Easby Abbey

The remains of the Easby Abbey stand by the River Swale near Richmond. The abbey was founded in 1152 by Roald, Constable of Richmond Castle, for the Premonstratensian order ("white canons"). They undertook preaching and pastoral work in the region (such as distributing meat and drink) but followed a code of austerity similar to that of Cistercian monks. Another Premonstraterian house in the area is the Egglestone Abbey near Barnard Castle.

During the late 14th century the abbey was extended to accommodate more canons and a hospital for 22 poor men. In 1537 all monasteries were dissolved by Henry VIII. Unlike many of them, Easby was never converted for domestic accommodation and many of the buildings suffered damage; roofs were deliberately removed, along with furnishings, and the church was destroyed. Although much ruined, there are remnants of fine decoration in the abbey's stonework; the dormitory staircase on the west side of the cloister for example has early 'beakhead' ornamentation and the refectory is notable for fine gothic tracery in the windows.

According to legend, a secret tunnel runs from the Abbey to the Richmond Castle. Some soldiers once sent a drummer-boy along it to test the theory and followed the sound of his drum from the Castle almost halfway to the Abbey. Suddenly the drumming stopped. The poor boy was never seen alive again - but his ghost still haunts the tunnel, from where a slow drumbeat can sometimes be heard...

On the other side of the road is the tiny St Agatha's Church, once hidded in the shadow of the great abbey. The church precedes the abbey and remains in use today. The oldest parts of the present building date from the 12th century and it houses some of the most remarkable medieval medieval wall paintings in the country. These colourful scenes show the essential elements of the Christian story: the Creation and Fall of Man, the Coming of the Lord, the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. Figures showing agricultural life in the Middle Ages cover the window splays. Note also the 12th century font, the Saxon cross shaft and the jambs of the church door: they have a number of grooves in them which tradition ascribes to local archers sharpening their weapons.

The Abbey of St Agatha, Easby
Easby Abbey on the Heritage Trail
St Agatha's Church
The Legend of the Drummer Boy

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