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Arable and pastoral land: Rievaulx
Abbey
To sustain a self-sufficient community it was vital that the abbey
acquired arable and pastoral land, or had rights to pasture its
flocks and cattle in suitable areas. The Cistercians managed and
exploited their lands by establishing granges. These were agricultural
centres managed by the lay-brothers,
from which the land was cultivated and harvested, and livestock
reared. The establishment of Rievaulx's granges was begun within
twenty years of the abbey's foundation, as indeed was the case with
most of the other Northern houses.(71)
The large grange at Griff was near to the abbey and was the home
farm. Like most home granges Griff was never leased out but was
directly exploited by the monks until the Dissolution, that is,
it remained in demesne until that time when it was leased to the
Earl of Rutland, who purchased the site.
Most of Rievaulx's granges were situated to the north and east
of the abbey, where the land was well suited to arable and pastoral
farming. The community had good arable lands at places such as Welburn,
Hunmanby and Folkton; indeed, towards the end of Aelred's abbacy,
in the 1160s, Rievaulx purchased sixteen fields at Folkton. The
Yorkshire Cistercians were renowned for their sheep farming. This
was integral to the Cistercian economy, for sheep not only provided
wool - which in turn could be either used to make clothing and blankets
for the community, or sold - but were important for their milk and
the manufacture of cheese. Furthermore, parchment and blankets could
be made from sheep skins. (72)
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