Stroll through the most impressive monastic ruins in England.
Nestled down a tranquil valley in Yorkshire, England, Rievaulx Abbey was once the largest and most important monastery in England. The ruins are still probably the most impressive in England (the most impressive ones I have seen at least.).
The very impressive ruins of Rievaulx Abbey.
The abbey was founded in 1132 when St. Bernard of Clairvaux sent 12 monks, from the Cistercian order, from France to found the abbey in the hills of Yorkshire. The abbey quickly grew into one of the wealthiest abbeys in medieval England, gaining great wealth from the wool trade. The number of monks grew from 12 to 150 and 500 lay brethren and became the mother house of other abbeys in Northern England.
The front and the most intact portion of the abbey church.
Many came to the abbey because of Abbot Aelred, an author and preacher, who was regarded as a wise and saintly man. Following his death in 1167, the monks sought canonization of their leader. In the 1220s, the monks rebuilt the east art of the abbey church the create a better tomb for Aelred.
Rievaulx was a vibrant community when Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in 1538. The new owner of the abbey, quickly started to demolish the great abbey, stripping it of any valuable materials.
Looking through the abbey church, from the nave.
Most of the 13th-century presbytery still stands to its original height, although most of the nave has disappeared, leaving only the foundations of its great pillars.
The 13th century portion of the abbey. I absolutely love this view.
East transept of the abbey church.
A variety of other monastic buildings have survived in varying states of preservation. The Monk’s Refectory is remarkable shape. The dining hall was on the top floor, and underneath in the undercroft was the kitchen and other storerooms. Other ruins include the chapter house, the cloister, and living quarters.
The Monk’s Refectory where some reflecting probably occurred.
The Monk’s Refectory from the outside.
The Chapter House is a square room with benches along the walls, a perfect location for meetings.
Not much remains of the cloister, which was a pity since I love cloisters (I am a weird person).
Rievaulx Abbey is sort of off the beaten path. Visited, but not overly crowded or touristy, the area is center for people walking throughout the area. However, the ruins (at least when I was there in September) were not filled with people. I was one of the few people there. The ruins were so serene, quiet. It felt like I was back in time. Rievaulx Abbey is definitely worth the drive through the countryside from York. If you love Medieval architecture, this is the place to visit.
Check out more hidden history in my Hidden History series!
