An essential part of our hospitality is our guesthouse, run by the Guest Master. Guests come to Quarr for many reasons and from many backgrounds. We welcome men, women, and families. Some come for a silent retreat, others come to just be away from the world for a while – a vital service for many who are struggling with the challenges of today’s society and cost of living pressures. Others are seeking to discern their path in life or to seek help. What all our visitors share, is a desire to find inner peace.
The guesthouse has ten single rooms. Three are en-suite, two of which are on the ground floor. One of these has full disabled facilities. The other rooms have hot and cold water in the rooms and there are ample shower and/toilet facilities.
There is no fixed charge for staying. No one need feel they cannot stay for lack of means. However, if a guest is able to make a donation, these are accepted to help pay for the running of the guesthouse, but the amount is entirely up to the guest.
The guesthouse has been offering this hospitality for over 100 years; however, the guesthouse is now in urgent need of structural work to the exterior of the building (grade 1 listed) which is of unique design and construction. Interior refurbishment is also needed to improve facilities for guests and reduce running costs. As we are a small charity, we are looking to fundraise to cover the cost of this work, which otherwise we will not be able to undertake.
Update 27/6/2024
A sincere thank you for the many donations we continue to receive, many multiple donations from individuals, along with support from suppliers and building companies we are now only £10,372 short of our total to complete all the works to the guesthouse. We simply could not complete this essential work and mission without the support of all those who have donated and supported us.
Thank you to Stone and Son Scaffolding, who have been incredibly supportive in enabling us to start work.
Pictured below is scaffolding in place for work to start 15/4/2024 repairing the guesthouse roof.
We are delighted to report that the work to repair the windows is nearly completed.
Br. Duncan and Br. John working on the windows of the Guest House supporting our in-house carpenters Sam and Kelly.
The completed lead roof which will last for the next 100 years.
The work to compare the lintels has now been completed, unfortunately the damage to the lintels has caused a small amount of damage to the surrounding brick work, however this will be repaired by our inhouse team of skilled craftsman. We look forward to the scaffolding coming down soon.
Lintels before and after
All of the planned and additional structural work has now been completed. The team have moved on to phase 2 which includes the refurbishment of room 3, refurbishment and repair of rooms 4, and 5 caused by water damage adding an ensuite to room 7.
Room 3 – picture below
Room 3 is nearly ready, painted and ready for final finishes before welcoming the first guest after the refurbishment has been completed on Monday 1st July.
Room 5 – pictures below
Room 5 is next on the list for complete refurbishment and redecoration and as you can see a lot of water damaged from rain water coming through the lead roof which has been replaced.
To date have been successful in raising £110,858 towards the total costs. Listed below is the breakdown of costs. The phases refer to the order which we will complete the work subject to funding with Phase I the most urgent. Which is now complete.
We now only have £10,372 to raise.
Thank you to everyone who has made this possible
| Replace lead roof – perished over 100 years old | £47,000 | Phase 1 |
| Reconfigure toilet block to reduce maintenance issues and costs | £5,900 | Phase 1 |
| Repair Lintels to the front of the guesthouse | £9,600 | Phase 1 |
| Repair Windows care of grade 1 listed building | £1,000 | Phase 1 |
| Install secondary double glazing in the bedrooms improve guest comfort – save on energy and running costs | £7,130 | Phase 1 |
| Total Cost – Phase 1 | £70,630 | |
| Soundproofing of 3 parlours to improve the quality of privacy and quiet spaces for guests | £6,400 | Phase 2 |
| Refurbishment of rooms 4 and 5 damaged by rainwater from the leaking lead roof | £2,400 | Phase 2 |
| Add ensuite to room 7 to create additional accommodation for female guests | £5,000 | Phase 2 |
| Insulate outside walls to improve comfort for guests, save on running costs and improve energy efficiency | £8,000 | Phase 2 |
| Total Cost – Phase 2 | £21,800 | |
| Refurbish the disabled bathrooms in rooms 1 and 2 | £4,000 | Phase 3 |
| Refurbish the disabled toilet on the first floor | £3,000 | Phase 3 |
| Total Cost – Phase 3 | £7,000 | |
| Refurbishment – repairing windows and energy efficiency of the meeting room. Used for faith-based groups to meet and for faith talks and lectures like the Chant Forum. | £13,800 | Phase 4 |
| Total Cost – Phase 4 | £13,800 | |
| Additional Work: additional lintel repair, pointing, soundproofing, refurbishment room 3 | £8,000 | |
| Total Cost | £121,230 | |
| Total Amount raised | £110,858 | |
| Left to raise | £10,372 |
Thank you for your consideration in this matter and we are incredibly grateful for all donations received.
Please do not forget if you are able to gift aid please do as we will receive an extra 25p in every £1 at no additional cost to yourselves.
Ways to donate:
- Visit our donation page and tick guesthouse works.
- By Cheque made payable to Quarr Abbey and sent to:
The Procurator, Quarr Abbey, Quarr Road, Ryde, PO33 4ES
For further information or ways to support the Abbey please contact Tracy Osborn Director of Fundraising and Operations at tracy.osborn@quarr.org