Rievaulx Terrace CMP Section 7 by Southern Green Ltd

Rievaulx Terrace

Conservation Management Plan 2016 SECTION 7

Supporting Information

Contents

Section 1

Introduction

Section 2

Understanding the past

Section 3

Significance

Section 4

The current situation

Section 5

Planning for the future

Section 6

Measuring success

Section 7

Supporting information

7.1

Rievaulx Terrace Historic Landscape Survey - Addyman Archaeology

7.2

Rievaulx Canal Hydrological Conceptualisation - JBA

7.3

Tree & Woodland Report - Enviroscope

7.4

The Rievaulx Terrace: Understanding the Historic Designed Landscape - Fiona Green

7.5

Buildings, Structures, Interiors and Collections - Simpson & Brown

7.6

Ecology Report - Enviroscope

7.7

Listing Descriptions - Historic England

7.8

Maintenance Schedules

Section 8

Features gazetteer

Section 9

Image gazetteer

Section 10

Illustrations

Supporting information

This section gathers together the specialist reports that were commissioned to inform the Conservation Management Plan, along with other background information.

Section 7

7.1 Rievaulx Terrace Historic Landscape Survey

Rievaulx Terrace Historic Landscape Survey Addyman Archaeology July 2016

Rievaulx Terrace Rievaulx, Helmsley, North Yorkshire Desk-Based Assessment and Historic Landscape Survey for

The National Trust July 2016

Ionic temple

Rievaulx Terrace Rievaulx, Helmsley, North Yorkshire Desk-Based Assessment and Historic Landscape Survey Job number 2173.00

July 2016 by Andrew Morrison, Kenneth Macfadyen, Rachel McMullan and Tom Addyman

Contents 1.

Introduction i. General ii. Setting a. Geology

14 14 15 17

Desk-Based Assessment i. General ii. The history of the study area iii. Scheduled Monuments a. Scheduled Monuments within the study area b. Scheduled Monuments in the immediate vicinity of the development area iv. Listed Buildings within the study area a. The Doric Temple b. The Ionic Temple v. Listed Buildings within the vicinity of the study area vi. Registered Parks and Gardens a. Registered Parks and Gardens within the study area b. Registered Parks and Gardens in the vicinity of the study area vii. Potential for the survival of unknown buried heritage assets within the study area

19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 21 22 22 22 22 23

Map Regression i. General ii. Pre-Ordnance Survey maps of the area iii. Ordnance Survey maps of Rievaulx Terrace iv. Non-Ordnance Survey mapping of the area v. Summary

25 25 25 26 28 29

Aerial Photographs

Walkover Survey

Gazetteer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Baseline Survey i. Introduction ii. Gazetteer of sites located during the assessment

31 31 21

Discussion i. Quarrying a. Introduction b. Mapping quarrying activity c. Geological resources

49 49 49 49 49 Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

ii.

iii. iv.

d. Dating e. Quarry access The Monastic Precinct a. General b. Precinct boundary c. Water system Construction of Rievaulx Terrace (c.1749-56) Remains above (to the east of) the Terrace

50 50 50 50 51 52 52 53

Conservation Management and Recommendations i. Impacts within the conservation area a. The eastern woodland b. The garden terrace c. The northern slope d. The western slope ii. Recommendations for future research

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Conclusion

10. Archiving Acknowledgements

49 50

References

Appendix A: Maps Consulted

Appendix B: Photographic Register

Appendix C: Photographic Thumbnails, Rievaulx Terrace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archaeological Survey and Assessment 60 Illustrations

List of Figures Figure 1 Site Plan Figure 2 Map of the geological layers with site boundary. Copyright www.bgs.co.uk Figure 3 A Plan of the Township of Rievaulx by Thomas Hornby 1806. Copyright to Southern Green. Figure 4 1856 OS map, showing Rievaulx Terrace outlined in red. (Copyright Southern Green, all rights reserved, License number 638191341) Figure 5 1979-1981 OS map, showing Rievaulx Terrace outlined in red. (Copyright Southern Green, all rights reserved, License number 638191341) Figure 6 Aerial Mapping Survey results imposed on the 1979-81 OS map (Copyright Historic England) Figure 7 Map of walkover survey for GPS Track 2 Figure 8 Map of walkover survey sites plotted from GPS and Lidar Figure 9 Map of walkover survey sites plotted from GPS and Lidar, with details of wider archaeological setting, including English Heritage earthwork survey data List of Plates Plate 1 General view north along the top of Rievaulx Terrace showing the top of the slope and the Ionic Temple Plate 2 The Doric/Tuscan Temple looking south Plate 3 Interior of the Doric/Tuscan temple showing the floor tiles from Rievaulx Abbey. Plate 4 The Ionic Temple looking north-west Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

List of Tables Table 1 Cultural heritage sites located within the conservation area identified by the DBA 23 Table 2 Cultural heritage sites located within the vicinity of the conservation area identified by the DBA 23 Table 3 Gazetteer of sites located during the assessment 55 Table 4 List of sites and site types on the western slope. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace Rievaulx, Helmsley, North Yorkshire Desk-Based Assessment and Historic Landscape Survey

Introduction

General

Addyman Archaeology was contracted by Southern Green Landscape Architects (contacts, Simon Green and Louise Hudspith) to undertake a Desk-Based Assessment and walkover survey of Rievaulx Terrace in the North York Moors as a part of a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for The National Trust. An initial Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) was undertaken prior to the walkover survey in order to identify any known archaeological sites or other features of cultural heritage interest within the conservation area; this included the consultation of historic maps and aerial photographs. The DBA was completed by assessing cultural heritage sites immediately beyond the conservation area boundary and relevant Scheduled Monuments (SM) and Listed Buildings (LB). The assessed sites are detailed in Tables 1 and 2 below.

Plate 1 General view north along the top of Rievaulx Terrace showing the top of the slope and the Ionic Temple Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

The walkover survey aimed to assess the character, extent and condition of any sites, monuments and landscape features identified by the DBA, and also to identify any other features of cultural heritage interest not originally identified by the desk-based study. The walkover survey of the Rievaulx Terrace site area was carried out between 20 - 22 July 2015 by Kenny Macfadyen, Andrew Morrison, and Rachel McMullan. Weather conditions were moderate for the duration of the walkover survey alternating between bright sunshine and overcast clouds. Ground visibility was limited in areas by the overgrowth of vegetation, and a portion of the survey area was inaccessible due to safety concerns over the steepness of the terrace slope’s south-western extent. A follow-up walk-over survey was completed by Tom Addyman on 23 October 2013 when vegetation had considerably reduced and with the benefit of Lidar mapping; a number of additional sites were defined. ii.

Setting

Centred roughly on SE 57791 84740, the Rievaulx Terrace Conservation Area is an 18th century garden terrace located to the north-west of Helmsley. Constructed viewpoints situated along the length of the terrace afford views of the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and the village of Rievaulx to the west, as well as of the River Rye to the west and south-west. The assessment area comprised the Rievaulx Terrace and woodland to the east, Mossy Bank Wood to the north, and the Terrace Bank Wood to the west. The site is bound by Abbott Hagg farm to the east, Cleveland Way to the south, the Rievaulx Abbey English Heritage site boundary to the west, and Rievaulx Bank to the north. Orientated NNE by SSW, the terrace slope increases in steepness from north to south, with the southern-most extent possessing a slope of over 65o in places. The grassed terrace follows a curving course between the Doric Temple to the S and the Ionic Temple to the north which are approximately 700m apart and are not visible to one another. The band of woodland to the east has an intentional waved edge to emphasize the Terrace curve and there is a path leading east-west through a gap in the trees where stone gate piers mark the entrance to the Terrace. From the south end proceeding northwards thirteen vistas have been cut through the trees that look down upon the valley and Abbey ruins. The slope of the terrace going westwards down to the Abbey is covered with trees, mostly replanted in the 20th century. The current entrance to the site is from the B1257 via a drive that goes SW and leads to a modern day shop and ticket entrance. 1 The woodland behind the Terrace, bounding its east side, currently contains several pathways for visitors to walk along with children’s play areas and artistic installations interspersed at intervals. Forestry is abundant across the site with the exception of the cleared terrace. Tree growth has been controlled the site, presumably since the terrace construction in the 18th century. Towards the steeper south end of the slope there is an abundance of fallen trees presumably due to storms and the angle of the slope making it difficult for trees to put down deep roots. Bedrock is visible throughout the site and in places has been quarried. The conservation area is located on the boundary of the Vale of Pickering and within the expanse of the North York Moors and Ryedale valley, through which the River Rye flows (Keevill 1999: 11). The topography of the valley is characterised by steeply sloped sides and a flat valley floor, formed by glacial action.

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1001072 – accessed 28/7/2015

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Figure 1 Site Plan

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

iii.

