Cloister and Garth

Remains of the Cloister and its garth [now grassy space which originally was planted with hers and other plants by the monks] within the Cistercian Abbey of Byland, Yorkshire. The cloister is one of the largest in the country. It had covered alleys on all four sides, originally supported on open arches. However, as part of the move towards greater comfort in the fifteenth century, the cloister was rebuilt with traceried windows containing glass to keep out the elements. The choir monks spent much of their time here and were not allowed to leave it without permission. Doors around the cloister led to all the buildings necessary for the daily life and work of a choir monk. The open space in the centre would have been used as a garden. The north alley has a long stone bench and was subdivided by timber or stone partitions into small private studies, where the monks would read or copy manuscripts. At either end of the north alley are ceremonial entrances into the church. The west end was used by the lay brothers and the east entrance was used exclusively by the choir monks. In the centre of the north alley is a doorway leading to a small projecting porch. The monks assembled here each day to listen to a spiritual reading [Collation].

Curved stairway (left) from the eastern aisle of the Cloister into the southern aisle of the church. Passageway between the lay brother's dorter and the western aisle of the Cloister (right).