An Analysis of Rievaulx Abbey: A Medieval Historical Site in England

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Rievaulx Abbey, a significant historical site located in England. It begins with an introduction to medievalism and its enduring influence, highlighting the abbey's historical context as a Cistercian monastery established in 1132. The essay delves into the abbey's history, including its role as a powerful monastic center, its closure during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and its subsequent transformation into a tourist destination. The discussion covers the abbey's architectural features, its preservation efforts, and its appeal to visitors, drawing from travel blogs and visitor experiences. The essay concludes by emphasizing the abbey's historical importance, its preservation by the government, and its continued attraction for tourists interested in exploring the remnants of England's rich past. The essay also provides insights into the abbey's museum, cafe, and audio tours, offering a comprehensive overview of the site's significance.

Running head: ANCIENT HISTORY
ANCIENT HISTORY
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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

3ANCIENT HISTORY
some of the artefacts that are not seen and which reflects the long historical story of rise and fall
of the abbey of North England. The tourists furthermore get the chance to wander around the
extensive romantic ruins of the abbey for discovering and witnessing more regrading the
buildings and how the abbey was designed in its several developmental stages.
The personal ideas of the author of the essay merges with the experience of the actual
visitors of this abbey by illustrations from the travelling blogs and webpages focusing travel
experience of the world travelers and history lovers (Rievaulx Abbey | English Heritage, 2019).
The abbey offers some of the magnificent and stunning views from the newly developed visitors
section with some tasty treats at the newly formed cafe. Some of the major attractions of this site
for the world tourists and the history lovers includes the exploration and the guide through the
romantic ruins of the abbey, the visit and the exploration of the museum inside the abbey, the
tasty treats and refreshment opportunity at the rievaulx café with a magnificent and peaceful
view of the ruins (Visiting Rievaulx Abbey And Helmsley In North Yorkshire - Away With
Maja, 2019). Furthermore the tour to the abbey provides the chance for the tourist to take the
famous audio tour with the family, the tour through the ruins enhances the fun and the chance to
hear the history of the famous abbey and the stories related to this historical ruins.
Conclusion
Thus it can be concluded from the above discussion that the world is still surrounded and
equipped with wonderful fascination from the Middle Ages and finds its meaningful place in the
western culture. While there are numerous of constructions and architectural examples belonging
from the medieval era, the essay highlights over the Rievaulx Abbey situated in England within
the country of Europe. The essay illustrates the historical background of the abbey together with

4ANCIENT HISTORY
the discussion of its current situation, the major attraction of the abbey and how the abbey
attracts and supports tourism. The essay clearly explains how this historical site has been
changed and preserved by the government of the state for the display to the tourists as one of the
famous heritage sites of the world.

5ANCIENT HISTORY
References
Excavations, W. A., & Council, E. F. D. (2015). Architectural Archaeology.
Fergusson, P., Harrison, S. A., & Coppack, G. (1999). Rievaulx Abbey: community, architecture,
memory (pp. 177-86). Yale: Yale University Press.
Hodgson, V. A. (2016). The Cistercian Abbey of Coupar Angus, c. 1164-c. 1560.
Horsfield, F. (2016). Rievaulx Abbey: update on a long-term landscape conversation. Teesside
Archaeological Society bulletin., 20, 22-24.
Jamroziak, E. (2006). How Rievaulx Abbey remembered its benefactors. In Religious and Laity
in Western Europe, 1000-1400: Interaction, Negotiation, and Power (pp. 63-76).
Rievaulx Abbey | English Heritage. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.english-
heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/
Visiting Rievaulx Abbey And Helmsley In North Yorkshire - Away With Maja. (2019).
Retrieved from https://www.awaywithmaja.com/visiting-rievaulx-abbey-helmsley-north-
yorkshire/