Roche Abbey

The picturesque lively grounds is a scene of fun, children playing, couples enjoying a romantic picnic in the summer sun. A million miles from the Cistercian abbey that stood in the same place nearly a thousand years before. With the fun and energy that fulfills the place today it could be difficult to picture the abbey as a working quiet peaceful environment.

Once you do find a quiet corner of the land and gaze at the remains of the church, while listening to the noise of birds in the woodlands, the sound of several man made streams of water flowing, it make the realisation so much more possible.

Roche Abbey was founded in 1147 described as the golden year for Cistercian expansion, by Richard de Busli, Lord of Maltby and Richard Fitzturgis, Lord of Hooten, and is one of the lesser known Cistercian abbeys.

Secluded in the deep valley, and contained within the natural boundaries of magnesium limestone cliffs and miles of woodland Roche Abbey is almost as inaccessible today as it might have been over 800 years ago. There is a small parking area just off the main road but from here it is a short trek down a roughly cobbled, winding lane that eventually leads to the valley floor. Roche Abbey is an extremely peaceful site buried with the secrets of its history in an area of great beauty. The name Roche comes from the rock cliffs that surrounded the abbey.

Today the remains of the abbey stand as a fascinating piece of history. From the cliff footpath running along the site boundary, a very good view across the whole site enables the visitor to understand the plan of the abbey.

Although many of the buildings now survive only as low standing walls, the transepts of the church remain almost to their full height and are a magnificent example of the French influenced early Gothic architecture, and how they would have appeared centuries ago.

The Inner gatehouse also survives again displaying amazing architectural work. The inner gatehouse at Roche is now regarded as one of the earliest and finest Cistercian gatehouses in the country. It was a two storey building, with a high-pitched roof; nothing remains of the roofing but some of the original paving survives.

The monks who occupied the abbey were known as the monks of St Mary of the rock. The colony arrived in Yorkshire from Newminster Abbey in Northumberland in 1147 to build a new abbey; they chose the most suitable bank of the stream on which to build their new Cistercian monastery. Work began on the North side of the stream. Later buildings were constructed on the other side of the stream, including the Abbot’s lodging, kitchen and infirmary, by the end of the 12th century the abbey was fully completed with the building of the gothic church.