smell of food coming from their cafe! Love the place