Geology

The base geology of Rievaulx Terrace is fairly complex as illustrated in figure 2 with the site outline in black and coloured geological layers. The sedimentary geology existing within the NT landholding is disrupted by an east-west aligned minor fault line towards the southern end of the site, see figure 2. To the north of this there are five geological strata whereas the southern portion contains six, however these mostly consist of the same types of bedrock but in a different variation and layout. The bottom layer of the valley (coloured in light yellow) is formed of Osgodby Formation sandstone bedrock; which is sedimentary bedrock that was formed approximately 161 to 165 million years ago during the Jurassic Period in an environment that was previously dominated by shallow seas. These seas contained mainly siliciclastic sediments which were deposited as mud, silt, sand and gravel. The superficial deposits consist of alluvium which were formed up to 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period. During this time the local environment was dominated by rivers depositing sand and gravel detrital material forming river terrace deposits. The next layer (coloured olive green) is of the same bedrock composition as the first with no recorded superficial deposits. The third layer (dark green) is of the Oxford Clay Formation made of mudstone. This bedrock formed around 156 to 165 million years ago also in the Jurassic Period in a shallow seas environment. The fourth layer (bright yellow) is formed of Lower Calercerous Grit sandstone Formation. It was formed in the Jurassic Period as well, approximately 156 to 161 million years ago; there are no recorded superficial deposits. The fifth and uppermost layer, which occupies the top of the terrace is made of Hambleton Ooilite Member limestone bedrock. Similar to the other strata this was formed in the Jurassic Period 156 to 161 million years ago in an environment dominated by shallow carbonate seas. Within these seas the rock formed with carbonate deposited on shelf, platform, and slope areas that were often rich in corals and shelly faunas.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Figure 2 Map of the geological layers with site boundary. Copyright www.bgs.co.uk

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Desk-Based Assessment

General

An assessment of readily available sources was undertaken to identify sites of cultural heritage significance. These included: • • • • • • • •

The National Trust’s Historic Buildings, Sites, and Monuments Record (HBSMR) The North York Moors Sites and Monuments Record (HER) Historic England National Heritage List The Garden History Society Aerial imagery as held by Historic England Map resources available from old-maps.co.uk including all available Ordnance Survey maps The English Heritage Conservation Plan for Rievaulx Abbey The North York Moors National Mapping Programme and Assesment; Aerial Survey Mapping Summary Report

In addition relevant papers and books were sought from the British Library and The National Archives. All sources consulted were the most up to date available. During the desk-based assessment and walkover survey, a total of 83 sites were identified within the boundaries of the Rievaulx Terrace Conservation Area. ii.

The history of the study area

While Rievaulx Terrace and its neighbour Rievaulx Abbey are of major historic significance, the Terrace had not been subject to an extensive archaeological survey previously. Peter Fergusson and Stuart Harrison’s book ‘Rievaulx Abbey’ discusses the Terrace and its construction in general detail. Other generally accessible information about the Terrace include The National Trust’s guidebook, including earlier editions, and historical materials gathered by the NT in support of the exhibition located within the lower level of the Ionic Temple, the principal site interpretation. Initial archaeological assessment of the study area was conducted using the National Trust’s HBSMR and North York Moors HER which indicated the potential for sites on the flat terrace, along the bottom of the western slope, and within the woodland to the east. During this assessment it was hypothesized that the survey was unlikely to find a large concentration of sites along the western slope given its gradual increase of steepness towards the south. Because of the extensive tree cover overlying much of the site and the lack of sources discussing the surroundings of the flat central terrace, only 3 sites were identified by the DBA within the site limits. These were expanded by the recording of a total of 50 new sites during the walkover survey (not including existing buildings and infrastructure, which were also recorded). The DBA identified sites are of known date and function, whilst the majority of the others are of unknown date and some of uncertain function. iii.

Scheduled Monuments

Scheduled Monuments within the study area

A Scheduled Monument is a monument that has been categorised as of national importance and is legally protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. While the terrace itself is not a Scheduled Monument the site boundary to west at the bottom of the slope extends to include partial remains of the outer precincts of the monastery and a section of a water canal (NT HBSMR : 31125) also related to the monastery. Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Scheduled Monuments in the immediate vicinity of the development area

Rievaulx Abbey Directly to the west of the Terrace and slope are the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey Cistercian Monastery. Although not within the site boundary the ruins of the Abbey were the intended view for visitors of the Terrace to admire as they walked along the Terrace from specific vistas cut into the foliage of the slope. Rievaulx Abbey was first scheduled in 1915 but the most recent amendment dates to June 1992. The remains of the buildings are well preserved and are laid out in the usual plan of a Cistercian monastery although it was not constructed on the usual orientation for such sites. Due to the constraints of the surrounding landscape the church was laid out running north-south rather than the traditional eastwest. The church was founded in 1131 but no remains of this phase have survived meaning the nave and transepts from between 1140 and 1150 are the earliest buildings on site. The monastery was founded by Walter Espec as a mission centre to serve as a base from which Cistercian colonies could then be sent out to establish daughter houses throughout the north of England and Scotland. The abbot St. Ailred guided the monastery to prominence and wealth however after his death costly reconstructions and enlargements took a toll and by the end of the 12th c. The Abbey was heavily in debt. At this point the building work was heavily scaled back and in the 15th c. several buildings were demolished as they were too large for the needs of the Abbey, whose population had also declined. 2 After the Dissolution the site of the Abbey was granted to Thomas, Earl of Rutland and eventually passed through the Manners and Villiers to the Duncombe family in 1687. In the mid eighteenth centruy the family turned their attention towards the abbey and the Rye valley and Rievaulx Terrace was built with views down to the ruined abbey below for visitors as they walked along the Terrace from the Tuscan temple to the Ionic temple (Fergusson and Harrison 1999: 189). In the 20th century the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey were consolidated prevent collapse and revealed previously buried walls that expanded the knowledge of Cistercian architecture. A visitor centre, meadows, car parks, interpretative displays, cricket ground, and scenic wildlife habitat have all been added as well. The abbey is now a popular visitor attraction within the North York Moors National Park under English Heritage management (Fergusson and Harrison 1999). The associated monastic grange and surrounding settlement remains were also scheduled, in addition to the area immediately about the abbey ruin. iv.

Listed Buildings within the study area

There are two Listed Buildings within the site boundaries of Rievaulx Terrace listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act of 1990 - the Ionic and Doric temples. They are only briefly described below because they are examined in more in depth detail within the main Conservation Plan. a.

The Doric Temple

The Doric temple, plate 2, was first listed in 1955 and is a Grade I building. It was constructed in the late 1750s on the south end of the Terrace; although its architect is unknown. It is constructed of sandstone ashlar with a lead roof on a circular peripteral dodecastyle plan with raised Doric columns on the podium. The interior contains a medieval floor has been identified as paved largely with the Plain Mosaic tiles from the Abbey Tile Series dating to circa 1225-1235, plate 3. A historic notation that states the tiles had been removed fifty years earlier from the front of the high Altar of Rievaulx Abbey but there is no other evidence to support this (Fergusson and Harrison 1999: 222).

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1012065 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; accessed 28/7/2015

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Plate 2 The Doric/Tuscan Temple looking south

Plate 3 Interior of the Doric/Tuscan temple showing the floor tiles from Rievaulx Abbey.

The Ionic Temple

The Ionic temple, plate 5, is similar to the Doric Temple in that it was also designated in 1955 as a Grade I Listed Building, was built in the late 1750s. It is constructed of limestone ashlar with a lead roof and stone stack. The plan is rectangular with a tetrastyle portico and dentilled pediment. The interior consists of a panelled room with a white marbled fireplace that hosts caryatids and an openscrolled pediment above, plate 6. The painted ceiling was done by Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis 3 which depicts mythological scenes in the Baroque style based on the masterpieces in Rome, plate 7. In 1976 the soft limestone had weathered so badly that the National Trust carried out of a major restoration programme (Ionic Temple Exhibition).

Plate 4 The Ionic Temple looking north-west

http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1315950 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; accessed 28/7/2015

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Listed Buildings within the vicinity of the study area

Rievaulx Abbey is also listed as Grade I building in addition to being a Scheduled Monument. Rievaulx Bridge, which can be observed from the southernmost viewpoint to the SW of the Doric Temple is a Grade II Listed Building that was listed in 1955. It is constructed of limestone ashlar with three segmental banded arches and chamfered parapets, the central arch being wider and taller. Rievaulx Village to the W of Rievaulx Terrace contains 12 Grade II Listed Buildings, all which are listed in Table 2. vi.

Registered Parks and Gardens

Registered Parks and Gardens within the study area

The conservation area of Rievaulx Terrace itself is a Registered Park and Garden under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act of 1953 through English Heritage. The terrace was laid out in 1758 with views of the surrounding Ryedale valley and the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, with an emphasis on unfolding views. It has been heralded as a major change and landmark in the style of English Landscape as well as being an excellent example of landscape gardening on a large scale. It is one of the first gardens to exemplify the change in ascetic from formal to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;naturalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. b.

Registered Parks and Gardens in the vicinity of the study area

It is worth noting that 3km from Rievaulx Terrace is the Registered Historic Park and Garden Duncombe Park which was the residence of the Duncombe family that built the Terrace. This predates the Terrace and was built in the early eighteenth century in a similar style of a curving terrace with blocks of woodland and curving paths partially on the site of a medieval deer park associated with the nearby Helmsley Castle. The Duncombe Park garden mirrors Rievaulx Terrace in its history of ownership and overall plan. To the either side of the east front of the House are sunken parterres in a curving shape. Stone steps lead up from each side to a grass ride known the Broad Walk which runs in front of the House and through blocks of woodland. It is oriented north-south and hosts views through the trees of the valley to a cascade in the Rye. The lawn opens to the East Terrace which runs along a wooded escarpment for a distance of 600m following a curving route and backed by blocks of woodland. At the north end is an Ionic Temple while the south end hosts a Tuscan Temple. The south Terrace runs westward along woodland scarp. There is parkland to the north-west of the River Rye which is sheltered in the east by the Plockwoods Bank Wood and hosts the ruins of Helmsley Castle to the north-east.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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vii.

