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Rievaulx Abbey: History
Rievaulx Abbey: Buildings  |
Rievaulx after Aelred: the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries (5/15) Our garden, it seems to me,
has been left bare by his (Aelred’s) removal
Aelred’s death marked the end of an era and the onset of more difficult times for Rievaulx. The monks lost a venerable abbot - the most prominent figure ever associated with the abbey - and also its greatest friend and supporter, Walter Espec, the founder of Rievaulx. Walter, who retired to Rievaulx shortly before his death c. 1153, left no male heir and his inheritance was divided. The lordship of Helmsley passed through Walter’s sister, Adeline, to his nephew, Robert Ros, who took over the patronage of Rievaulx Abbey and the Augustinian priory at Kirkham. The monks of Rievaulx never enjoyed the close relationship with the Ros family that they had shared with Walter Espec. Indeed, the new patronal family seemed more interested in its Augustinian foundation at Kirkham, where the Ros coat of arms stood above the gatehouse and a number of family members were buried. (13) Later on Rievaulx became a more popular choice with the Ros family and it seems that both Thomas Ros and his son, John, who died en route to the Holy Land in the late fourteenth century, were laid to rest at Rievaulx; whereas Thomas was buried in the centre of the choir, John was buried in the southern part, beside the High Altar. (14) Although the monks of Rievaulx may not have been able to rely on their patronal family for much support, they were able to seek help from other prominent individuals, such as the Mowbrays, a leading baronial family in the North, and also Hugh de Puiset, the bishop of Durham. Hugh was welcomed as a special advocate of the house in return for his help and protection.
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