HYDE900 has been awarded £33,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver a programme of activities and events during 2017.

The money will help explain and interpret the history, structure and site of Hyde Abbey, the final burial place of King Alfred the Great.

It follows the 2014 BBC documentary ‘The Search for Alfred the Great’ which stimulated great interest in the site of the abbey which was dissolved on the orders of Henry VIII. 

Steve Marper, chairman of HYDE900, said: “The increase in visitor numbers persuaded us that there needed to be more extensive explanatory material about both the abbey and the story of Alfred the Great whose remains were interred there in 1110.”

Plans are now under way to develop both ground-breaking digital resources and more traditional material to help visitors - real and virtual - to gain a better understanding of the construction and life of the abbey as well as its role as a royal mausoleum and place of pilgrimage.

There will also be lectures, arts activities and educational material as well as opportunities for volunteers in community archaeology projects.

The full programme will be announced in the New Year and will open in March with the unveiling of a life-sized carving of Abbot Aston, the abbey’s most distinguished medieval figure. 

Edward Fennell, Founder of HYDE900, said: “Our aim is to establish Hyde Abbey permanently on the visitor trail for Winchester. This will complement the other exciting plans now afoot to celebrate Royal Winchester.”

Steve Brine MP said: “Hyde 900 is one of the strongest community groups we have and protects the legend that is Alfred brilliantly. It was great to be able to support this bid which I am confident really add value to telling the story of his life and times in Winchester.”

Stuart McLeod, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “We’re delighted that we can support Hyde900 to re-interpret the history of Hyde Abbey and highlight its importance in Winchester and in the UK.

"Thanks to National Lottery players, the stories of the building and of Alfred the Great will be better explained, through engaging community activities and exciting digital resources.”

HYDE900 would like to acknowledge the great support given to its application by Nigel Atkinson, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire; Mr Brine; City councillor Fiona Mather; Hampshire Cultural Trust; Winchester City Council; St Bede School; Winchester University; and Cliff Bannister, Rector, and the United Benefice of St. Bartholomew and St. Lawrence with St. Swithun-upon-Kingsgate.