Bootham in York, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

St Mary's Abbey

— York Museums and Gardens —

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 16, 2024

1. St Mary's Abbey Marker

Inscription. Medieval York was an influential religious centre and St Mary's Abbey was the wealthiest and most powerful monastery in the north of England.

The Abbey was begun in 1089. Buildings catering for the everyday life of its Benedictine monks were added, including; stables, granaries, a bakery and brewery, kitchens and even a tailor's workshop. A magnificent abbey church, cloister and chapter house, along with the Minster, dominated York's landscape.

The life of the abbey came to an end when it was surrendered to Henry VIII as part of the Reformation. Its ruined buildings were excavated by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society during 1827-1829 the first excavations of their kind in Britain. The abbey church ruins can still be seen in the gardens, while the chapter house remains are in-situ on the lower floor of the Yorkshire Museum.

Erected by York Museums Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 53° 57.66′ N, 1° 5.179′ W. Marker is in York, England. It is in Bootham. It can be reached from Museum Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 Museum Street, York, England YO1 7DR, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in England’s Yorkshire & The Humber.

Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Botanical Yorkshire (a few steps from this marker); Roman York (a few steps from this marker); Design History of the Gardens (a few steps from this marker); St. Leonard’s Hospital (a few steps from this marker); The Yorkshire Museum (a few steps from this marker); St Leonard's Hospital (a few steps from this marker); Voluntary Guides (within shouting distance of this marker); Multiangular Tower (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in York.

Location of St Mary's Abbey Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 16, 2024

2. Location of St Mary's Abbey Marker

St Mary's Abbey Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 16, 2024

3. St Mary's Abbey Ruins

St Mary's Abbey image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Frith and Co., Ltd., Helgate, circa 1905

4. St Mary's Abbey

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 11, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on May 12, 2024. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.