External view of the western end of the church, Cistercian Abbey of Byland, Yorkshire. The church had a central doorway flanked by two symmetrical doorways but in front of the doorways are the remains of the foundations and roof corbels of a Galilee Porch - where patrons were interred. Three decorated doorways lead into the church. The north door has a pointed arch, the central door has a trefoil arch (three circular shapes) and the south door a round arch. Above the doors are three lancet windows (tall and pointed), set in an arcade of arches. Above this arcade was a large rose (circular) window. Its stonework is decorated with nailhead and dogtooth designs. Glass slotted into the grooves of the window; initially the glass was clear, but was later replaced with coloured glass showing figurative scenes.

The western end has the remains of a huge rose window. Rose windows were common in Cistercian abbeys, although no complete examples survive, and Byland's dates from 1190 and it was one of the final features to be completed and it was likely to be an after-thought in the overall design. The window is 28 feet in diameter and had two rings of tracery. Rose windows remained popular in abbeys and Fountains had one added in 1230.