Jervaulx and Fountains built extensions in the 12th centuries, making their churches two storeys high. Not wanting to be outdone Abbot Roger II decided Rievaulx should compete with the three storey height of Whitby and Tynemouth, both Benedictine abbeys. The white stonework in these photos portray the quality of 13th century extension work, adding a third storey to the towering height of Rievaulx church. The lower dark area in the first photo wouldnt have been visible at the time, as the dormitory was built against the wall of the church here, the spiral night stairs and line of the dormitory roof just visible in the wall. The plan was to rebuild the entire church in this glorious white stone but only the seven bay presbytery was completed before money began to run out. Raiders from Scotland struck first, attacking the abbey and stealing valuable plate during a destructive visit to Yorkshire. This was followed by an outbreak of Black Death that hit monasteries hard as the inhabitants lived in shared dormitories where disease could easily spread. Abbot Roger II resigned in 1239 in disgrace, seen as the cause of the abbeys financial problems with his desire for the rebuilding to continue even as money ran out. The abbey never regained its wealth and the variation in stone colour visible today is the ongoing symbol of the sometimes significant difference between spiritual dreams and financial reality!
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:32:23 +0000
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