Museum Gardens, with the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, York
A colour version of the drawing of the ruins of the church of St Mary's Abbey.
St Mary's Abbey was founded in 1088 by King William II. It was rebuilt between 1270 and 1294, work on the central crossing tower beginning in 1278. Most of what can be seen in Museum Gardens date from this period. The most imposing remains are the western piers of the central crossing and the north wall of the nave aisle, with the lower parts of the south choir aisle in the foreground. The site was granted to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in the early 19th century to become York Botanical Gardens. Later in the 19th century the gardens became a public park, the only large public open space in the city centre.
Museum Gardens, with the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, York
A colour version of the drawing of the ruins of the church of St Mary's Abbey.
St Mary's Abbey was founded in 1088 by King William II. It was rebuilt between 1270 and 1294, work on the central crossing tower beginning in 1278. Most of what can be seen in Museum Gardens date from this period. The most imposing remains are the western piers of the central crossing and the north wall of the nave aisle, with the lower parts of the south choir aisle in the foreground. The site was granted to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in the early 19th century to become York Botanical Gardens. Later in the 19th century the gardens became a public park, the only large public open space in the city centre.