Furness Abbey*

Furness Abbey dates from around 1300 and is a large Cistercian complex just south of the Lake District. Very rich, it was second only in size and grandeur to Fountains Abbey near us (click on this link for the archived post).

View into the nave from the bell tower.


View into the nave from the high altar.


View of the monk complex with a dormitory on top and work rooms down below.


View inside part of the infirmary—one of the only buildings that still has a roof.

I think Furness Abbey is particularly beautiful since it was built out of the native red Cumbrian sand stone and has some striking carved ornate features.






Like some other abbeys we've visited, Furness has complex water systems to channel water into the complex and take waste out. They had sinks with drains and even a water filtration system, part of which can be seen in the English Heritage building on site. It consisted of sending water through layers of charcoal and gravel which were held in place by a rock slab with drainage holes.


Remains of the monk's cemetery and the entry gate are still visible. Abbey benefactors were also buried nearby and some of their elaborately carved stone grave effigies can be found in the English Heritage building on site (see the last photo on the R.I.P. post for an example). It's the first time we've seen anything like them at an abbey, several soldiers and a woman lying in repose, and are apparently more common in more conservative abbeys like this one. Furness Abbey is a good one to visit and is one of the few in this area.

This grave even has a drain hole.

The abbey was so large it even had a harbor and castles built on the Irish Sea to help with and protect trade in wool and iron. Since we were so close to the sea, we decided to head out to the beach on the Isle of Walney. Getting to the water was a little more difficult than we imagined since it was low tide and the water had retreated several hundred yards. It was an odd experience—since it was overcast and a little foggy, the sea, sky, and sand were the same color and became a little surreal when you got away from the shore. Sandier than most of the beaches we've been to on the North Sea coast, this area still had some beautiful well-worn rocks in a range of colors. I couldn't help but take a few...


* All photos courtesy of my Aunt Pat's camera.