Dawn of “The Day After” runs a monthly architecture challenge as well as her windows, I haven’t joined in for a while, but thought it would be a good opportunity to share some photos of Tintern Abbey. Long since abandoned.
the Cistercian abbey of Tintern is one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. It was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales, and was founded on 9 May 1131 by Walter de Clare, lord of Chepstow.
In the 1500s monastic life in England and Wales was brought to an abrupt end by the political actions of King Henry VIII. The Dissolution of the Monasteries was part of the king’s policy to establish total control over the church in his realm.
Tintern Abbey was surrendered to the king’s visitors on 3 September 1536. With the roofs gone and windows smashed it was destined to fall into decay, but was rediscovered in the late 18th century and became a fashionable place to visit by many people wanting to discover a wild and romantic place including the artist JMW Turner and the poet William Wordsworth.
Since the early twentieth century the abandoned ruin has been cared for and restored so that it will remain the perfect ruined abbey for many years to come. If you would like to read more about the abbey then please visit Castle Wales.
TRAVEL WORDS 
I love Tintern but haven’t been back for many years….
I’d like to go back when it is warmer – it was very cold on this visit!
I went there once, during the late 1980s. You have captured the feel of it well Jude.
Regards as always, Pete. x
Like many of these monasteries and priories it must have been a magnificent sight at one time.
I recognized it as soon as I saw the picture! We visited one dank day in Nov & I’m sure I could hear the monks!
It was a cold day on my visit too! I always imagine the monks going about their business in these places.
I love all the monasteries and abbeys across the UK. They’re magical places.
BTW, I don’t know what you did to that first photo but it makes it look like a miniature town. I keep expecting Thomas the Tank Engine to come steaming across.
They are certainly atmospheric! I used a focal point / tilt shift focus on the first image which is why it looks to be receding.
Beautiful! Perhaps even more interesting because they are abandoned…….
I can imagine this would be such a unique place to have portraits taken!
Makes a good backdrop.
I can understand why it attracted artists. Beautiful photos, especially the west window of the nave and north transept, – terrific lighting and tonal contrast.
Thank you. I was lucky that the sun eventually came out briefly!
Shells of buildings look so forlorn and lost, don’t they? To see even this much standing after so many years is a wonder. 🙂
Dear old ‘enry has a lot to answer for!
Bad, Bad king and husband. 😦
They have a story to tell!
I love wandering around these places, somehow you still feel the sense of times when monks walked through.
I vaguely remember going there with my parents, eons ago. Great photos of the ruins, Jude. It must have been a magnificent sight once upon a time.
Example of the most amazing architecture that has stood the test of time.
The lead photo looks surreal Jude. As if it is a toy town that has been set up for a play station.
Focal point / tilt shift has produced that look. You’d be proud of me Sue, I climbed up the hill behind the abbey to the ‘Devil’s Pulpit‘ and it was a bit of a clamber. It is only about a mile above the river, but up a fairly steep ascent. 😀
Well worth it for the view though.
Oh I am very proud of you! Before you know it you will be jumping in icy lakes. 🙂
All right just kidding on that one. Some hikes are worth the slog though that’s for sure!
I’ll leave the icy lakes to you, thank you 🙂