Potential for the survival of unknown buried heritage assets within the study area

As was established in the DBA (and by the subsequent walkover survey – see following section) there are a large number of heritage sites within the boundaries of the conservation area. The central curved terrace and the woodland bank beyond hold the highest potential as they are large swathes of relatively level ground and of close proximity to the Abbey. The slope itself also hosts numerous sites and so there is also potential for unknown buried heritage assets here as well although that potential likely lessens to the S end of the slope as it steepens to the point of being too steep to traverse. Given the proximity of the Abbey it is highly likely that there was medieval activity on and in the vicinity of the Terrace with a possibility for further buried remains associated with monastic land use. Similarly given the presence of a considerable number of prehistoric sites and finds made in the area (including a Roman/Iron Age farm site directly across the river to the west), there may also be such remains within the NT landholding though none have been identified to date. Table 1 Cultural heritage sites located within the conservation area identified by the DBA

Site Name, feature No. 036 Doric Temple, Building 037 Ionic Temple, Building 038 Rievaulx Terrace, Garden

OS Grid Reference SE 57632 84971 SE 57931 85072 SE 57943 84975

SM/HBSMR/HER Designation No. 1149251 Grade I Listed Building 1315950 Grade I Listed Building 1001072 Grade I Historic Parks and Gardens , NHLE

Period 1758 1758 1758

Table 2 Cultural heritage sites located within the vicinity of the conservation area identified by the DBA

Name, feature Rievaulx Abbey, Abbey Rievaulx Abbey, Abbey Abbot’s Well approximately south of Abbot’s Well House, Building Rievaulx Mill and Cartshed, Building Severadus and Bank Cottage, Building Woodview, Building Rye House, Building Rievaulx Bridge, Bridge

Name, feature Furnace Hill, Building

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

OS Grid Reference SE 57450 85138, SE 57633 84241 SE 57632 84971 SE 57597 85223

NHLE/HBSMR/H ER No. 1012065

Designation

Period

10th c.

1175724

Grade I Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

10th c.

SE 57550 85151 SE 57730 85243 SE 57529 85062 SE 57525 84735 SE 57410 84286

1149250

Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

18th c.

OS Grid Reference SE 57595 85065

NHLE/HBSMR/H ER No. 1315949

Designation

Period

Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

Late 18th c.

1149285

1149249 1149248 1149247 1175672

Medieval

17th c. Late 18th c. Early 18th c. 18th c.

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

SE 57542 85078 SE 57712 85198

1308219

Cross Green, Building

SE 57023 84389

1191360

Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

Mill Cottage, Building

SE 57522 85158 SE 57624 85134

1175771

Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

Mill House, Building Church of St. Mary, Church

Swiss Cottage, Building

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

1308182

1175760

Grade II Listed Building, NHLE Grade II Listed Building, NHLE

1729 1906, incorporat e 13th c. fabric Late 18th c./early 19th c. First half of 18th c. 17th c.

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Map Regression

General

A number of maps were consulted in order to assess the development of the site and attempt to pinpoint any features that may have previously gone unrecorded. However given the site’s location in a rural area there are no detailed maps depicting it before the 19th century when the property was surveyed by Thomas Hornby for Charles Duncombe in 1806. As illustrated by ’Dvcatvs Eboracensis pars orientalis’ depicting the east ridings of Yorkshire by Gerard Valck and Pieter Schenk from 16701690 Rievaulx has no mention on the map although Ryedale and the Rye River are idepicted allowing for a rough approximation of where the site was located. This is similar to the majority of other maps of the region. A summary of the maps consulted can be found in Appendix A. ii.

Pre-Ordnance Survey maps of the area

The Hornby map from 1806 cuts the Terrace in half showing only the S end and the Doric Temple as seen in outlined in red.

Figure 3 A Plan of the Township of Rievaulx by Thomas Hornby 1806. Copyright to Southern Green.

What can be observed is topography similar to present day 2015. Trees dot the slope and the woodland behind the cleared terrace with the Doric temple shown on the southernmost end of the Terrace. The Abott Hagg farm is also marked on the map and although depiction cuts off just before the ruins of the Abbey are shown. The road leading to Rievaulx Terrace from Duncombe Park can also be seen on this map. As this map was commissioned for the purpose of surveying the estate it can be assumed that it is broadly accurate. Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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iii.

Ordnance Survey maps of Rievaulx Terrace

Figure 4 is the first Ordnance Survey map of the area published in 1856 as a part of the country series for Yorkshire; the survey area is outlined in red. This shows little change in the overall plan of the site since the time of the 1806 Hornby map. There is clear differentiation between the wooded and cleared area of the Terrace and both temples are marked on the map although the Doric is labelled as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tuscanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Temple. The Abbey plan is shown to the west along with all the village buildings.

The 1895 OS map is much the same as the 1856 map and depicts small pathways leading from the road towards the cleared part of the Terrace as well as the steepness of the slope. The 1913-1914 and 1958 OS maps show no changes in their depictions from the 1856 map. The 1958 map has minor changes is comparison to the 1895 map. There are more pathways shown in the northern end of the site which terminate in a rough triangle just north of the Ionic Temple. Given that a caretaker and his family inhabited the temple until the 1960s it is plausible that this would have been a basic dirt or gravel drive for a car or other mode of transportation to reach the temple from the road.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

There is another pathway indicated that leads downwards from the Terrace to the north-west along the slope into the village; this may be a precursor to the permissive footpath that exists there today. At the south end of the Terrace a footpath runs along the bottom of the western slope, this originating from a road to the south. At the southern terminus the path diverges and a branch switches back sharply and ascends to the east towards Abbot Hagg farm. The most recent OS map of the site available is from the 1979-1981 series, seen in figure 5, with the survey area outlined in red.

In the north-west corner of the site, a path zigzags down the north slope towards the village to the west. The visitor centre, gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shed, and several associated structures have been added to the map. The central opening at the gate piers located at the approximate middle of the Terrace is marked to the east with dashed lines. To the north-west of the Ionic Temple is a small rectangular building which, when referencing the survey results, is the location of site 005A, a toilet, which was presumably for guests to Rievaulx Terrace before the visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre and associated toilets were built.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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iv.

Non-Ordnance Survey mapping of the area

An aerial mapping survey of the area was conducted in 2010 – 2011 by English Heritage which mapped archaeological features in the North York Moors National Park. Part of that survey included Rievaulx and the subsequent results area reproduced in Figure 6.

Figure 6 Aerial Mapping Survey results imposed on the 1979-81 OS map (Copyright Historic England)

The original survey only shows the markings in solid red and green, however it was been overlain onto the 1979-1981 OS map in order to indicate where it converges with the study area. It can be observed that inside part of the western edge of the site boundary the green earthworks are indicated, these relating to the ‘canal’ and other water-related features along the down-slope mid-section of the site’s west boundary.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Summary

The cartographic research of Rievaulx Terrace identifiying little human activity on the site predating the construction of the terrace in the 1750s and unfortunately no maps exist to give further detail as to the topography of the site prior to this. Of note is the progression of the construction of pathways leading to the road and village and the construction of several modern buildings to the NE of the site for the use of the site as a visitor attraction for the National Trust.

Aerial Photographs

Aerial photographs of the conservation area were consulted in order to assess the potential for previously unrecorded archaeological features to survive within the boundary. In addition readily available aerial views online were also analysed from www.bing.com, www.google.co.uk, and www.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/earth/. The heavy tree cover vastly reduced the visibility of any potential sites, with the exception of the grassy terrace occupying the top of the slope. Only a single photo revealed a previously unknown feature, a track or road running through the midsection of the western Terrace slope. This was identified during the walkover survey (Site 011).

Walkover Survey

The walkover survey was designed to provide comprehensive coverage of the site whilst specifically targeting areas identified from earlier stages of research as being of potential archaeological significance. As this survey was conducted during the summer this clearly had an effect on the height and density of the vegetation. The precipitous nature of part of the slope in the south and south-west were too steep to safely traverse, however the pathway along the bottom of the Terrace did provide a view upwards so as to provide as complete coverage as possible. The walkover survey was able to locate all of the sites identified during the Desk-Based Assessment. The locations of sites identified in the walkover survey were plotted to within 4-6m accuracy by handheld GPS and their dimensions recorded along with any other relevant observations. Each site was digitally photographed and all the sites recorded were allocated a record. A follow-on stage of the walk-over survey was carried out in late October 2015. This benefited very considerably from the reduced vegetation, allowing better visibility and physical access, and from lidar data recently obtained. 4 Many new sites were added to the original survey. A detailed record of each site and additional images can be viewed as part of the Gazetteer included as section 6 of this report.

