Damage 'will cost thousands' to repair after centuries-old doors smashed in Shrewsbury Abbey burglary

Shrewsbury Abbey was burgled between 9.45pm yesterday (Thursday, February 13) and 8.30am today.

Nothing was stolen in the raid, however a 400-year-old door and another door believed to be built in Victorian times were damaged.

Parish co-ordinator Steve Swinden estimated the cost of repairs could be up to £6,000.

He said: “An internal door was smashed. It must have taken some considerable force.

“They must have thought there would be something of value inside. It’s a mercy that they didn’t take anything.

“We know it must have happened at that time because the Shrewsbury Choral Society finished their rehearsals at 9.45pm.”

Fortunately, the church did not need to close as a result of the break-in, though visitors were being asked to use the other entrance. 

The door has been professionally secured.

“It’s difficult to say how much it will cost to repair,” Mr Swinden added. “We think it’ll probably be around £3,000 but it could be double that by the time we’ve had the bill for the lock.

“The door they broke in through is probably 400 years old and the internal door I think is probably Victorian, though I’m not a historian.

“The response from the police could not have been better,” Mr Swinden said, adding that officers gathered CCTV from the area and took fingerprints from part of the damaged door.

He also praised church volunteers for their help after the incident. “We’re really lucky to have a great group of people,” he said.

“Let’s hope the perpetrators are caught. People in this town do really care and are proud of our heritage. A great deal of local people love this church and come to support it. It’s our duty to protect it.”

PC Graham Donaldson, rural and business crime officer for West Mercia Police, said: “We are appealing to the Shrewsbury community for information following a burglary at Shrewsbury Abbey.

“Entry was forced to the side access door facing Abbey Forgate, adjacent to the main route out of town,

“Did you see anything suspicious or have any information that might help enquiries?

“Please get in touch with us by calling 101 and quoting incident number 00096_I_14022025.

“If you aren’t comfortable contacting us directly, you can pass on information anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website: crimestoppers-uk.org

“Thank you for your help. It is only by the police and the public working together that we can prevent and detect crime.”