5th Year Trip to Fountains Abbey

A merry band left S. Anselm's on Wednesday and headed north into the wilds of Yorkshire to visit one of the most spectacular buildings in the country. Fountains Abbey is a place of peace and contemplation and the pupils had a magical experience here learning about how monks lived nearly a thousand years ago. They sat in seats that monks had used in the 12th century and they wandered around the grounds inspired by the tranquility of the place. Having put on their habits they received a very interesting talk about the life and times of the monks and the monastery.

Fountains Abbey was established in 1132 by monks who had become fed up with Benedictine life at York and were determined to create a more strict Cistercian Abbey in the wilderness. Fountains Abbey then became one of the most famous and wealthy monasteries in Europe as it endured the hardships of the Black Death and various tribulations until it was finally disolved by Henry VIII whose henchmen butchered the building and carted off some of the most beautiful treasures of the Abbey  - not least the immense library which has never been recovered. All this and more the pupils absorbed and they left having had a thoroughly enjoyable day. My thanks to Mr Berry and Holly who came along too.