I am very lucky to have Kirkstall abbey on my doorstep. I live about 4 miles away so it no hardship to get into the car and mosey on down. All the family like the abbey and thats understandable because its such a beautiful place to visit. In the summer time if there are always people there, they may be having a game of fetch with the dog or just sitting down reading. I like to sit on the riverbank and just gaze at the surrounding it very calming.
Parking for the abbey is over the road and up a steep hill so the wheelchair pusher should be really fit, but the grounds are ok. I have pushed a wheelchair around the abbey I found it easy but that hill is a struggle for me and I would say I am quite fit.
Anyway let me give you a little bit of the history of the abbey. Kirkstall Abbey was founded in 1152 by a party of Cistercian monks from Fountains Abbey and was closed down in November 1539 in the Dissolution of religious houses ordered by Henry VIII. The monks were pensioned-off, the roofs stripped of lead and some buildings converted for agricultural use. Many famous artists such as JMW Turner, Thomas Girtin and Moses Griffith came to paint Kirkstall Abbey's picturesque ruins. Today large parts of the Abbey can still be seen.
Kirkstall Abbey is one of the most important buildings historically in Leeds. Built between 1152 and 1182 on the northern bank of the River Aire, the Abbey was home to a community of Cistercian monks and lay brothers. After its dissolution in 1539 the abbey's windows, roofs and much of the stonework were steadily removed for use in local building projects and this helps explain its current partially-ruined appearance. Nevertheless, Kirkstall is still preferred by many historians to other Cistercian abbeys such as those found at Fountains and Rievaulx. Kirkstall Abbey's most impressive features include;
The Church: Beginning at the west end, the view along the church's entire 200 foot length is unbroken, with 8 huge columned arches. At services, there was a strict order from back to front. Closest to the west door is the Nave, where lay brothers and lay visitors sat. Closer to the front were aged and infirm monks, then monks and novices in the choir.
The Tower: Not the original 12th Century structure, which only attained the same height as the church roof in keeping with the ideals of austerity and simplicity promoted by the founding fathers of the Cistercian monastic order. In 1509- 27 a new tower was built. The north-west side collapsed in 1779.
The Transept: On either side of the tower providing the important crucifix shape to the church. The North Transept doorway gave access to the cemetery after funeral services. A fascinating feature of the South Transept is the 'night stairs' used by monks to reach the choir from their dormitory for night vigils.
The Cloisters and Chapter House: The Cloisters form one of the most tranquil corners of Leeds, a square with covered walkways where monks would sit reading and writing. The Chapter House has many carved arches and pillars and some old stone coffins.
How to get there By rail to Leeds City Station and then either: By bus numbers 33 or 33A from Central Bus Station via Park Row and Wellington Street, direct to Kirkstall Abbey. By car on the A65, 3 miles west of Leeds city centre