I opted for the car park in Bolton Abbey village. Jervaulx Abbey has a sign at the entrance stating: Historical, Tranquil, Beautiful – and that sums it up well. Having explored the ruins and crossed the river by the bridge, not the stepping stones which looked a bit hazardous for us senior travellers, we headed up the eastern bank of the Wharfe. Adjoining it are the spectacular ruins of the 12th Century Augustinian monastery, which is even more impressive when viewed over the River Wharfe.
Brown signs on the main road direct you to the carpark which is situated in front of the tearoom and visitor centre and opposite side of the road to Jervaulx Abbey.
Playing host to civil ceremonies, wedding receptions, charity events and plays, as well as being used as a film and photo shoot location, it is also part of the Turner Trail. Open from dawn 'til dusk So much cake! Honesty box basis, © Jervaulx Abbey 2020 As a family run ancient monument we wanted to stand proud and keep the peace and tranquility that the Abbey would have always stood for. That’s the only charge for the site, so if you arrive by foot or on bicycle, there is nothing to pay.
However there are two abbeys that I had driven passed many times, but never stopped to explore: Jervaulx Abbey and Bolton Abbey. We try to keep signs to a minimum so people can just enjoy the tranquility, the guide book offers visitors more information for those who want to learn more. My wife was fascinated by all the different styles of gateways and windows illustrating three centuries of architectural development. Maybe as a member of English Heritage and the National Trust, I have tended to visit their sites rather than independent ones like Bolton and Jervaulx. We have a restoration page to read about the phases of work completed over the years. Yes tranquil is definitely a correct description of the site, and historical and beautiful becomes more apparent the nearer you get to the actual ruins. If you are interested in visiting other historic abbeys and heritage sites, then see: English Heritage versus National Trust – Which to join? If you're a member your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. There is small car park across the road from the abbey which has a charge of £1 payable into an honesty box. History of Rievaulx Abbey Rievaulx Abbey, founded in 1132, was the first Cistercian abbey to be established in the north of England. • If you are 60+ get 20% discount on standard membership with National Trust for Scotland and you can visit National Trust properties in England as well. The Bolton Abbey estate is extremely well managed. • For a £5 discount on annual and gift membership, click on Historic Houses, and use our special discount code STEW05. Jervaulx Abbey in East Witton, 14 miles NW of the city of Ripon, was one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire, England, dedicated to St Mary in 1156. On the other hand, Bolton Abbey seemed to me to be more of a family focussed site with various activities around the extensive estate that follows the River Wharfe for several miles. Designed by Bow House. The nearby tea room was very welcome after our one hour drive from Jervaulx and the abbey itself was just a short walk away. The photographs were taken by BARBARA HANSON. It quickly became one of the most powerful and spiritually renowned centres of monasticism in Britain, housing a 650-strong community at its peak in the 1160s under its most famous abbot, Aelred. Various additions were made to the abbey particularly in the 14th Century, before its dissolution in 1539, with just the church being spared. POSTED 9th JANUARY 2020 by STEVE HANSON. Jervaulx is a privately owned ruin, and that makes for very different feel to other similar abbeys that are in the care of English Heritage. Winning a number of different awards for our baking, we started Where the Ribbon Ends, a celebration and wedding cake business in 2015.
Throughout the restoration, our object has always been to try and maintain the peace and tranquillity of Jervaulx. I’ve visited and written about many of them, including Fountains Abbey, Reivaulx Abbey and Whitby Abbey. I visited Jervaulx Abbey first in the lower reaches of Wensleydale. The abbey is just a short walk from the car park, passing a small gushing spring and sheep grazing on a sloping bank to the right. Keep pets on a leash throughout your visit, keeping a close eye so they won’t dig, poop or cause erosion to the abbe and grounds. The place name Jervaulx is first attested in 1145, where it appears as Jorvalle. Then after a scenic drive over the moors, crossing Nidderdale, I spent the rest of the day at Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale. Designed by Bow House. We please ask you to take your rubbish home with you. Please do not abuse the honesty box system, we are not part of English Heritage or National Trust and receive zero funding towards the day to day upkeep of the abbey, the upkeep relies 100% from your entry contributions.
Kept open and maintained purely on the entrance contributions of our visitors, we receive zero funding from English heritage or National Trust or any other governing body to keep the abbey open day to day. The three miles back to the car park proved quite arduous, not helped by it gradually getting dark as we walked along!