Please login or click here to join.
Forgot Password? Click Here to reset pasword
The idyllic ruins of St.Mary's Abbey form an eye-catching centrepiece in the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens. These are all that remain of a Benedictine re-foundation by King William II in 1088 of a monastery built in 1055. For several hundred years St.Mary's was one of the wealthiest and grandest in the region.
St.Mary's was populated by monks from Lastingham who had transferred to live and work under Benedictine rule. The Prior, together with other members of the community became aware of the need for reform, this resulted in arguments, so a group led by the Prior left in 1132 to found the renowned Cistercian Fountains Abbey.
The old order at St.Mary's continued to flourish until Henry VIII's Dissolution, when it was closed and left to become the spectacular ruin we see today.
Excavated finds from the site are on display in the museum, and interestingly the ruinous building often forms a dramatic back-drop for productions of the famous York Mystery Plays.
These romantic ruins offer visitors the chance to experience a little of York's early Religious life. Together with the Yorkshire Museum, they are one of the City's "must sees" on every visitors tour of York.
a Historic City in the county of North Yorkshire
(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)One of the most historic cities in Britain with overs 2000 years of history.....
in the county of North Yorkshire
(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SW)Tadcaster has been at the centre of the Brewing industry since the 18th century, and today breweries remain conspicuous on its landscape...
a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire
(15.9 miles, 25.5 km, direction W)This attractive market town lies in the high reaches of Yorkshire above Harrogate. It is overlooked by the peaceful waters of the River Nidd which is spanned by a magnificent.....
in the county of North Yorkshire
(18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction W)One of the chief town's in Yorkshire's old West Riding, Harrogate acheived early fame as a Spa resort...
in the county of East Riding of Yorkshire
(19.0 miles, 30.6 km, direction S)This small town appears to be almost surrounded by water, it developed along the banks of the River Aire and to the east is the Ouse...
All towns in North Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Museum stands in spacious gardens on the banks of the River Ouse. It contains rich finds from the Roman city and.....
This is a beautiful riverside medieval building dating back to the 1300's or beyond. It was originally mentioned in Yorl's.....
What a way to enjoy a fantastic view over the amazing city of York! The new Norwich Union Yorkshire wheel is vast, it measures.....
This attractive house was originally built for the Treasurer to York Minster, Radulphus was the first treasurer, he served from.....
The remains of the Legionary bathhouse of the fortress of Eboracum. This museum is accessed through the Roman Bath pub, situated.....
Follow PicturesOfEngland.com on social media and help share the beauty of England....