Although the lidar data obtained did not extend to full coverage of the NE extremity of the site area

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Figure 7 Map of walkover survey for GPS Track

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Gazetteer – Baseline Survey

Introduction

The following table provides a description of the cultural heritage sites identified in the various stages of the desk based assessment and the walkover survey. It also includes an assessment of the condition of each of these sites as per the Historic Landscape Survey pro forma recording forms. General categories for condition were: • • • •

Good Moderate Bad Destroyed

However in practice more detailed notes were made. The sites are discussed in numerical order, the sites were allotted numbers as they were encountered during the walkover survey. In the instance of sites with associated, but separate, features, the features were assigned a corresponding letter code, i.e. A, B, or C, in addition to the site number. Those sites identified during the walkover survey and plotted with the GPS have been digitised and plotted onto the site map in figure 8.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Figure 8 Map of walkover survey sites plotted from GPS and Lidar

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

ii.

Gazetteer of sites located during the assessment

Site No. 001

Site Type

002

dry-stone field wall

stone gate piers

OS Grid Reference South Pediment: SE 57921E 84702N

Central: SE 57995E 84977N West: SE57980E 84980N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Two sandstone gate piers with Iron hinge mechanisms and stone threshold. Square columns with protruding bases, a protruding collar 2/3 of the way up and a pediment at the top. Oriented northsouth, opens to the east-west and is located along the eastern edge of the terrace. Ten courses high to the pediment, no signs of reuse. Road leading through the woods from the gate, there are no trees in this area and a gate in the opposing field boundary may be a replacement for the original. Pier height north: 2.51m south: 2.65m, width: 0.9m, measures 3.06m from north to south.

Good

19th century

Low remains of a drystone field boundary which continues to the east, visible within and west of the path. 1 to 2 courses high and measures <0.10m high, 0.70m wide, and 12m long

Poor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; footings only

Pre-18th century?

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 003

Site Type

004

004.1

004.2

OS Grid Reference SE 57998E 85080N

Description

Condition

Date

Ex situ moulded sandstone corner pier base with a formal fitting at corners for Measure 0.84m long, return walls. 0.84m wide, and 0.35m high. Likely from repairs to Ionic Temple.

Good

18th century

structure

SE 57924E 85130N

Stone rubble constructed rectangular building. Measure 2.75m by 4.30m internally, with walls 0.55m thick; clay bonding with possible lime inclusions and is heavily degraded; walls survive up to 2m high; entrance located at north-east corner and a possible window at southwest corner, both approximately 1m wide; has been referred to as a donkey stable; associated with wall 072 and path 073; appears on 1856 OS with associated enclosure on its south side

Poor / moderate

18th century?

structure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; secondary window structure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; secondary entrance

SE 57924E 85130N

Original stables entrance to south-west; partially blocked and turned into window

Poor / moderate

18th century?

SE 57924E 85130N

Secondary entrance made in north-east corner of building

Poor / moderate

18th century?

ex stone

situ

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 005

Site Type

005.1

pathway

WC structure

OS Grid Reference SE 57903E 85096N

SE 57903E 85113N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Rectangular lime-bonded and squared rubble built toilet block. Measures 1.27m by 1.62m with walls 0.45m thick. Height to wall head 2m and 2.70m to ridge. West wall contains a small window that measures 46 by 58m. Interior of walls plastered on the hard (i.e. applied to masonry) and lime washed white with some light blue visible. Evidence for removed toilet and foul pipe can be seen on the floor. Floor is laid to sandstone flags. Exterior door surroundings detailed with a 0.18m raised square margin with horizontal tooling; associated with path 005.1 and septic tank 005.2 Associated with site 005, path from north leading to the 005 WC; leads from main east-west path to north-west of Ionic Temple; mounded feature on its west side - 083; path is 1.5m wide

Good

19th C.

Moderate

19th C.

Images

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 005.2

Site Type

006

structure

septic tank

OS Grid Reference SE 57909E 85094N

Description

Condition

Date

Associated with site 005; made of brick and concrete with limestone facing; orientated east-west; approximately 1.95m in length by 1.69m in width and an overall height of 1.40m.

Good

19th C.

SE 57886E 85080N

Possible collapsed garden building. Measures approximately 5.8m by 1.3m internally; aligned east-west, and situated at the north end of a flat terrace; almost entirely collapsed, 1 probable doorjamb sits centred to south wall; seems to be associated with 006.1 rubble terracing wall; highest standing point in 0.50m; possibly formerly lime-bonded but bonding is mostly washed out; some stones vertically set; slate sections scattered at surface â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of unclear purpose

Moderate

18th century?

Images

Appears on 1856 OS as roofed structure.

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 006.1

Site Type retaining wall

OS Grid Reference SE 57899E 85062N

Description

Condition

Date

Rubble retaining wall forming level platform to the south of 006; 9.4m long from what is visible, probably about 0.30m wide; probably drystone or maybe washed out lime like 006;

Moderate

18th century?

Moderate

18th century?

Images

Appears as outline on 1856 OS

007

retaining wall

SE 57898E 85071N to SE 57791E 84559N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Rubble-stone constructed retaining wall below Ionic temple (037); fragmentary, largely collapsed; survives up to 1.5m in height in parts; retaining wall of terrace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also see 041

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 008

Site Type pathway

OS Grid Reference SE 57885E 85033N to SE 57913E 85020N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

North-west/south-east running pathway from the terrace down towards the northwest. Underlies terracing spoil and is terraced into the slope. Can be observed on LIDAR survey. Approximately 28.0m long and 1.0m wide Fades to north-west.

Bad

Possibly Medieval

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 009

Site Type trackway

OS Grid Reference SE 57907E 84869N SE 57885E 84835N

010

quarrying

SE 57764E 84524N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Approximately 4m wide, fairly level cart road that slopes upwards towards the north. Stops at north edge of tree planting related to the Terrace and was probably built over by the Terrace there. Mainly survives below 007 wall of terrace within a viewpoint to the Abbey, elsewhere has been buried beneath Terrace construction. Visible for 43m.

Moderate

Possibly Medieval

Located on a large rocky knoll, with quarry at the top and possibly the sides. Heavily overgrown with vegetation but quarrying can be seen with cut faces in the bedrock; road 011 runs up to and through the quarry; the cut faces of the bedrock after weathering look like blocks of masonry but the rock exposed was bedrock; may continue to the south into a large deep bowl in the ground; stone source for Terrace retaining wall - 041?

Moderate

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 011

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57711E 84357N to SE 57747E 84503N

Description

Condition

Date

Road running north-south along middle of terrace through quarry 010; runs along length of the Terrace Bank before curving east and upwards at the north end to join with modern road leading out to the carpark; approximately 2m wide, with ruts running along about 1m apart; put in by the NT in the 1970s for the extraction of elm.

Moderate

1970s

012

dry-stone boundary wall

SE 57804E 85007N to SE 57806E 84829N

Located within the ditch/gully associated with the construction of the abbey precinct perimeter wall (061); partially collapsed, 0.5m wide at base and tapers to 0.30m-0.40m wide towards the top, survives to about 0.75m high; sits within an earlier 6m wide cut ditch which was cut into the slope with the spoil dumped down slope forming a boundary.

Moderate

013

viewpoint

SE 57703E 84377N

Located on the south end of the Terrace by the Tuscan temple, viewpoint looking down towards the valley and bridge, quite overgrown and currently 2.0m wide though was likely wider when originally constructed.

Good

forestry access road

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 014

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57724E 84436N

Description

Condition

Viewpoint from Terrace to Abbey, first visible after Tuscan temple, about 9m wide currently. Edge of the Terrace along the viewpoint defined by boundary wall 007

Good

015

viewpoint

SE 57784E 84502N

Probable viewpoint from Terrace to Abbey, vegetation is mostly overgrown but appears to be formerly 23m wide. Wall 007 appears to exist along the length of the viewpoint. North of viewpoint 014.

Moderate

016

viewpoint

SE 57797E 84555N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 25m wide at the top of the slope. Rocky outcrop runs along the bottom edge which may be a continuation of 007 wall. North of viewpoint 015.

Moderate

viewpoint

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 017

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57840E 84621N

Description

Condition

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 20m wide at the top, sloping down to wall 007 which runs along the base of the slope. North of viewpoint 016.

Moderate

018

viewpoint

SE 57873E 84726N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, approximately 19m wide at the top of the slope, and wall 007 runs along the base of the slope. North of viewpoint 017.

Moderate

019

viewpoint

SE 57896E 84774N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, wall 007 is at the base of the slope, approximately 25m wide at the top of the slope, slightly overgrown. North of viewpoint 018.

Moderate

viewpoint

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 020

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57914E 84829N

Description

Condition

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 14m wide at the top of the slope, and slightly overgrown. North of viewpoint 019.

Moderate

021

viewpoint

SE 57915E 84857N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 14m wide at the top, with wall 007 at the base of the slope, was likely wider previously. North of viewpoint 020.

Moderate

022

viewpoint

SE 57922E 84895N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 24m wide at the top of the slope, likely that wall 007 runs along the base but is too overgrown to tell. Likely that the view was previously wider. North of viewpoint 021.

Moderate

viewpoint

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 023

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57927E 84952N

Description

Condition

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 23m wide at the top of the slope. Wall 007 likely runs along the base of the slope but is overgrown. North of viewpoint 022.

Moderate

024

viewpoint

SE 57934E 84996N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 15m wide at the top of the slope. Wall 007 possibly at base but heavily overgrown. North of viewpoint 023.

