Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey isruined Cistercian monastery inoutskirtsLeedsYorkshire, setgrounds onnorth bank ofRiver Aire. It was originally founded c. 1152was over seventy five yearsconstruction. It was closed duringDissolution ofMonasteries underauspicesHenry VIII. The ruins have been painted by artists such as J.M.W. Turner.The English Cistercian houses,which theresuch extensivebeautiful remains at Fountains, Rievaulx, Kirkstall, Tintern, Netley, etc., were mainly arranged aftersame plan,slight local variations. As an example, below isgroundplanKirkstall Abbey, one ofbest preserved.
The church hereofCistercian type, withshort chanceltwo squares,transeptsthree eastward chapelseach, divided by solid walls (2 2 2). The wholeofmost studied plainness. The windowsunornamented, andnave has no triforium. The cloister tosouth (4) occupieswhole length ofnave. Oneast side standstwo-aisled chapter-house (5), between which andsouth transept issmall sacristy (3),onother side two small apartments, onewhich was probablyparlour (6). Beyond this stretches southwardcalefactory or day-room ofmonks (14). Above this whole rangebuilding runsmonks' dormitory, opening by stairs intosouth transept ofchurch.
Atother end werenecessaries. Onsouth side ofcloister we haveremains ofold refectory (11), running, asBenedictine houses, from eastwest, andnew refectory (12), which, withincrease ofinmates ofhouse, superseded it, stretching, asusualCistercian houses, from northsouth. Adjacentthis apartment areremains ofkitchen, pantrybuttery. The arches oflavatoryto be seen nearrefectory entrance. The western side ofcloister is, as usual, occupied by vaulted cellars, supporting onupper storydormitory oflay brothers (8).
Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire
image:kirkstall_abbey.jpg
1. Church. 10. Common room.
2. Chapels. 11. Old refectory.
3. Sacristy. 12. New refectory.
4. Cloister. 13. Kitchen court.
5. Chapter-house. 14. Calefactory or day-room.
6. Parlour. 15. Kitchenoffices.
7. Punishment cell (?). 16-19. Uncertain; perhaps offices
8. Cellars,dormitories connected withinfirmary.
conversi over.
9. Guest-house. 20. Infirmary or abbot's house.
Extending fromsouth-east angle ofmain groupbuildings arewallsfoundations ofsecondary groupconsiderable extent. These have been identified either withhospitium or withabbot's house, butoccupypositionwhichinfirmarymore usually found. The hall wasvery spacious apartment, measuring 83 ft.length by 48 ft. 9 in.breadth,was divided by two rowscolumns. The fish-ponds lay betweenmonastery andriver tosouth. The abbey mill was situated about 80 yards tonorth-west. The millpool may be distinctly traced, together withgowt or mill stream.
