Monastic church, Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire
The west front of the 12th-century monastic church against the sky. The Cistercian Abbey sits in the shadow of the Hambleton Hills and was founded in circa 1177. By the end of the 13th century it was a wealthy monastery. In 1322 it was pillaged by by the Scots and Edward II, who was dining there, was nearly captured. When the abbey was dissolved in November 1538 there were 25 monks as well as the abbot. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2010).
