Site Details:
Ellerton Abbey, nestled in the picturesque landscape of North Yorkshire, holds a rich tapestry of history that intertwines with the broader narratives of England's past. The origins of Ellerton Abbey can be traced back to a small priory founded around 1200, which provided a secluded sanctuary for a community of Cistercian nuns. Over the centuries, the priory witnessed the ebb and flow of fortune, including devastation at the hands of marauding Scots in 1342. The dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII in 1536 marked a turning point, leading to the abandonment of the priory and the medieval village that surrounded it. The estate later became entangled with the transatlantic slave trade, as it was purchased in the 1690s by Colonel Henry Drax, whose wealth stemmed from sugar plantations in Barbados. The construction of the mansion in the 1830s was funded by compensation received for the emancipation of slaves, a dark chapter in the estate's history. The Erle-Drax family, prominent in British politics and society, left their mark on the land, as evidenced by boundary stones bearing their name scattered throughout Swaledale. Despite its complex past, today Ellerton Abbey stands as a romantic ruin, a testament to the layers of history that have shaped it. The site, with its tree-entwined remains, invites visitors to reflect on the passage of time and the stories etched into its stones.Site Gallery
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