Moderate

025

viewpoint

SE 57920E 85055N

Viewpoint down from Terrace to Abbey, 20m wide at the top of the slope. North of viewpoint 024.

Moderate

viewpoint

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No.

Site Type

026

quarrying

027

trackway

OS Grid Reference

SE 57659E 84221N SE 57624E 84275N

028

‘canal’

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Extended area of quarrying activity; continues beyond the south boundary of the site area Located at the west and south-west perimeter of the NT holding; of cut and fill construction, which follows along canal 028 on its eastern bank; orientated north-south; towards the north, possibly a modern reworking/rebuild of an earlier track; measures between 1-5m wide.

South end of Abbey ‘canal’ system (part of the medieval course of the River Rye) – possibly functioned as a monastic fishpond; orientated north-south along the foot of the Terrace slope; existing watercourse between 1-2m in width – originally approximately 8m – 10m; it had been previously suggested the feature had enabled transport of stone and possibly iron ore.

Condition

Date

Images

Moderate

Moderate; much silted and vegetationclogged; now a wetland

Medieval

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No.

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

029

retaining wall

SE 57639E 84553N

Retaining wall upslope of 027 road; 2m high with roughly squared blocks of limestone; 12m long as visible but may continue beneath heavy vegetation; bonding material not seen but may be washed out, holds back soil of the slope. Further sporadic stretches of rubble retaining wall were also seen - most likely repairs to localised land-slips.

Moderate

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 030

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 58155E 85173N

Description

Condition

Former quarry, rounded depression in north slope, no visible rock outcrop beneath the vegetation but almost certainly a quarry. 13m by 16m eastwest, likely 9m in depth. Associated with quarry 030.1 located 5.0m to ENE.

Moderate

030.1

quarry

SE 58160E 85181N

Former quarry, associated with 030 to south-west; small size, about 10m maximum length and 5m wide, shallow rounded depression; located to the northeast of quarry 030.

Moderate

031

dry-stone wall

SE 57882E 85134N

Drystone boundary wall made from stones with a light capping of moss. Much collapsed but likely 0.90m wide, formed from random rubble and irregular quarried blocks. Aligned east-west. Major field boundary, approximately 77m in length. Associated with structure 070, and quarries 031C-E.

Moderate

quarry

SE 57823E 85176N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 031.1

Site Type

OS Grid Reference SE 57832E 85170N

Description

Condition

Shallow depression possibly a small quarry for construction of wall 031; 8m by 8m, sits on north edge of slope on the north side of wall 031.

Moderate

031.2

quarrying

SE 57817E 85175N

Small shallow depression to the south of wall 031, on the break of the slope. Measures 8m by 7m.

Moderate

031.3

quarrying

SE 57857E 85150N

Quarry along north line of wall 031, small shallow depression. Measure 5m by 8m.

quarry

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 032

Site Type access road

OS Grid Reference SE 57804E 85210N SE 57806E 85131N

Description

Condition

Road/access track along the west slope of site. 3m wide possibly leads to quarries 033 and 033.1 as well as another quarry beyond the site boundary.

Moderate

033

quarry

SE 57807E 85165N

Rievaulx Bank Quarry (north) cut into slope alongside road 032; large cut rock face is visible, approximately about 16m long: height of 2-3m is visible; possible tool marks along the rock face.

Moderate

033.1

quarry

SE 57818E 85164N

Smaller quarry working to south of the main 033 quarrying, associated with it, which is also alongside road 032. 10m long by 10m wide, rounded cut depression into the slope. Limited rock still visible

Moderate

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 034

Site Type

035

permissive footpath

wall

OS Grid Reference SE 57804E 85211N

Description

Condition

Boundary wall running north-south down slope; mostly collapsed; runs from 10m within the survey area and continues outwith of site boundary; approximately 0.50m wide; associated with wall 071.

Poor

SE 57784E 85258N

Footpath leading from the Terrace down to Rievaulx village, runs up the slope in a zig zag fashion, approximately 1m in width.

Good

Known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tuscan Templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but actually in the Doric Style. Round plan, made of sandstone ashlar with a domed roof, a door, and 3 windows. 12 Doric columns, metope and triglyph frieze. 10 steps lead up to door. Located on the S end of the Terrace.

Good

SE 57963E 85142N

036

Doric Temple

SE 57732 84407

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Date

Images

18th c.

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 036.1

Site Type

036.2

Doric Temple – Secondary works to stair

036.3

Doric Temple graffiti

Doric Temple tiled pavement

–

OS Grid Reference SE 57732 84407

Description

Condition

Date

Pavement of ex situ monastic tiles recovered from east end of abbey church in 1810 re-laid as the temple interior flooring with central roundel and radiating panels, each infilled with tiling of different patterns, geometric and floral; colour is present on some samples; not open for public access.

Poor; much evidence fro degradatio n; salts / greening present in some areas

13th century, re-set 1810

SE 57732 84407

Reworking of the stair to the 036A Doric temple; the original steps set at steeper inclination were mostly removed and replaced with new stair of shallower steps set at shallower inclination; cast concrete cope to western flanking wall possibly at this stage

moderate

SE 57732 84407

Graffiti upon exterior wall of the drum of the 036A Doric temple – hundreds of individual incised inscriptions of varying date, many early

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 036.4

036.5

037

Site Type Doric Temple graffiti repairs

Doric Temple repairs Ionic Temple

–

OS Grid Reference SE 57732 84407

–

SE 57732 84407

SE 57931 85072

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Good

18th c.

Images

Early repairs to graffitied walls of 036A Doric temple – many of the earlier inscripons are infilled with a fine pale brown mortar

Major repair works under Martin Stancliffe of York in the 1970s – columns renewed, stone indents in many areas, etc. Garden temple in Ionic style used as a dining room/kitchen for guests. Made of limestone ashlar with a gabled roof. 12 steps lead up to dining room which was a panelled and decorated interior and a painted ceiling. Former kitchen in basement is used for exhibition on Rievaulx Terrace. Tetrastyle porch with 4 front Ionic columns, and 2 side Ionic columns. Was heavily renovated/repaired in 1976 after limestone had been heavily degraded due to weathering.

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 037.1

037.2

038

Site Type Ionic temple spolia (stone bosses)

OS Grid Reference –

Ionic temple secondary works Rievaulx Terrace cut for Terrace

Description

Condition

SE 57931 Repurposed stone rib-vault bosses from Moderate Rievaulx Abbey gothic rib vault. 85072

Date

Images

Medieval

Decorated with floral pattern in centre. Located at the front steps of Ionic temple. Unknown stone type.

SE 57931 Major repair works under Martin Stancliffe of York, c.1976 – columns 85072 SE 57943 84975

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

renewed, stone indents in many areas, etc. cut for the terrace construction operation along the terrace’s up-slope (east) side; particularly noticeable as a landscape feature along the northern half of the Terrace

Good

Mid 18th century

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 039

040

041

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

Rievaulx Terrace slope fill

SE 57943 Fill material forming the terrace, Good particularly along its down-slope 84975

Rievaulx Terrace terrace surface

SE 57943 Grassy, cleared flat garden terrace walk Good from Doric Temple (036) in S to Ionic 84975

Rievaulx Terrace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; retaining wall

North end Terrace retaining wall; existing Mostly SE 57923 immediately below the down-sloping stable; lower skirt of the terrace on its western overgrown 84973

Date

Images

Mid 18th c.

(western) side; major dumping of excavated and quarried material to achieve the smooth arc of the terrace landformâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s west side; retained by site 007 along length of terrace

Mid 18th c.

Temple (037) in N; formed in a gentle arc that follows the natural topography; width varies throughout; gate piers (001) located roughly at the middle; measures approximately 700m in length; contains several modern artistic installations along its length; the flat terrace surface represents a major land-forming exercise (also see 038, 039 and 041)

South end Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

side; formed of dry-laid rubble stone (oolite); rising to up to 3m in places

; localised collapses

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No.

042

Site Type

Quarrying

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

Date

Images

SE 57720 84426 SE 57743 Former quarry working; comparatively small quarrying impact, into lower/mid 84700 slope of west-facing scarp; access from below

043

quarrying

044

quarrying

045

trackway

SE 57750 84787 SE 57800 85079 North end SE 57775 84775 South end SE 57800 84625

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Minor quarry working (?); impact, into lower/mid slope of west-facing scarp Rievaulx Bank Quarry (south); major quarry working; extends to west of NT boundary Trackway aligned almost north-south extending along the east side of the abbey church, running southwards through the 046 entrance in the monastic precinct boundary and thereafter running diagonally up Rievaulx bank, still traceable almost to terrace top level.

Medieval and later

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 046

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

entrance

SE 57775 Entrance within monastic precinct boundary wall 060 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; associated with the 84775

Condition

Date

Images

045 trackway; the route and entrance may both be of post-Reformation date, the former possibly simply a breach rather than a formally constructed feature (or the site of a small entry of medieval date???)

