Place to go: Jervaulx Abbey Title: Jervaulx Abbey Location: Ripon Cost: £ an 'honesty' box is Contact: Tel: 01677 460226 County: North Yorkshire Map Link: Show Map Access Details: The site is part of a 19th Century park, access in difficult, as there are few defined paths Web Link: Show Website Facilities: Café, Gift Shop at Car Park Description: Privately owned ruin of Cistercian Abbey. Review: Jervaulx Abbey is one of the few privately owned Abbeys in Britain, it is maintained with the support of English Heritage. The Abbey lies in beautiful Wensleydale, making a trip valuable just for the scenery. Begun in 1146 it is built to the same plan as the majority of Monasteries in the North East, the only exception is the specially built drain which runs across the site under the Lay Brothers and Monk’s Reredorter and infirmary, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of drainage to health. As a privately owned site it has not been excavated to the same extent as other sites, the ruins are overgrown and surrounded by trees, giving the site its 19th Century Gothic ruin feel, designed to be seen as such from Jervaulx Hall. We found it an interesting challenge discovering the lay out of the Abbey. Some areas have been cleared better than others, the Church and adjoining Cloister are open. An indication of the rather random nature of the maintenance is the Monk’s Embalming Slab at the entrance, rather than in the Monk’s Infirmary, or the way the stones are piled up in the Transept. The Garderobe next to the Monk’s Dorter gives an indication of how comfortable this small Abbey was. An additional trip could include a visit to Aysgarth Parish Church, which contains a screen and choir stalls allegedly from Jervaulx Abbey. Related Items: Why Henry VIII wanted to be head of the Church A 'cut' and 'paste' activity exploring Henry's... Keystage 3   Why Henry VIII wanted to be head of the Church A 'cut' and 'paste' activity exploring Henry's... Keystage 3   Updated: 29 August 2005