Rievaulx Abbey: A Medieval Historical Site in England

Running head: ANCIENT HISTORY
ANCIENT HISTORY
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1ANCIENT HISTORY
Introduction
The current era is surrounded by the factor of medievalism as its various forms. The
world is still surrounded and equipped with wonderful fascination from the Middle Ages and
finds its meaningful place in the western culture (Hodgson, 2016). There has been numerous
historical sites and buildings and architecture constructed within the era of the medieval ages
ranging from 500CE to 1500CE. This are still under preservation by the government of the
nations and have transformed in heritage tourist places attracting tourist throughout the world.
The essay aims to illustrates and analyze the medieval historical site, the Rievaulx Abbey
situated in England within the country of Europe.
Discussion
Rievaulx Abbey was first discovered in the year 1132 by a group of twelve monks. The
Abbey was initially the Clairvaux Abbey. The history of this abbey goes back to the medieval
era where it was named as the Cistercian abbey for getting established in the northern part of the
England. The abbey was known to be one of the most spiritually famous and powerful centers
for the propagation of the monasticism at Britain. It had housing structure of 650 strong
community towards the peak of 1160s which was under the famous abbot of Aelred (Horsfield,
2016). The Rievaulx Abbey become one of the most remarkable reform movements of European
monasteries on 12th century emphasizing on the literal observance regarding the set of rules for
the life of monastery by St Benedict in the era of 6th century.
Rievaulx Abbey was closed on December 3 in the year 1538 due to the part of
monastorial supression that took place under Henry VIII between the year 1536-1540. The abbey
, one of the most powerful church of that era, the medieval ages was being dismantled with the

2ANCIENT HISTORY
reservation of the leads of the roof and the king bells. The abbey was being equipped with certain
iron works and the successful of the artful settings was apparent from the year 1770s in the time
during which the artists and the writer came for recording its effects (Excavations & Council,
2015). From the later half of the 18th century, this powerful historical place become one of the
renowned destination among the visitors.
Through the passage of time, the abbey and its buildings were altered. The abbe has been
renovated and reconstructed for the preservation and display of the romantic ruins of a historical
heritage of the England. By the mid of 19th century the ruins of the abbey was being appreciated
for the architectural evidences. Repairing was carried out in the year 1907 when some of the
abbey ruins were about to collapse (Fergusson, Harrison & Coppack, 1999). The intervention
from the state and the government of the country saved the ruins of the abbey. The abbey was
taken in guardianship by the office of works by the government of the state in the year 1917. The
work and the repairs done by the governmental project regarding the policy for the protection of
the historical sites has not at all affected the stats of the abbey as the authentic historical sites
since as per the strict guidance of the state government, there has been no additional
development of structures with new resources but only the abbey ruins was repaired which was
in the state of imminent collapse.
The Rievaulx Abbey encourages tourism and attract visitors with its escape towards the
tranquil valley situated in the North York Moors aiming for the discovery of the impressive ruins
that belongs to one of the powerful and influential Cistercian monasteries of England. The abbey
attracts its visitor with the promise of the experience of a wide array of light shines over the
fascinating past of the abbey and the livelihood of the monks who resided there (Jamroziak,
2006). The abbey gives the tourist the opportunity to explore the elegant museum displaying