Rievaulx Bridge: Monks, Floods, and Tanks

In 1826, William Turner stood on this bridge to paint his famous view of Rievaulx Abbey. Anyone hoping to recreate his masterpiece today would be sorely disappointed, thanks to the abundance of trees along the river and the endless stream of traffic rattling across the bridge. This three-arched, hump-backed structure, built from limestone ashlar, replaced a medieval bridge after the floods of 1754 washed away whatever had stood there before¹NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 8165 Medieval Rievaulx Bridge at River Rye²NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 4265 Rievaulx Bridge across River Rye.

During emergency repairs in 2006–7, a substantial timber beam was discovered beneath the bridge in the River Rye. Experts believe it was once part of a 12th- or 13th-century timber bridge³Historic Environment Review News. North York Moors NatIonal Park AuthorIty. 2009. At over five metres long, with six large squared sockets, it appears to have supported a pier. Attempts to date it scientifically were inconclusive, but the tree rings suggested it had grown in an open space rather than woodland—hardly the most thrilling revelation. Other medieval timber remains were noted between 1949 and 1955 but have since been lost to erosion, because nature cares little for historical preservation. A document from 1170 mentions a bridge at Rievaulx, though it might just as well have referred to a crossing at Bow Bridge, 1.4 kilometres upstream. Since Rievaulx Abbey was founded in the 1130s, it is entirely plausible that these timber remnants were once part of a monastic bridge—though, as ever, certainty remains elusive.

Of equal, if less obvious, historical interest is the concrete ramp leading down to the river, the remains of a ford used during the Second World War by the 11th Armoured Division⁴NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 18436 Tank crossing ford at Rievaulx Bridge . Stationed at Duncombe Park, they opted to drive their tanks through the river rather than risk damaging the 18th-century bridge. The other side of the ford has since been swallowed by a private garden and thoroughly landscaped, as though the past is something to be tidied away.

The 11th Armoured Division was raised in 1941 as a direct response to the alarming efficiency of German Panzer divisions and went on to play a vital role in numerous Allied victories in Europe. The Imperial War Museum holds a fascinating photograph of Winston Churchill inspecting the Division’s Valentine tanks and their crews at Duncombe Park in November 1941.

The Valentine tank, produced by Vickers Armstrong in Newcastle, allegedly takes its name from an acronym: “Vickers Armstrong Ltd Elswick & (Newcastle-upon) Tyne.” Whether or not that is true is another matter entirely.

• 1
  NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 8165 Medieval Rievaulx Bridge at River Rye
• 2
  NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 4265 Rievaulx Bridge across River Rye
• 3
  Historic Environment Review News. North York Moors NatIonal Park AuthorIty. 2009
• 4
  NYMNPA HER Records (Monuments) HER No: 18436 Tank crossing ford at Rievaulx Bridge