More information : SE 5629 9071. Grange of Rievaulx Abbey: Laskill is the site of a grange of Rievaulx Abbey. There are traces of medieval work and pillar bases in the yard. (1)
"Near Laskell Bridge 1855 ..... certain remains of ancient religious house ... base stones formed parts of columns, 3 ft diam. Among other debris, two large stone crosses an octangular font and its pillar .... flooring tiles of various shapes and colours. Font now a trough; one cross and several stones worked into wall of outbuilding of that farm". (2-3)
Much of the site at Laskill is occupied by modern farm buildings, but among the remains traced is a great hall over 80ft long and 24ft wide with a row of pillars down the centre. Indications suggest it had a stone vaulted roof and probably a upper storey. Not being one of the earlier buildings it may date after 1250. The hall, large for an ordinary grange, there being no comparable remains elsewhere, may have been the Rievaulx woolhouse. A merchant's list dated 1275 shows
that Rievaulx was a large supplier of fleeces, probably having a total of over 14,000 sheep. (4)
Apart from a portion of a cross and several circular stones built into the outbuildings of Laskill Farm no remains of the grange now exist. The site of the hall referred to probably stood at SE56289075 where there are two pillar bases in line at ground level. The font (see photograph) stands in the farmhouse garden. (5)
SE 563 907. Medieval site at Laskill. Scheduled. (6)
SE 5625 9073. Monastic grange belonging to Rievaulx Abbey at Laskill Farm. Scheduled RSM Number 25558. (7) |