A Short Visit To Kirkstall Abbey .

Brief history and photo

Picture and below text from Wikepedia


Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in the western outskirts of Leeds in Yorkshire, set in grounds which are now a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152 and was over seventy five years in construction. It was closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry VIII. The ruins have been painted by artists such as J.M.W. Turner. On 22 November 1539 the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII's commissioners in the Dissolution of the monasteries. In 1671 it passed into the hands of the Brudenell family, Earls of Cardigan. Much of the stone was removed for re-use in other buildings in the area, including the steps leading to Leeds Bridge.

During the 18th century the picturesque ruins attracted artists of the Romantic movement and were painted by artists including Turner. In 1889 the abbey was sold to Colonel John North, who presented it to Leeds City Council. The Council undertook a major restoration project and the abbey was opened to the public in 1895.



This is where we visited on sunday .
A day when i got up , and thought , i need to get
out somewhere . So off we went for a drive , no
particular place in mind and passed this Abbey.
Although i live near , i had never been to see it .
So i had to stop , and take a look , and these
are my views in photographs .



The walk down from the main road





A caged off entrance to the right hand side of the Abbey .

A photo from 1890 inside ( wikepedia )

And mine





Looking up slightly




And the entrance which i just walked through

On the sides of the building , these were dotted about .
Arches with a shelf , and an indentation of a circle .
On the right handside - maybe to put a candle ??





View down the arches , which are on both sides





A walk through a stone archway , brings you to
the courtyard










Inside one of the " rooms " looking
out onto the courtyard






below one a better inside photograph

c/o Wikepedia
My flash was not that good !

Then we walked around the Abbey , where restoration
was taking place , and trying to get a shot
without the building site look !






The back of the abbey , where the giant window is .

We guessed at it`s size - 40 foot wide by 90 foot high .

Wouldn`t this be more magnificant , if it still had

stained glass inside ?

We only spent an hour there , but it

was well worth taking a look .

I always go around places like these , and

often wonder and wish . If i could just go back

in time , for a moment , and see them how

they were originally , in all their glory .

Then i would have my own photograph

of it , in my mind , to remember it .

I hope you enjoyed a little tour of Kirkstall

Abbey , through my eyes ......

If anyone would like one of my photos .

I will gladly email it to you - just let me know !!