Guidebook: Kirkham Priory
The striking ruins of Kirkham Priory in North Yorkshire have a fascinating history. This community of Augustinian priors survived an early attempt to transfer them to the more widespread Cistercian order. The size and wealth of the Priory rivalled some of the more famous nearby Cistercian houses such as Rievaulx Abbey. During the 13th century, the priory prospered under the patronage of the de Roos lords of Helmsley, whose heraldry can be seen elaborately carved into the facade of the gatehouse, and there were several phases of building that can still be traced in the detail of the extensive ruins.