Easby Abbey, Richmond, Coast to Coast
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Easby Abbey, Easby, Richmond
Easby Abbey, Richmond, Coast to Coast
Easby Abbey is one mile from Richmond town centre and is located on the opposite riverbank of the River Swale to the Coast to Coast path. Within its grounds is St Agatha's Church, which hosts a replica of Easby Cross, the original of which has been housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. An attractive riverbank walk through fields will convey you from Richmond all the way to the abbey. Although the abbey is ruinous the ancient church of St Agatha, only yards from the abbey, continues its function as a church.
Easby Abbey is one of the best preserved monasteries of the Premonstratensian White Canons in England and has a Grade I Listing. It was founded in 1152 by Roald, constable of Richmond, but fell victim to the dissolution of monasteries in 1536. After only 2 years most of its buildings had been stripped and demolished.
Easby Abbey
The remains of Easby Abbey occupy a considerable area. Many of the abbey walls are predominently intact and sprawl over a large distance. Easby Abbey is open to the public save on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and there is no entrance fee.
Easby Abbey Nave
The Nave is located north of the Cloister Garth. It is set apart for the laity, i.e. all but the clergy. This would include non-ordained members of the abbey. The Nave is within yards of the River Swale's riverbank, which is just beyond the garden wall.
Quire and Presbytery
The Quire is the area that provides seating for the clergy and Abbey choir. It is located west of the Presbytery and east of the nave. The Presbytery is where the abbey's ministers meet with the congregations of other church bodies.
East range of Cloister
The remains of the Chapter House can be seen in the centre of the cloister, forward of the large central arch. The sacristy is to the left of the Chapter House. The wall to the right is the Refectory's north wall.
Easby Abbey Refectory
The Refectory is where the monks enjoyed their meals. Of necessity an abbey's refectory was planned to be a large area designed to seat a considerable number of diners at a time. It was also used for large meetings. Easby Abbey's Refectory was accessed from its inner courtyard, the Cloister.
North Wall Extended Chancel
Niches in the north wall of the extended chancel are thought to have housed the tombs of members of the Scrope family. The Scrope family where landowners of knightly rank who were based in the Yorkshire valley of Wensleydale at Bolton Abbey. The Scrope family chose Easby as their burial place and it is thought they paid for the chancel of the abbey church to be extended.
Infirmary
The infirmary was connected to the abbey by a covered passageway. The infirmary garden is beyond the buildings. Its kitchen is to the north west (left) side of the buildings.
Abbey Gatehouse
The Abbey Gatehouse is a Grade I Listed Building, formerly part of the entrance to the Abbey, but the entrance road now passes around its side. One of the wall stones has a grotesque head carving built into it.