047

048

possible quarrying

possible trackway

SE 57700 Possible quarrying; comparatively small quarrying impact, into lower/mid slope 84625 Northeast end SE 57725 84675, Southwest end SE 57675 84575

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

of west-facing scarp; approximately 33m in length. Trackway, possibly associated with quarrying activity (047), running along lower slope of Terrace Bank; approximately 114m in length

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 049

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

Date

quarrying

SE 57625 Substantial quarry exposure, measures approximately 17m in length by 11m in 84400

Site access road â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on existing line; first recorded on 1895 OS; absent on 1856 OS

Later 19th century

Existing access road in to the NT site leading off the B1257 at the north-east extremity of the property boundary; asphalted road following slightly sinuous route leads to car-parking (052), the shop/ticket hut, continuing beyond to the west through to the maintenance buildings (056 and 057); approximately 375m in length

Good

modern

Images

width.

050

051

access road

East end SE 58275 85200, West end SE 57950 85100 access road East end SE 58275 85200, West end SE 57950 85100

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 052

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

Date

car parking areas

Car parking areas bounding the south side of the 051 access road; four areas of hard-standing

Good

modern

053

Gardnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cottage

West SE 5800 85100, Westcentral SE 58025 85100, Eastcentral SE 58050 85125, East SE 58075 85125 SE 58050 85100

Gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cottage Absent on the 1958 OS; extant on 197981 OS; measures approximately 14m x 8m.

Good

c.196080

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 054

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

shed

SE 58075 Gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cottage outbuilding 0- lying within the garden area to the east of the 85100

Condition

Date

Images

c.196080

cottage; absent on the 1958 OS; extant on 1979-81 OS; measures approximately 8m x 8m

055

visitor building

SE 58000 NT entrance building / shop / WC block; measures approximately 13m x 6m 85100

c.196080

056

hut

SE 57950 Maintenance hut; timber-built; measures approximately 11m x 8m 85100

Modern

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 057

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

shed

SE 57925 Maintenance shed; timber-built, monopitch roof, open-sided; measures 85100

Condition

Date

Images

Modern

approximately 11m x 6m

058

Black Gate (site of)

SE 58300 85200

059

field boundary

West end SE 57950 84775, East end SE 57975 84775

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Site of Black Gate (entrance to Duncombe demesne?) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; immediately south-east of existing site entrance; not shown on 1806 estate plan; extant on OS plans from 1856 - 1958 OS; absent thereafter Continuation of field boundary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; footing of dry stone wall running in to the NTowned woodland from the east; east-west aligned; approximate length 44m

19th century

18th century

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 060

Site Type

061

earthwork / cut

monastic precinct wall

OS Grid Reference North end SE 57775 85000, South-east corner SE 57800 84800, South-west end SE 57725 84775

SE 57806E 84824N SE 57743E 84786N

062

063

monastic precinct entrance (site of) monastic precinct boundary

Description

Condition

Date

Remains of monastic precinct wall bounding the east and south sides of the field to the east of the abbey church; 1.om in width, probably originally mortar/clay-lime bonded; though much collapsed still stands to1m or more along much of its length though mostly buried beneath tumble; upper parts robbed – in part for the construction of the 012 drystone wall; along east side of field it lies just out-with the NT boundary, parallel to it, extending for 290m, apparently cut at its north end by the Rievaulx Bank Quarry (044); at south end forms rightangle, continues westwards to edge of scarp above valley floor (also see 062); for associated ‘cut’ in to slope – see 061 Associated with the construction of the 060 boundary wall - cut ditch / terracingin towards the bottom of the Terrace slope, but mostly on the up-slope side of the 060 wall; approximately 3m – 5m in width; may be a result of the need to create a platform for the construction of the precinct wall, possibly in part for localised quarrying for materials for the wall construction; may also have functioned as an access and possible water-management

Muchcollapsed and upper parts robbed

medieval

Moderate

Medieval

SE 57775 Site of monastic outer gate (presumed) 85225

Medieval

SE 57750 Projected section of monastic precinct boundary leading to presumed site of 85200

medieval

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

outer gate 062 Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 064

Site Type (site of) platform?

OS Grid Reference

Description

SE 57775 Possible platform; minor right-angled cutting-in to the slope; approximately 8m 85200

Condition

Date

Images

Medieval ??

x 4m; ?site of structure

065

earthwork

SE 57775 85050

Earthwork feature mostly lying within field to east of abbey church, extends east just into the NT site area, in to the 044 quarry interior; a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;donut-shapedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mound, possibly signifying to a structural feature; associated with quarrying activity (lime kiln?); measures approximately 14m x 8m

066

pathway

North end SE 57800 85075, South intersectio n SE 57725 84600, Southwest end SE 57625

Pathway running along mid-slope of the west-facing scarp; clearly visible on Lidar imagery for a distance of 700m; possibly continues for a further 40m to the north, close to the 044 quarry

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Postmedieval ?

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No.

Site Type

067

routeway ?

068

quarrying

OS Grid Reference

84500, Southeast end SE 57625 84425 West end SE 58050 85175, Southeast end SE 58175 85100

West end SE 58150 85175, East end SE 58175 85175

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Images

Possible routeway / sunken way, running up small stream-gully off the Rievaulx Bank road access; measures approximately 125m in length.

linear zone of minor quarrying activity along slope of Moss Bank Wood; probably associated with 030; possibly including access; approximately 35m in length.

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Site No. 069

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

quarrying

SE 58225 Small quarry working; measures approximately 14m x 8m 85200

070

structure

SE 57865E 85141N

Small structure built against 031 wall, mostly collapsed, same drystone construction as 031; approximately 2m square and located 31m down wall 031; major tree growth within the walls disrupting the masonry; associated with wall 031, and quarrying – 031.1 – 031.3. The function of this structure, whether a small pen, a hide or even a small bothy, remains uncertain.

poor

071

wall remains

SE 57775 85200

Extension of wall 034 off to the west. Runs east-west and is mostly collapsed; approximately 9.0m long; still visible as rubble tumble, continues westwards beneath heavy undergrowth.

poor – much robbed / collapsed

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Images

Addyman Archaeology for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No.

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

Description

Condition

Date

072

dry-stone wall

SE 57932E 85117N

Drystone retaining wall along slope running east-west directly east of site 004; approximately 4-5 courses high; measures 5.2m up to curve of 073 pathway, and 8.2m in total length, 0.91m high and 0.50m wide; associated with structure 004 and path 073.

Moderate

18th century?

073

path

SE 57923E 85135N

Associated with site 004 and 072; a terraced pathway leading from along the base of 072 running westward toward the doorway of 004 before curving up to road; edged by a small section of cut timber at 004 north-eastern doorway to north and retaining wall 072 to south; approximately 1.20m wide and cut into slope; orientated east-west, breaking to ESE-WSW at eastern extent.

Poor

18th century?

To SE 57939E 85132N

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Images

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 074

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

dry-stone wall

Short section of dry stone walling; located to either side of entrance 075 leading to 027 access road; ? site of historic entrance

075

entrance

076

sluice culvert

077

sluice

Entrance within 074 walling – to the 027access road Sluice at the north end of the 028 ‘canal’; controlling flow from the adjacent pond to the north (beyond the NT boundary); existing sluice and culvert likely to represent a reworking of a monastic predecessor Sluice at the south end of the 028 ‘canal’; controlling flow from its south end ( to beyond the NT boundary); existing timber-built sluice arrangement likely to represent a reworking of a monastic predecessor

078

bank

079

bank

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Description

Condition

Date

Images

functions

Bank, aligned north-south; possible remains of boundary feature along east side of early Terrace shelter belt Slight remains of bank within woodland east of the Terrace

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Site No. 080

Site Type

OS Grid Reference

structure?

Possible structure or enclosure? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; slight remains of parallel banks, aligned eastwest; within woodland to east of Terrace

081

quarry access

082

access road

083

mound

Access track to the 010 quarrying area, extends southwards; possible secondary re-working (as forestry access?) Access road extending diagonally upslope from road 027 at the extreme south extent of the NT ownership area; forestry road running off to the south-east Adjacent to the 005.1 path leading to 005 WC; mound on its west side, and to the south of the eastwards return of the 011 trackway; possibly associated with the construction of the latter; mound height approximately 1.0m, about 3.0m wide

SE 57903E 85113N

Description

Condition

Date

Moderate

19th C.

Images

Table 3 Gazetteer of sites located during the assessment

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Discussion

Quarrying

Introduction

The presence of the remains of past quarrying activity is a principal characteristic of the topography of the NT ownership area. This predominently occurred along the steep scarp that defines the western and northern parts of the site – the former, Terrace Bank, the valley side created by the down-cutting of the River Rye and the latter, Mossy Bank, by the minor tributary that runs in from the northeast. Along this scarp are a number of bedrock exposures that were evidently exploited for various reasons and at differing periods. Some of this quarrying activity has been little referred to or has gone unnoticed in academic discussion of the abbey in its associated monastic and post-monastic landscape setting, while others are better-known. In relation to quarrying activity the most significant contribution to its understanding in the Rievaulx area is John Senior’s detailed discussion of building stones employed at the abbey that is included by Fergusson and Harrison (1999, 214-219, Appendix A). This outlines six different stone types that were derived from the Middle and Upper Jurassic sedimentary strata of the neighbourhood. Of eight quarries discussed five lie in the immediate vicinity of the abbey, and two of these lie within the NT ownership area - Rievaulx Bank Quarry and a second ‘unnamed quarry’. b.

