The National Trust has invested £500,000 in refurbishing Buckland Abbey, the Cistercian monastery and home of Sir Francis Drake, to make it accessible to a wider audience via the use of the latest audio-visual (AV) technology.

The Trust has used AV technology from London-based company Integrated Circles to enliven the abbey’s history and broaden the appeal of the Buckland site.

The overhaul of the abbey’s three main exhibition spaces includes the addition of new displays and the installation of an AV film by Michael Davies which introduces visitors to the abbey with images of Sir Francis Drake as a child at the house.

Project manager for Integrated Circles, Paul Nolan, said: “The abbey has so much history behind it and we are delighted to have been involved with this enhancement. The new AV show really gets visitors in the mood and set the scene for the rest of the exhibition. I am sure that anyone visiting Buckland Abbey will have a thoroughly enjoyable experience.” Details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk