Jervaulx Abbey

Today we took a trip out to Jervaulx Abbey, a very beautiful place and the ancient ruins of a Cistercian abbey built in 1156. Yes, my American friends 1156! The abbey is tucked away in lovely rolling hills and surrounded by sheep grazing fields. As Lucy often asks to see animals when we go out for a walk, she got her fill of sheep (and many rounds of Baa Baa Black Sheep on our way) today.

One of the things I miss about England when we're at home is the history, the old buildings and traditions that for me are a strong part of our roots over here. I grew up being taken around old National Trust properties, walking through ancient countryside littered with ridge and furrow (the marks of past farming communities) and ruined forts and castles. So Jervaulx Abbey was a welcome step back in time that I haven't had for some time.

It is a typical 'off day' in an English summer today - grey and rainy. Just plain damp really. But us Brits aren't easily put off and we are known for our collection of waterproof rain coats and wellingtons (rain boots) for outings on days like these. We all donned ours, and Lucy put on her new all-in-one rain suit which Granny Grey sent her. No English person in their right mind goes on holiday without rain protection of some sort! The suit was great, as Lucy could splash in puddles and roll around on the wet grass without worry of her getting soggy and muddy.

The abbey ruins are crowded with wild flowers and open grass areas, and pretty scenes are framed by old stone doorways. There are even a number of original tombs still evident in the church area of the abbey where some of the more important monks who lived there would have been buried. I love Tudor history and enjoyed reading about Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s which saw the demise of this beautiful place all those centuries ago. It has since been left to fall into ruins and is now privately owned and open to the public to wander around and marvel at it's beauty and history.

We went on for lunch at The Black Sheep Brewery which is in Masham, and a famous brewery over here. They brew a beer which is simialr to an IPA - some specialist places in the States do sell it so some of you may have tried it before. Nothing like an omlette, chips (fries) and a salad to finish off a lovely morning in the fresh air :)