Mapping quarrying activity

The present study has greatly benefitted from the detailed Lidar imagery that has recently become available. The latter has enabled accurate plotting of quarrying activity and associated remains such as access routes and, combined with field observation, has led to a revision of the understanding of this area of Rievaulx’s landscape context. Hitherto there has been little attempt to accurately survey the quarrying-related features of the scarp areas, this in spite of its immediate proximity to the abbey. c.

Geological resources

Underlying the area is the Middle Jurassic stratum, the Kellaways Sandstone. While this was employed for construction at the abbey, the quarry source seems to have been the Penny Piece quarry that lies a little to the northwest of the present village. Overlying this, corresponding to the lower parts of Rievaulx Bank, is a thick band of Oxford Clay. The unstable nature of this, and the presence of deposits of river alluvium further west (late Quaternary valley sediments), had serious structural implications for the construction of the abbey. The upper parts of the terrace scarp are formed of Upper Jurrassic deposits, firstly Lower Calcarious Grit and then Hambledon Oolite. Though a coarse stone that was difficult to work the Calcareous Grit was used during all building periods of the abbey for rough walling and rubble construction including coursed wall fills. Senior suggests that the major source for this material in the monastic period was Rievaulx Bank quarry (whose quarry workings include sites 033 and 044) though it is difficult to demonstrate this through immediate assessment of the existing earthwork remains of the quarry workings which seem likely also to include post-medieval working. Elsewhere within the NT project boundary area there are further quarry workings of this geological stratum though mostly of lesser extent – 042; 043; 047; and the more substantial 049. The overlying Hambledon Oolite is a coarse-grained shelly limestone of almost ashlar quality that weathers to a very pale hue and can take a fine arris and moulded detail. Senior suggested that some of this material employed at the abbey may have come from the Rievaulx Bank exposures. Possible candidate sites within the up-slope areas of the NT project area include 030/068/069; site 010; and site

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026. However he concludes that the principal source for this stone was at Quarry Banks Wood located some 1.2km to the south-east of the abbey. These calcareous stones will also have been burnt for the production of lime mortars, large quantities of which will have been required for the mass masonry construction of the abbey buildings and precinct boundary walling, and also subsequently for the evolving post-medieval village. Other exploitation of local geological resources included iron-bearing strata and coal levels. As Senior notes, For industrial use, the Middle Jurassic basal sediments of the marine Dogger Formation provided a this but important horizon of calcareous ironstones (with some ferruginous sandstones) and furnished the abbey and its granges in Upper Bisdale with the basic raw material for numerous medieval iron bloomer sites. Coals for fuels were obtained locally, higher in the middle Jurassic succession d.

Dating

It is generally problematic to assign the individual quarry workings recorded within the NT area to specific periods. While Senior and other commentators suggest particular quarries should be identified as sources for monastic-period supply it is clear that many of the Rievaulx Bank quarries recorded in the present survey had not been considered (or even known about) previously. And even the major Rievaulx Bank quarry that is discussed may well be in large part of post-medieval date â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nonetheless the close proximity of this quarry site to the monastic buildings does suggest the likelihood of its having been one medieval source. This complex series of quarry workings in particular might benefit from a more detailed micro-topographic survey that takes in its full extent. The comparatively minor workings associated with the construction of the monastic precinct, 061 (see below), are of medieval date. Various of the individual quarry workings elsewhere also appear to be of considerable though of unspecific age; many of these no longer display actual rock-face exposure and now only appear as earthwork features. Others, as has been discussed in relation to site 044, may be more recent origin or of multiple periods. e.

Quarry access

A number of the access-ways recorded within the site area must relate to quarrying activity and the means by which material was extracted. Site 032 seems to be the quarry road for quarry 033; this led northwards from the quarry working, before angling to the east to converge with the existing road (this partly coincides with the route of path 035). To the north-east site 068, a possible trackway, seems to relate to adjacent quarrying activity including site 030. Site 048 on the mid-west side of the site, seems to be a quarrying-related access associated with quarry site 047. Site 081 seems to be a quarry access relating to site 010. ii.

The Monastic Precinct

General

The church and cloister ranges of the medieval monastery lay at the centre of a walled precinct of some 37 hectares (92 acres), within which the monks created closes for livestock, agricultural buildings, industrial areas, orchards and gardens. 5 The form the monastic complex the drainage pattern of this part of the valley of the River Rye was altered; the final course of the river defined the west side of the precinct, with walls on the north and east sides. The area within was some 1000m

English Heritage - http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/history/description/

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long by 400m wide (3300 by 1300) feet, and included extensive areas of meadow and enclosed fields as well as ponds, old river courses and canals, leats and mill sites. The outer court with the stables, guesthouse and chapel were to the north-east between the inner and outer gatehouses. The precinct boundary extended in to parts of what is now the NT landholding on its western side. The wider monastic landholding extended far beyond the precinct itself, and included all of the NT land and areas beyond. There are important monastic-period remains that lie within the NT boundary that survive with certainty. Many of the other landscape features identified in the survey may be of monastic date, in whole or in part. These particularly include quarrying activity, routeways and waterrelated features. Their mapping and investigation as part of the present study adds significantly to the understanding of the immediate landscape context of the medieval site. Previous studies have only extended to the floodplain area and lower slopes immediately east of the abbey â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example field survey of the monastic precinct by Caroline Atkins (in Ferguson and Harrison, 1999,.176, 177) and more recent earthwork survey by aerial mapping by English Heritage in 2010-11. b.

Precinct boundary

Parts of the substantial stone wall that had surrounded the monastic precinct survive. The best preserved section bounds the east and south sides of the field lying to the east and southeast of the monastic church and is contiguous with the NT site boundary. Here the boundary as a landscape feature comprises a cutting-in to the natural slope, 061, and the remains of the wall itself, 060. It is not immediately clear whether the former related to extraction of stone for the wall construction or to create a narrow level terrace upon which to erect the wall and perhaps to manage slope drainage and to provide some form of access along the outer side. The wall now mostly exists as a pronounced bank on the downslope side of the 061 cut. Though much collapsed the facings of the wall itself can be seen at various points, these indicating a substantially built feature of 1.0m in thickness. Bonding material is no longer visible though a wall of such dimension was presumably mortared. The wall forms a clearly defined angle where it changes alignment to the south-east. Extended sections of the wall seem likely to survive to a height of between 1.0m and 1.5m, though now buried beneath its own rubble collapse. The feature has also evidently seen considerable robbing, a particular candidate being the existing boundary wall that runs along the base of the 061 cut along the east side of the field - 012. In the latter area the 060 monastic wall lies just out-with the NT ownership, while on the south side it lies a metre or two within. The northern extent of the surviving wall section terminates at the side of the Rievaulx Bank Quarry (south), site 044. The quarry working appears to have cut across the line of the boundary and would thus seem to be of later date. Though it has been variously suggested that the Rievaulx Bank Quarry was a principal source for the monastic buildings in the 12th and 13th century it seems probable that the quarry saw continued use in more recent centuries that had likely obliterated the immediate topography of the monastic period landscape in that area. On the north side of the 044 quarry the NT landholding boundary angles sharply to the east before returning again to the north. However the project monastic precinct continued directly northwards, well out-with the NT area. It is only at the extreme north-west corner of the NT property, where this first runs up to the side of the present village road, that the projected monastic precinct boundary runs back in to the NT land area. Though there are no obvious remains it is suggested that the boundary ran in a north-easterly direction to the side of the present road at which point existed the monastic outer gate; part of the suggested site of this lies within the NT boundary (site 062). The westwards-running southern section of the surviving 060 / 061 monastic-period precinct boundary runs down the slope, continuing to the lip of the former river scarp where it appears to terminate. Further dry-stone walling exists on the same line at the base of the slope, on either side of the existing 027access road and running to the side of the existing water course - 074. Though the walling that can now be seen is of more recent construction it may lie upon or even incorporate the remains of a medieval predecessor. It is unclear whether the existing gated entrance within this wall section, 075, lies upon the site of a predecessor. Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Water system

At the foot of Rievaulx Bank corresponding to the central and southern parts of the NT land-holding exist various water-related features that seem to have been formed within what had formerly been the course of the River Rye. The river had been diverted further to the west during the first century of the monastic occupation, with a much-reduced leat constructed within the former channel to serve the monastic complex. The leat channel extended further southwards where it ran in to a sequence of ponds and sluices. The largest of these water bodies lies within the NT boundary area. Referred to as the ‘canal’ this regular, rectilinear feature may have functioned as a fish pond, 028. It was fed from the ‘mill pond’ to the north, via a sluice (076), and was retained by a dyke and small wear/sluice arrangement at its south end, where a modern replacement now exists (075). The pond is now a muchclogged wetland area with little open water. A substantial embankment or levee defines the feature on its west side (outside the NT ownership), this probably indicating that the pond was formerly at considerably higher level than at present. The pond’s out-flow continued beyond further south eventually to re-join the River Rye. The pond is projected as the monastic precinct boundary by most commentators. It is unclear whether there had been a more formal boundary feature such as a wall. If such had existed on its east side, at the foot of the Rievaulx Bank slope, evidence for it may have been obliterated with the formation of the existing access track, 027. The dating of a section of walling along the east side of part of this track was not determined, 029.

iii.

