Turner Trails - Jervaulx Abbey

Opening Times:

Dawn until dusk all year round

Prices:

Honesty box payment for entry into Jervaulx Abbey

Venue contact details:

T: 01677 460226
W: www.jervaulxabbey.com

Nearby:

Middleham, Middleham Castle
Masham Market Place

Jervaulx Abbey

Turner visited Jervaulx Abbey as part of his 1816 grand tour of Yorkshire for the history of York series. Founded in 1156, Jervaulx Abbey was once a great Cistercian monastery before being ravaged and pillaged during the Dissolution of Monasteries, and dissolved in 1587.

The abbey is a charming and atmospheric ruin; Turner was searching for a view that would show its tranquil setting in the wide sweep of Wensleydale. He was always concerned to notice signs of human activity in the landscape and his sketch includes two distinct plumes of smoke rising from the fields in the valley floor. It was late August or early September, and it is possible that the farmers were burning stubble to prepare for the late summer/autumn ploughing.

Gift shop Tea room Picnic site Public toilets Wheelchair access Dogs accepted

Turner's Viewpoint

Turner concentrated his attention on vantage points in the park to the east of Jervaulx and found one particularly good prospect from a slightly elevated viewpoint where he could look over the abbey to the valley stretching away towards Danby Hall and Middleham ('View over Hills and Dales, with Cluster of Ruins in Foreground', 'Yorkshire 3' sketchbook, Tate Gallery, Finberg number: CXLVI 19). This viewpoint is still accessible today by following the public footpath that leads away south east from the Abbey.

Discover The Landscape

The Turner Trails bench and panel are located within the Jervaulx Abbey grounds.

Turner's Religious Houses

Listen to Episode 4 of our Turner podcast series when Turner expert, Professor David Hill, is joined by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, as they look at Turner's sketches and paintings of Yorkshire's historic religious houses.