description Rievaulx Abbey Overview
Rievaulx Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in North Yorkshire, England, located in the Rye Valley near Helmsley. Founded in 1132 by Bernard of Clairvaux with colonizing monks from Clairvaux, it became the first Cistercian house in northern England and eventually established numerous daughter houses. St. Aelred served as abbot from 1147 to 1167, a period during which the community expanded substantially, as documented in his writings.
The surviving ruins, managed by English Heritage, include portions of a large Gothic church and monastic buildings adapted to the valley terrain.
insights Ranking position
Rievaulx Abbey ranks #44 of 271 in the Abbey ranking, behind Las Huelgas, ahead of Le Thoronet Abbey.
help Rievaulx Abbey FAQ
Where in England is Rievaulx Abbey located?
Rievaulx Abbey is located in a remote valley of the Rye River in North Yorkshire, England, near the market town of Helmsley. Its secluded location was deliberately chosen by the Cistercian order to ensure isolation from worldly affairs.
Who founded Rievaulx Abbey and when?
The abbey was founded in March 1132 by Bernard of Clairvaux, who sent a colony of 12 monks from the Abbey of Clairvaux in France to establish it. It became the very first Cistercian abbey established in the north of England.
What led to the ruin of Rievaulx Abbey?
Like many English monasteries, Rievaulx fell into ruin following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1538. The king's commissioners dismantled the buildings, leaving behind the striking stone skeletons that are preserved today by English Heritage.
What was the economic output of Rievaulx Abbey at its peak?
At its peak in the mid-12th century, Rievaulx Abbey was one of the wealthiest monasteries in England, home to 140 monks and over 500 lay brothers. It was a massive center for sheep farming and the wool trade, exporting vast quantities of wool to merchants in Italy.
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