Guidebook: Roche Abbey
Roche Abbey was founded in 1147 as a monastery of the Cistercian order. The remains of the abbey lie in a valley in the hills east of Rotheram hemmed in on three sides by formidable magnesian limestone outcrops. Such a location appealed to the monks, who sought seclusion for their commitment to the work of God. There was plentiful water from the Maltby Dike and other springs, and enough space in which to build a church and the 30 or so other buildings necessary to support the community.The layout of the monastery exemplifies Cistercian design during its most successful period and is unimpeded by the later changes that mark most monastic sites. The standing parts of the church are among the earliest and most striking examples of Gothic architecture in England.At its peak, about 1175, when many of the buildings are constructed, the abbey numbered about 50 monks and 100 lay brothers and servants. By 1538 the community had dwindled to 17 monks, 4 novices and a number of servants. In that year the commissioners of King Henry VIII suppressed the abbey and began dismantling the buildings. In the 18th century Roche's ruins were transformed by the famous landscape designer Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. They became a Picturesque feature in the grounds of the nearby Sandbeck Park estate.This beautifully illustrated new guidebook to Roche Abbey gives a full tour and history of the remains of this important Cistercian monastery.Published: November 2013