I love old buildings. They are always filled with character and images of days gone by.For that reason alone, I am a big fan of castles and churches.I can sit in churches for a whole hour just not doing anything, as I often did in Bruxelles. But I am not even christian, so it’s not like as if I was having conversations with God. I also love old chinese temples, the smokier and the more colorful the better.

Admist the modern amenities and the endless building around Leeds is the very special Kirkstall Abbey. Looking dark and formidable next to a busy main road into town, I had always wanted to do a photoshoot there…and the suprise of a sunny day made the opportunity too hard to pass up.

Introduction
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Kirkstall Abbey is one of the most important buildings historically in Leeds. Built between 1152 and 1182 on the northern bank of the River Aire, the Abbey was home to a community of Cistercian monks and lay brothers. One of Britain’s best preserved abbeys, it has been through many changes in the nearly 1000 years of existence ; a cafe and as part of a main road (!!) is some of the stranger ones .A quick and inept history on the Cistercian monks; they follow the teaching of Jesus Christ but prefer a monastic existence. They are only allowed to speak in certain areas of the abbey. A typical day’s in a monk’s life would start with prayers from 1am – more prayers – transcribing manuscripts -eat- prayers – bedtime at 8.30pm.

By the sixteen hundreds the spiritual fervour that had gripped the middle ages had started to fade, the monastic way of life fell under suspicion by a king whose need for spiritual freedom (and financial expansion) forced the demise of an increasingly unpopular way of life. With the publication of the Valor Ecclesiasticus in 1535, all monasteries valued under £200 per annum were suppressed and their occupants either pensioned off or moved to larger sites. By 1540 the “voluntary” surrender of all the religious houses in England and Wales had been obtained, their estates and sites granted, rented or sold and their inhabitants pensioned off.

After its dissolution in 1539 the abbey’s windows, roofs and much of the stonework were steadily removed for use in local building projects and this helps explain its current partially-ruined appearance. Nevertheless, Kirkstall is still preferred by many historians to other Cistercian abbeys such as those found at Fountains and Rievaulx.

entrance to heaven

the infirmiry

The Church:
Beginning at the west end, the view along the church’s entire 200 foot length is unbroken, with 8 huge columned arches. At services, there was a strict order from back to front. Closest to the west door is the Nave, where lay brothers and lay visitors sat. Closer to the front were aged and infirm monks, then monks and novices in the choir.

The Main church. Believe it or not, it used the be the main route into Leeds during the Victorian era until conservationist moved in on it. How crazy was that? There were even properly carved initials of Victorians into the columns.

Arches

Inside the side arches.

Altar looking up

The Transept:
On either side of the tower providing the important crucifix shape to the church. The North Transept doorway gave access to the cemetery after funeral services. A fascinating feature of the South Transept is the ‘night stairs’ used by monks to reach the choir from their dormitory for night vigils.

Upview at the middle of the Transept.

The Cloisters and Chapter House:
The Cloisters form one of the most tranquil corners of Leeds, a square with covered walkways where monks would sit reading and writing. The Chapter House has many carved arches and pillars and some old stone coffins.A little piece of trivia; coffins were also stuffed into the walls, for some strange reason. Probably to reinforce the walls ; coffins were made out of stone in the Middle Ages.

Inside the cloisters & chapter house

Courtyard

Out and around:

Gateway to the shining light

Side view

Holy swan!

quack?

bloomin’ river

sepia-toned glory

view the rest of my pictures in my Flickr account here. Bear in mind that they have been kept private, if you would like to view it, please let me know and I will add you!

information/facts stole off Kirkstall Abbey’s website . Photos are all mine.

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