Byland Abbey

Byland Abbey, founded by Cistercian monks in 1177, stands in a quiet vale at the foot of the North York Moors, a few miles from the market town of Coxwold. The abbey was founded by a community of monks who had made several earlier unsuccessful attempts at establishing a permanent home, wandering across northern England for forty years before finally settling at Byland. The dedication and persistence of the community was reflected in the magnificent church they eventually built — at the time of its completion, the church of Byland was the largest Cistercian church in England.

The ruins that survive today, cared for by English Heritage, are dominated by the great west facade of the church — a soaring composition of Early Gothic lancet arches, with the lower half of a magnificent rose window still standing at the apex. This west facade is one of the most important survivals of Early English Gothic architecture in Britain, and its influence on later cathedral building — the design appears to have influenced York Minster and other northern churches — gives it a significance beyond its spectacular appearance.

Byland's greatest treasure, however, lies underfoot. The abbey floor retains the largest surviving area of medieval tiled flooring in England — intricate geometric patterns in decorated tiles, many still in their original positions, covering much of the nave, choir, and transepts. The tiles, produced in local workshops, display an astonishing range of patterns and designs and represent one of the great artistic achievements of medieval England.

The site is compact and well interpreted by English Heritage, with a small museum containing carved stonework and excavated finds, and an audio guide that brings the abbey's history vividly to life.