Easby Abbey - Richmond, North Yorkshire (EH)
Easby was founded in 1155 by Roald, Constable of Richmond Castle, for the Premonstratensian order. Unlike the Cistercian orders at Rievaulx and Byland, the Premonstratensians were part of the wider community, preaching and ministering to the world outside. The local parish priest was one of the canons from Easby. They became known as the White Canons, because of their white habits. The other abbeys of this order in the north of England were at Egglestone, Blanchland, Alnwick, Shap, Coverham, Hornby and Cockersand. From the size of the buildings here at Easby, we can deduce that Roald and later benefactors gave generously. In the early fourteenth century, the Scrope family of Bolton Castle gave further money, and it was about this time that the upper part of the refectory was rebuilt and the eastern part of the church extended. In 1346, the abbey suffered damage and had a reduced income due to English troops who were billeted here. In 1393, Richard Scrope gave further money to support ten more cannons, and to found a chantry chapel in the abbey. When the monasteries were dissolved in 1537, many of the abbey buildings were to suffer. Roofs were deliberately removed, along with furnishings, and the church was destroyed.
The abbey gatehouse seen below marked the entrance to the outer court of the abbey, where the stables, storehouses and workshops would have been. On the other side of the road is St Agatha's Church. This church precedes the abbey, and remains in use today. The oldest parts of the present building date from the twelfth century and there are some beautiful medieval wall paintings, a twelfth century font and a Saxon cross shaft inside. The church is not always open however.
The layout of Easby abbey differs somewhat from other abbeys due to the position of the river and drainage facilities and the presence of St Agatha's church. The cloisters are not square, the dormitory is on the south west rather than the south east and the infirmary is on the north side of the church. Although much ruined, there are remnants of the fine decoration in the stonework. The dormitory staircase on the west side of the cloister has early 'beakhead' ornamentation and there was fine gothic tracery in the refectory windows.
Now, the guide books suggest that the abbey is easily reached by a riverside walk from the nearby town of Richmond. We found that there were no signposts and the path around the abbey had been recently diverted for some purpose. Then it rained. Heavily. So on this occasion, we only saw the abbey at a distance.