Thursday 17th August

Places like Rievaulx Abbey make me want to weep. Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of the reformation, the destruction of many fine churches that have vanished reads St Edmundsbury, Hales, Waltham, Glastonbury etc. In many instances the remains are so scant the loss is not immediately obvious but here, like Fountains, we can see the extent of our loss. Oh to see them today.






After the enjoyable and informative audio tour I stopped at Rievaulx Terrace a simple woodland walk to two "temples" built as dining rooms for nearby Duncombe park with views of the ruins.






Then onto Nunnington Hall. The top floor has changing exhibitions. This time on childrens artists. Anyone fancy an orginal Winnie the Pooh at £75k?




They have long memries here. Near Rievaulx is Old Byland. It used to be the home of Byland Abbey, however lay brothers could hear the bells of both Byland and Rievaulx and got confused. The abbey moved in the 12th century.

Another relic. It was not as grand as Rievaulx but it still was 330ft long. Which makes it comparable to Selby Abbey, Christchurch Priory or Beverley Minster for instance.