Outrage as vandals hit Lilleshall Abbey again

Nash Gooderham said in the latest attack, which took place this month, involved vandals removing stones from the ruin to build a fire.

"The have climbed on top of one of the walls and smashed the rocks off the top, and arranged them in a circle to build a fire," said Mr Gooderham, who is 38.

He added that three months earlier they had caused damage to a doorpost at the monument.

Mr Goodherham, who worked at the abbey around 15 years ago, accused English Heritage of being slow to respond.

He said he reported the first attack on the 12th century ruin earlier this year, but received no response.

Mr Gooderham, who lives at The Laurels in Albrighton, added that three years ago he had complained about falling masonry at the site, calling for part of it to be sealed off.

English Heritage spokesman Phil Harper said he was aware that Mr Gooderham had reported an act of vandalism at Lilleshall Abbey.

"We are in contact with Mr Gooderham and we are very grateful to him for reporting the issue," he said.

"A member of our staff will be visiting the site to assess the damage."

Mr Harper said he was aware that some conservation work was required as part of a programme of regular maintenance.

"We intend to undertake this work within the next few months," he said.

"Our estates team regularly visit the abbey and there has not been any severe deterioration to the building. We are not aware of any issues that might require an area of the abbey to be sealed off.

"Lilleshall Abbey is an important site and its extensive sandstone remains remind us of its past magnificence. We are very disappointed that it should be vandalised in this way."

Councillor Andrew Eade, who represents Church Aston and Lilleshall on Telford & Wrekin Council, said he was shocked that somebody would vandalise such an important piece of the village's history.

"It just makes you wonder what goes through the minds of people who vandalise something like this which has been here for centuries, and should be here for us to enjoy, and for future generations."Lilleshall Abbey was founded between 1145 and 1148 and followed the of the Abbey of Arrouaise in northern France.

It narrowly escaped the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries in 1536, but went into voluntary dissolution two years later.