KIRKSTALL ABBEY

1152 - 2002

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History

Although Kirkstall Abbey was founded in 1152, the story begins a little earlier. In 1147, under the dynamic leadership of Abbot Alexander, a community of monks left Fountains Abbey near Ripon for the the Pennine village of Barnoldswick. This was to be on land owned by Henry de Lacy. owing to problems with the climate and the local populace, it was decided that an alternative site should be found. On passing through the Aire Valley on route to Pontefract Castle, Alexander discovered this pleasant remote area of country, abundant with stone, timber and water. It was inhabited only by a group of hermits.

At the time, the land was held by William of Poitou, he was a vassal of Henry de lacy. The abbot used his influence with De Lacy to secure the site. On May 19th 1152, the monks relocated to Kirkstall from Barnoldswick. Here they built their monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The following was recalled in Jackson's New Illustrated Guide to Leeds (1889). "On his journeys from Barnoldswick to Pomfret, Alexander would pass this spot, and his eyes would tell him that it was a very suitable place, having the additional recommendation of proximity to Leeds, where wealth might easily be found. The whole thing was the stroke of a keen business man and had little to do with the Virgin Mary."

Apparently the hermits who had occupied the area were disposed of by bribery and cajolery.

Initially buildings were made of wood. These were soon replaced with buildings hewn from gritstone quarried in Bramley Fall Woods. This coarse hard-wearing stone was ideal for the construction.

Over the following centuries, further building work took place. Infirmaries, guest houses and the Abbots lodgings etc., were added. Financial limitations meant that major rebuilding was not possible. In the sixteenth century, under Abbot William Marshall, a new phase of building occurred. In this period, roofs to the church were replaced, also battlements and turrets and a great central tower was constructed, which bore his initials.

On November 22nd 1539, monastic life at Kirkstall was brought to a sudden end. Abbot John Ripley was forced to surrender the Abbey to the commissioners of Henry VIII. Following the dissolution, the Abbey passed to Thomas Cramner, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and then to the Crown, following his execution in 1556.

In 1583-54, the Abbey was purchased by Sir Robert Saville, it remained in his family until 1671. By marriage it passed into ownership of the Brudnells, Earls of Cardigan. It remained with the family until the sale of the Cardigan Estates in 1889.

Later that year the abbey was purchased by Colonel John North. He had amassed a fortune from speculation in nitrates, silver, gas utilities and railways. In the same year, North presented the Abbey to the City of Leeds for the enjoyment of its people. Following much clearance and restoration work, the Abbey was opened to the public by the Lord Mayor of Leeds and the Bishop of Ripon on September 14th 1895.

One hundred years later, in 1995. A centenary Son Et Lumiere was held to celebrate this occasion. In 2002, a Heritage Lottery Fund bid was successful, as a result restoration and improvement work can now go ahead. In the year 2002, the Abbey celebrated its 850th anniversary.