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Quotation from English Heritage website:

"In the late 12th century, the historian William of Newburgh described Byland Abbey as one of the shining lights of northern monasticism. The abbey rose to be one of the largest of the Savigniac order in Britain and the remains of the buildings, particularly the great church, are significant in the development of northern architecture in the second half of the 12th century. Sacked by a Scots army after the battle of Shaws Moor in 1322, it was suppressed in 1538; the buildings then became ruinous and a source of building stone for local people."

Alan Murray-Rust adds:
Byland Abbey has particular significance among the many Cistercian abbey ruins in Britain because it never underwent any significant rebuilding after its foundation. It therefore represents a complete late 12th century Cistercian monastic complex.
Although the formal foundation of the abbey occurred in 1177, the majority of the structures had been completed by this time. Building appears to have started around 1150. English Heritage dates the various principal elements as follows:
1150-60: West range including lay brothers' quarters (frater, dorter, dayroom) and cellars, also the south wall and part of south transept of the church
1160-65: East range comprising chapter house, monks' dayroom with dorter over, and south range including kitchen and warming room
1165-77: The outer walls of the church, monks' frater and abbot's lodging
1180-90: The nave arcades, roof and tower and galilee porch.
The 13th – 15th centuries saw extensions to the Abbot's lodging and new infirmary buildings.

The abbey buildings are Listed Grade I and are also a Scheduled Monument.

Created: Wed, 13 Aug 2014, Updated: Wed, 21 Aug 2024