Coverham Abbey

Coverham Abbey lies in Coverham, a small village in North Yorkshire. The Premonstratensian monastery was founded in the early 13th century after an earlier house at Swainby was moved here. Its founder, Ranulf fitzRalph, brought his mother Helewisia’s remains from Swainby to the new chapter house. The abbey suffered damage during 14th-century Scottish raids but later housed fifteen canons and an abbot. Today only ruins remain, protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building. The abbey’s history includes the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, when inspectors led by William Blytheman recorded its silver and gold plate before stripping the roofs of lead. The last abbot received a pension and the monks were allowed to leave. The surviving remains include the church and guesthouse, now part of Coverham Abbey House built in the 18th century. A gatehouse arch and flanking buildings still stand at the entrance, converted long ago into animal shelters. Visitors can see two stone effigies of knights set against a garden wall, one in chain mail with a sword and shield, the other with a scene of hounds chasing a stag. The abbey grounds and exterior have appeared in television episodes of All Creatures Great and Small. Although the site is usually closed, the ruins can be glimpsed from the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church nearby.