An Abingdon vicar has applied to the National Lottery for money to create a permanent exhibition about the history of Abingdon Abbey.

The Rev Dr Peter Doll, of St Nicolas' Church, said an exhibition would complement the £1m project to restore the Abbey grounds, which includes stone setts being laid in the lawn to outline the foundations of the Abbey Church of St Mary.

He said an exhibition would help residents find out about the history of the building, which was demolished in 1538 after the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII, highlighting its size and importance to the town.

Dr Doll said: "I have sent in an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £15,000, but it was a figure off the top of my head, in the hope that we could get the scheme under way.

"The council had ideas about a visitors' centre but there was not enough money in the Abbey grounds scheme, so I thought about an alternative. "We may have to go step by step, first with signs to direct people to historical sites in the town. A building for a permanent exhibition centre would have to follow once funding and a site had been identified."

Dr Doll said Abingdon Abbey was comparable with some of the country's cathedrals, and although it had been lost, there was enough left at the site in the secular buildings and in St Nicolas' Church to support a "comprehensive interpretation of the abbey for visitors".

The exhibition could, he said, demonstrate the abbey's importance in the economic life of the town and region and the daily life of the monks and their activities.

He would also like to see a town trail to direct people to places in the town associated with the abbey.

He added: "St Nicolas' and St Edmund's churches have substantial carvings, that may well have been from the abbey. Christ Church, in Northcourt Road, is one of the abbey's tithe barns.

"Once tours and materials have been put together, volunteers could be recruited to act as guides. "This year's celebrations of Abingdon Borough's Charter provides an excellent opportunity to focus our attention on this aspect of the town's history and to help residents, visitors and children understand and appreciate our history."

Town councillor Audrey Hasnip, who is masterminding celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the Charter, said: "I welcome Mr Doll's ideas.

"There was a Millennium exhibition in the museum and a vast amount of material was gathered, which is still available, so there would be no problem in starting a permanent exhibition. The problem will be finding a site and money."