RICHMOND:
database file source="h:/!Genuki/RecordTranscriptions/NRY/RichmondGuide.txt"
Robinson's Guide to Richmond (1833)
Part 7
Easby Abbey
Easby Abbey
Originally founded in 1152, by Roaldus, constable of Richmond
Castle, and inhabited by Canons of the Praemonstratensian order,
or "White Canons." Its revenues were afterwards considerably
augmented by the Lords Scrope, of Bolton, who, from this circumstance,
procured a lease of the Abbey and Lands from Henry VIII. at the
dissolution. It is now the property of Robert Jacques, Esq., whose
substantial mansion stands on the top of the hill, at a short
distance from the ruins.
The enclosure in which the abbey stands, is entered by a door
near the Mill. It is now impossible to identify the exact uses
to which the different parts of the building were applied, but
a few of the principal apartments may be clearly recognized.
Nearest to the parish church, stands the Great Hall, or Refectory,
102 feet long, by 27 wide. The floor was supported by groined
arches, resting in the centre on a row of pillars. At the east
end is a large pointed window, the beautiful tracery of which
is almost entire. It belongs to the era of Edward II. or III.
At the opposite end is the fire-place, and, in the lower apartment,
is a door-way which led by a flight of steps to the Great Kitchen.
There are also, six other elegant windows on the south side,
the second of which, from the east, appears to have been used
as the Reading Gallery, from which portions of the Fathers, and
other Theological Works were read to the Monks at meal times,
by one of their brethren. To the west stood the Kitchen, the great
fire-place of which is very perfect :- and adjoining to this,
the Pantry, Cellar, &c., yet remain entire.
At the north-east of the Refectory, are the walls of another
large room, 40 feet long, by 21 wide, supposed to have been the
Chapter House and was lighted by a very large east window, in
the Tudor style of architecture; this window has frequently been
taken for the principal entrance but a slight examination of the
side walls, will shew that it did not descend to the floor; the
holes are also distinctly visible, which admitted the iron cross
bars, and even the groove which received the edge of the glass,
is decidedly marked. Within the middle arch, on the south side
of the room may be traced a doorway, now walled up, which led
into the lower story of the tower, to which, it has always been
supposed, there was no access except from above.*
*Clarkson's History of Richmond, p.370.
Over the Chapter House was another apartment, also lighted
by a handsome east window, and said to have been the Scriptorium
where the monks employed themselves, previously to the invention
of printing, in transcribing such works as their library afforded,
or in copying and illuminating missals, and other books used in
their church service.
On the opposite side of the inner court, near its south-west
corner, stands a richly adorned Anglo-Norman doorway, consisting
of two clusters or round columns, supporting a circular arch,
covered with rows of carving, -the two inner ones consisting of
the heads of wild animals, and the outer one of foliage. This
is, probably a relic of the ancient edifice built by the constable
Roald and was preserved by lord Scrope on his enlarging and rebuilding
the abbey.-Adjoining to it, of a more modern date, are two ornamented
niches, (surmounted by a pointed arch and other carvings) each
of which contained an image but one only remains, in a very mutilated
state.
Returning to the eastern side of the court, we may next notice
the abbey Church, which projects out to the eastward, beyond the
neighbouring buildings. Within the northern wall are two recesses,
in which stood, as tradition reports, the monuments of the founder
and his wife. Between this part of the building and the chapter
house, are the remains of what is said to have been the south
transept of the abbey church; but a glance upwards will discover,
in the higher story, a fire-place and other architectural
arrangements, which seem to give it a more domestic character.
Further to the north, are the private apartments of the Abbot
and his personal attendants, among which may be noticed, a fire-place
and chimney in a very perfect condition; and a little beyond,
in the upper story, are two doorways, opposite each other, of
a singular construction. Still further, (and on the right hand
side) is the private chapel, or oratory, of the abbot, lighted
by a handsome east window, near to which is a small neat piscina.
At the northern extremity of the ruins, down a narrow descending
passage, is an arch, which tradition points out as the entrance
of a subterraneous passage, either to the Castle or to St. Martins.
It was, probably, nothing more than a drain communicating with
the mill-race which runs past the abbey, a few yards to the west.*
*Grose, in his description of Kirkstall Abbey, notices a similar
report of a subterraneous passage, and remarks, that "there
is scarce an old Monastery in England but has some such ridiculous
story told of it,"
On the Green, to the south of the ruins, stands a venerable
half-decayed tree, which still retains the name of THE ABBOT's
ELM; and on the river side is the ancient Barn, &c., belonging
to the abbey: -the oaken woodwork of the Roof is an interesting
specimen of old carpentry. Passing the Parish Church, (which contains
several fragments of stained glass, formerly belonging to the
abbey,) we approach the great gateway of the abbey. The entrance
on each side is under a double arch of singular construction;
at the first glance it might appear that the pointed arch being
found insufficient, the circular one has been added to support
it: -but on a nearer inspection, it will be perceived that this
could not be the case, as the capitals of the columns consist
each of an entire stone, supporting, at the same time, the round
and pointed arches. The upper apartment was the Record Room, in
which the abbots' courts were held, and the charters and other
muniments belonging to the abbey were preserved: it is now used
as a granary. It is lighted by three small windows, of elegant
dimensions and workmanship.
The different parts of the abbey have suffered much from the
fragments being carried away for other uses, as well as from the
corroding hand of time.
It will always be a matter of regret, both to the antiquary
and the man of taste, that these splendid buildings were allowed
so generally to fall into a dilapidated state -but surely no rational
and reflecting person, whether of the Romish or English Church,
can deliberately wish for a return of those "good old times,"
when the noble murderer, and the titled marauder, were led to
expect pardon and eternal happiness, provided they spent a portion
of their ill-gotten wealth in founding Monasteries, where lazy
monks might prolong the dreary repetition of masses for their
souls' repose.
ABOUT half-way up the hill, on the road leading to the village
of Easby, is a remarkably distinct Echo.
Passing through the village of Easby, towards Richmond, we
arrive at a very interesting object which crosses the Richmond
and Darlington road, just at the point where it meets the Easby
Lane -the SCOTS' DYKE, a rude earthen embankment and trench supposed
to have been a boundary between the Britons and Picts before the
arrival of the Romans. There can be no doubt that it is more ancient
than the walls of Adrian and Severus, as the latter appear to
have been cut through it. It enters England at a place called
Wheelfell, between the rivers North-Tyne and Read, passes into
the county of Durham at Shorn Gate Cross: -crossing the Tees at
Winston, it comes past Stanwick, hither: and after crossing the
Swale, and up St. Martin's pasture, it stretches by Sand-beck
over Hudswell Moor.
On the brow of the hill, commanding a fine prospect, stands
a building generally known as ST. NICHOLAS'S:
Data transcribed from:
Robinson's Guide to Richmond (1833)
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