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Kirkstall Abbey                                


Kirkstall Abbey was founded by a group of monks from Fountains Abbey who served under the leadership of Abbot Alexander in 1147 CE.  The group originally settled in Barnoldswick, but things faltered there--the local villagers were unhappy at being relocated and felt excluded and unfairly compensated in favor of the abbey. In remedy, and attracted by a lovelier space, Alexander moved the abbey to its present site in 1152.  More>>
           
Kirkstall Abbey
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Order:  Cictercian, or the White Monks, a reformed and strict Benedictine order.

Location: Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

Founded: Founded by a group of monks from Fountains Abbey under the leadership of Abbot Alexander in 1147 CE.  The group originally settled in Barnoldswick, but things faltered there--the local villagers were unhappy at being relocated and unfairly compensated in order to situate the abbey. Alexander moved the abbey to its present site in 1152.


Short History: Kirkstall had a rough beginning and that set the tone for the fortunes of the abbey. The main problem at Kirkstall was reliable funding, and disputes over who owned what land at times forced the monks to leave Kirkstall due to lack of financial support.  Also, Kirkstall had a little trouble with its abbots.  Though many were upstanding men, one was forced to resign over rising debts, and two were and involved in shady local dealings.

Of Interest: Kirkstall Abbey is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former Abbot.  (Perhaps the last of Kirkstall's abbots, John Ripley?  He surrendered the abbey to King Henry VIII in 1539 and lived out the rest of his life in the gatehouse.)

More of Interest:  Apparently a girdle (a belt) at Kirkstall Abbey belonging to St. Bernard was thought to be helpful to women in childbirth.  Interestingly, Kirkstall Abbey was not alone in the use of sainted girdles for this sort of help, St. Alred's girdle at Rievaulx was also useful during childbirth, as was St. Saviour's girdle at Newburgh, St. Mary's girdle at Calder and Kirkham and Fountains, the girdle of St. Werburga's at St. Werburga's in Chester, the Duke of Lancaster's belt at Pontefract, Mary of Nevell's girdle at Coveram, a necklace at Cumbria, and St. Stephen's finger.
               
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Copyright (c) Richenda Fairhurst and historyfish.net, 2007
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