Ruins of St Mary's Abbey, York by fishers

Ruins of St Mary's Abbey, York

Off on a bus trip this morning, but I arrived in York city centre a bit early, so time for a walk through the Museum Gardens, and chance to get a few shots there.

These ruins are of St Mary's Abbey. Much has been destroyed, but this north wall of the nave and the arch which would have been at the base of a central tower remain impressive and give some idea of the scale of the building. To the left are the bases of several pillarswhich would have formed part of the south transept. Parts of the building completely destroyed are marked in the grass with lines of stone.

The original church on the site was founded in 1055 and dedicated to Saint Olaf II of Norway. That church still exists, immediately to the right of the window arches, and in much modified form still serves as a parich church for the local community.

This church building was started in 1270, under the direction of Abbot Simon de Warwick, and was swiftly completed during a single twenty-four year building campaign, such was the financial strength of the abbey. The completed abbey church was 350 ft in length, consisted of a nave with aisles, north and south transepts with chapels in an eastern aisle, and a presbytery with aisles. To the east of the cloister and on the line of the transepts were a vestibule leading to the chapter house, the scriptorium and library.

In this shot a dull start to the day with quite a bit of cloud was relieved by a break in the clouds allowing the sun to stream onto the stone of this building.

Ian
Great composition and colours, especially in the grey sky. The shadows on the ruins are wonderful too. A fav for me!
August 23rd, 2016  
simply incredible. to think that a building that was built back then is still standing. beautiful light in this shot, Ian. fav.
August 23rd, 2016  
Great shotof those beautiful ruins. ( can ruins be beautiful? as they are ruins/left overs of something more greater and more beautiful)
A fav for the view and a fav for the historical explanation.
August 23rd, 2016  
Wonderful capture.
August 23rd, 2016  
Fabulous....what beautiful stone work even though not in all its original glory.
August 23rd, 2016  
The sun came out in perfect time for your picture - superb!
August 23rd, 2016  
Beautifully captured and explained Ian but you haven't told us how it came to be destroyed - is this another atrocity to be laid at Henry VIII's feet?
August 23rd, 2016  
Excellent capture of that ancient ruin. I have difficulty grasping such an extensive history. Fav
August 23rd, 2016  
Great capture Fav
August 23rd, 2016  
Outstanding composition...love the light in this shot
August 23rd, 2016  
Beautifully composed shot. I like the repetition of the arches.
August 24th, 2016  
Beautiful arches!
August 24th, 2016  
Beautiful! Must've been impressive when it was still in use!
August 24th, 2016  
Beautiful ruins
August 24th, 2016  
I love these old ruins - they give such an effective and impressive idea of how amazing the abbey must have been. Beautiful capture.
August 24th, 2016  
@alfsson @catsmeowb @pyrrhula @thresheg @sarah19 @busylady @vignouse @tonydebont @777margo @seattlite @skstein @radiogirl @mimiducky @kjarn @sangwann

Well I'm surprised and pleased with the very positive response that this shot received - thank you all for your comments and favs!

I was extremely lucky with this shot, with a gap in the clouds allowing a burst of brightness on the building just as I passed by, and by the absence of visitors. The ruins are in the grounds of the Museum Gardens, which by the middle of the day are very busy with people, and it would be impossible to get such a shot without crowds.

Richar has quite rightly pointed out that I didn't explain why this building is in ruins. As he suggested it was a victim of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries, being closed in 1539. It is easy to understand why it would be a target - St Mary's was the largest and richest Benedictine establishment in the north of England and one of the largest landholders in Yorkshire, so an attractive source of wealth for the king.

Ian
August 24th, 2016  
Wonderful ruin...super image...loads of history...fav
August 25th, 2016  
@ivan

Thank you for the comment and fav - they are much appreciated!

Ian
August 28th, 2016  
Impressive indeed! wow
July 8th, 2020  
@ninaganci

Thank you Nina - the weather was rather kinder to me in 2016 than it is at the moment. We are having far too many dull and grey days. Photos of this stonework really do benifit from sunlight on it.

Ian
July 8th, 2020  
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