The UK has plenty of historical sites to explore, some of which date back thousands of years. Although none of the Christian religious sites are quite that old, several have their origins in the medieval period. For hundreds of years, abbeys functioned as centers of power and influence, until the Reformation brought in a new way of doing things. The abbeys were stripped of their wealth and power, and often destroyed completely. However, the ruins of these sites are well worth visiting, if only to gain a sense of the immense structures that would once have stood there. Here are three of the best abbeys to visit around the UK.
Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire
Perhaps the most powerful abbey during the medieval period, Rievaulx Abbey now stands as a shell of its former self. However, despite the destruction the ruins are incredibly compelling, and it’s easy to see how powerful and influential the men who once ruled the abbey would have been. The abbey stands at the edge of a very pretty village which is also worth visiting, once you’re done gazing at the remains of this historical site.
Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire
Starkly silhouetted against the sky, it’s easy to see why Whitby Abbey inspired Bram Stoker to set a portion of his Gothic novel Dracula in the Yorkshire town. Like Rievaulx, not much remains of the abbey that once stood on the clifftop, but the structure that still stands is undoubtedly compelling and beautiful.
Buckfast Abbey, Devon
Unlike the previous abbeys mentioned here, Buckfast does not stand in ruins. Built on the site of a medieval abbey which was indeed levelled according to the orders of Henry VIII, the modern church was constructed in the early 20th century. However, this site is still well worth visiting from a historical perspective, especially as the formal grounds and gardens have been laid out in imitation of a medieval monastic garden.