Rievaulx Abbey 
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Once the largest and most important monastery in England, Rievaulx Abbey now lies in ruins in a beautiful and tranquil valley. Rievaulx (pronounced "Ree-voh") was the first Cistercian abbey in northern England and its ruins are among the most atmospheric in the region. The monks thought so, too: one Rievaulx abbot described his surroundings as "everywhere peace, everywhere serenity."
History
In 1132, St. Bernard of Clairvaux sent 12 monks from Clairvaux (France) to found the Abbey of Rievaulx. The model for the first church, built c.1135 to 1145, was probably the mother house at Clairvaux in France and reflected the functional austerity of the time.
From these modest beginnings grew one of the wealthiest monasteries of medieval England and the first northern Cistercian monastery. Rievaulx enjoyed the protection of nearby Helmsley Castle, the owners of which provided much of the abbey's land. At one time, the inhabitants of Rievaulx numbered some 150 monks and 500 lay brethren, and it became the mother house of several other northern abbeys.
The monks of nearby Byland Abbey disputed land ownership with Rievaulx, which led to engineering works to divert the course of the River Rye, the boundary between their properties. You can still see traces of the old river and the channels dug by the monks.
A steady stream of monks came to Rievaulx Abbey, attracted by the prestige of Abbot Aelred, author and preacher, who was regarded then and later as a wise and saintly man.
Following his death in 1167, the monks of Rievaulx sought canonization for their former leader, and in the 1220s they rebuilt the east part of their church in a much more elaborate style to house his tomb. Most of this 13th-century 'presbytery' still stands to virtually its full impressive height, a reminder of Rievaulx's original splendour.
Rievaulx was still a vibrant community when Henry VIII dissolved it in 1538. Its new owner was Thomas Manners, first Earl of Rutland and one of Henry's advisers. In accordance with the king's orders, he swiftly instigated the systematic destruction of the buildings and the stripping of the valuable lead roofs.
In the 1750s Thomas Duncombe III beautified the estate by building the terrace with two Grecian-style temples; these temples, now called Rievaulx Terrace & Temples, are in the care of the National Trust.
According to Lonely Planet, "Rievaulx is everything a ruin should be: battered enough by the passage of time to give it a venerable air, but with enough beautiful stonework, soaring pillars and graceful arches remaining so you can imagine how it looked in its 13th-century heydey."
The best preserved building is the abbey church, particularly the presbytery in the east end. Rising a full three stories in height, it shows off Early English flying buttresses. It is unique in its alignment, which is on a southeast to northwest axis rather than the traditional east-west axis. This was necessitated by the lay of the land.
Across the 15-acre site are many abbey outbuildings standing to a good height, and virtually the whole range can be identified at foundation level. Another of the impressive architectural treasures still fairly well preserved is the monks' refectory. This beautiful dining hall, some 124ft (37.5m) long and 50ft (15.2m) high, was supported by an undercroft built into the terraced ground. A good deal of the arcading, and several of the graceful arched lancet windows of the refectory give an indication of the former glory of this communal hall.
An indoor exhibition, 'The Works of God and Man', explores the agricultural, industrial, spiritual and construction aspects of Rievaulx's history, employing a variety of lively and interactive displays. There are family-friendly books and activities, and special childrens' trails during school holidays.
| Names: | Rievaulx Abbey |
| Type of site: | Christian monastery |
| Date: | 1132 |
| Status: | Ruined |
| Location: | North York Moors, North Yorkshire, England |
| Maps: | streetmap.co.uk; OS Map 100, ref SE 577849 |
| Phone: | 01439 798228 |
| Hours: | Apr-Sept: daily 10-6; Oct: 10-5, closed Tue & Wed; Nov-Mar: 10-4, closed Tue & Wed; closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1. |
| Cost: | £4.20 |
| Notes: | Helmsley Castle can be reached on foot via the Cleveland Way National Trail (approx. 2.5 miles/1.5 hours each way, strong footwear required). |
Getting There
Rievaulx Abbey is 2-1/4 miles W of Helmsley on minor road off B1257
- Personal visit (May 2006).
- "Rievaulx Abbey," Lonely Planet Great Britain, 6th ed. (2005).
- "Rievaulx Abbey," English Heritage.
- "Rievaulx Abbey," The Heritage Trail.
- "Abbey of Rievaulx," Catholic Encyclopedia.
