Bolton Abbey
Bolton Abbey is an estate village in North Yorkshire, 5 miles from Ilkley.
The impressive ruins of Bolton Priory stand beside the River Wharfe. An Augustinian priory, it was founded in the early 12th century, and moved to here from Embsay. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it was sold to Henry Clifford and passed to the Cavendish family.
The nave was retained, and is now the parish church of Bolton Abbey.
Bolton Hall is now a shooting lodge. It was built in the 19th century, on to the priory`s 14th century gatehouse.
The Wharfe can be crossed here by a footbridge or by stepping stones.
Bolton Abbey Station is the Eastern terminus of the preserved Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway.
The priory was painted by J. M. W. Turner, and John Ruskin described the scene as the most beautiful in England.