Construction of Rievaulx Terrace (c.1749-56)

The formation of Rievaulx Terrace, together with the temples and gate piers the principal subject of this study, constitutes a major topographical engineering exercise. Its construction involved a number of activities, these recorded as individual ‘sites’ in the gazetteer. There exists a ‘cut’ for the terrace construction operation along its up-slope (east) side, 038. This is particularly noticeable as a landscape feature along the northern half of the Terrace’s length. Formation of the western, down-slope side involved the deposition of large quantities of fill material to form-up the leading edge of the feature, to in-fill slope-top voids and irregularities, and to achieve its gentle curving arc, 039. Below the leading edge this material was shaped to a steeply sloping profile or skirt. Immediately below the down-sloping lower skirt of the terrace on its western side the slope and fill were further retained by dry-laid rubble stone walling for much of its length. This retaining walling rises to between 2m and 3m in places, 041 (007 at the north end). The construction of the retaining walling and rubble packing behind (revealed at points of collapse) itself required a very considerable quantity of stone. The uniform character of the walling and rubble – sub-angular to angular blocks of oolite – indicate a quarry source. An obvious candidate for this is the quarry working immediately below the southern end of the terrace on its west side, site 010. However it is possible that this quarrying, which interrupts the gentle arced profile of the Terrace’s leading edge, may be not be coeval with its construction. It may be subsequent activity or, just possibly, pre-existing workings. If site 010 is not the source then an alternative candidate may be the quarrying at the extreme south end of the NT side (and extending beyond), site 026. The grassed level terrace top, 040, extends from the Doric Temple (036) to the south to the Ionic Temple (037) to the north a distance of approximately 700m. It runs in a gentle arc that follows the natural topography; its width varies throughout. Gate piers (001) are located roughly at the mid-point of the Terrace in its east side; these formed the terminal point of a route that ram through the parkland and fields of the Duncombe Park estate, running up from the south before angling westwards to the gates.

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

iv.

Remains above (to the east of) the Terrace

Comparatively few remains were identified above the Terrace, within the area of comparatively level ground on its east side. Historic maps indicate that much of the area had latterly been enclosed farming land. The formation of the Terrace seems also to have involved the formation of a narrow woodland belt, likely at the same time. The 1806 estate plan shows the positions of individual fields whose boundaries are still recognisable today. The original shelter belt saw considerable eastwards expansion, the woodland now extending to the NT boundary. Within this area of woodland expansion a number of the pre-existing boundary features are still recognisable. These include in particular two of the field boundaries – substantial stone-built dykes whose footings extend from their extant lines into the NT area – 002 and 059. There are also slight remains of what appear to be parts of a dyke or bank that corresponds to the east side of the original woodland belt – 078. Other slight linear banklike features were also recorded but it was less clear to what they may have related, for example 079.

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Figure 9 Map of walkover survey sites plotted from GPS and Lidar, with details of wider archaeological setting, including English Heritage earthwork survey data

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Addyman Archaeology 49 for The National Trust

Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Conclusion

The sites identified through the this assessment of historic records, cartographic sources and by means of field survey include the well-known components of the NT landholding – most obviously the terrace itself, and the two temples – and many less well known or previously unrecorded structures, remains, earthworks and features. It is hoped that this has provided a comprehensive and consistent coverage of the understanding of the archaeological history of the landholding, leading to a more balanced assessment of the significances of the site. Particular aspects of the site’s history are now far better understood – most notably remains encountered out-with the core area, within the woodlands, and, especially, upon the steeply sloping scarps along the west and north perimeter of the site. These latter areas represented a blank area within previous assessments of both the Terrace and monastic landscape. In terms of the latter many features are now better understood and better defined – the eastern boundary of the monastic precinct. A further major insight was gained into the extent of quarrying and related activities – a palimpsest of impacts upon the landscape spanning many hundreds of years. For the first time an understanding and quantification of these remains can be added to and contrasted with previous landscape surveys that extend to the monastic and post-Reformation landscape mainly within the valley floor. Assessment of the overall and individual significances of the remains described in this report is included within the relevant section and gazetteer table of the Conservation Plan itself. Similarly policies and recommendations that relate to the management and study of these features are also included separately within the Conservation Plan.

Archiving

Both a hard copy and a digital copy of this report in its final form will be submitted to the National Trust. This will be accompanied by the project archive including site records and digital copies of all site photographs.

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Addyman Archaeology 49 for The National Trust

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Acknowledgements Addyman Archaeology was commissioned to complete the project by Simon Green of Southern Green for the National Trust. Thanks are given to the Rievaulx Terrace staff for their helpful information about the Terrace. Thanks are also due to Mark Newman, National Trust archaeologist and Nick Fraser, head gardener, on their guidance and advice throughout the project.

References Documents Consulted

Aston, Mick (2012) Monasteries within the Landscape, Amberley Publishing Ltd. Coppack, G (1994) ‘The Outer Courts of Fountains and Rievaulx Abbeys: The Interface between Estate and Monastery’, in L.Pressouyre (ed.) L’Espace cistercien, Paris, 1994, 415-25. Coppack, G (1986) ‘Some descriptions of Rievaulx Abbey in 1538–9: the disposition of a major Cistercian precinct in the early sixteenth century’, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 139 (1986), 46–87 Dennison, E. and Richardson, S. (2009) Archaeological Investigations, Rievaulx Water Race, Abbot Hagg Farm, Rievaulx, North Yorkshire. Grey Literature Report. Fergusson, P. and Harrison, S. (1999) Rievaulx Abbey. Yale University Press: London Keevil, G. (1999) Conservation Plan: A Second Paradise of Wooded Delight, Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire. Conservation Plan. Rye, HA, (1990) ‘Rievaulx Abbey: its canals and building stones’, Archaeological Journal, 57 (1900), 69–77

National Heritage List for England Rievaulx Abbey http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1012065 Rievaulx Terrace http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1001072 Ionic Temple http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1315950 Doric Temple http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1149251 Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Website Consulted archaeologydataservice.ac.uk www.northyorkmoors.org.uk www.bing.com/maps/ www.bgs.ac.uk www.english-heritage.org.uk www.google.co.uk/maps/ www.historicengland.org.uk/ www.parksandgardens.org www.britainfromabove.org.uk www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk

Abbreviations DBA HBSMR EIA HE LB OASIS OS SM SMR HLS

Desk based assessment Historic Buildings and Scheduled Monument Record Environmental Impact Assessments Historic England Listed Buildings Online Access to the Index of Archaeological Investigations Ordnance Survey Scheduled Monument Sites and Monuments Record Historic Landscape Survey

Appendix A: Maps Consulted Hornby, T. •

A Plan of the Township of Rievaulx. 1806 (estate map)

Ordnance Survey (1856 – present) • • • • •

1:10 000, 560, 1856-1857 1:10 000, 560, 1895 1:10 000, 560, 1913-1914 1:10 000, 560, 1958 1:10 000, 1979-1981

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Appendix B: Photographic Register Image No.

Taken from

Date

001

002 003 004

NW NW S S S N W V S S S E E V S S S S S S S W E W S W S E V N W W N N N NE N V N NW NW E E E W NW S S

20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015 20/07/2015

005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 041 042 043 044 045 046 047 048 049

Historic Landscape Survey July 2015

Contexts No.

Description

Initials

Orientatio n

Artistic Installation

RAM

Site 003 Site 003 Artistic Installation Pathway along fence Vegetation Vegetation Vegetation Demolition stones Working Shot Artistic Installation Vegetation Artistic Installation Artistic Installation Artistic Installation Vegetation and forest Vegetation and forest Vegetation and forest Children's play area Children's play area Children's play area Children's play area Children's play area Children's play area Children's play area General site shot Children's play area Vegetation/site shot Vegetation/site shot Demolition debris Tuscan temple General site shot General site shot Vegetation Vegetation General working shot General working shot Vegetation Artistic Installation Working shot General site shot Site 001 Site 001 Site 001 Working shot Site 001 S Pillar Site 001 Site 001 Site 001 S Pillar Iron Fittings Site 001 S Pillar Iron Fittings

RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM

L L P P L L L P L P L L L P L L L L P L L L L L L L P P L P L L L L L L L L L L L L L P L L L P

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 050 051 052 053 054 055 056 057 058 059 060 061 062 063 064 065 066 067 068 069 070 071 072 073 074 075 076 077 078 079 080 081 082 083 084 085 086 087 088 089 090 091 092 093 094

095 096 097 098 099 100 101

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Site 001 N Pillar Iron Fittings Site 001 N Pillar Iron Fittings Site 001 Site 001 Artistic Installation Artistic Installation Artistic Installation General Working shot General Working shot Artistic Installation cairn Artistic Installation cairn Vegetation Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002 field wall Site 002, slope Site 002, slope Site 002, slope Site 002, field wall Artistic Installation Site 003, corner pier Site 003, corner pier Site 003, corner pier Site 003, corner pier Site 003, corner pier Site 003, corner pier Discarded stones Discarded stones Vegetation and slope Vegetation and slope Vegetation and slope Artistic Installation Artistic Installation Artistic Installation Artistic Installation 004B Retaining wall 004B Retaining wall 004B Retaining wall 004B Retaining wall, top of wall 004B Retaining wall, top of wall 004B Retaining wall, top of wall, with scale 004B Retaining wall, top of wall, with scale Interior of E-facing wall 004A Interior of E-facing wall 004A N face of S wall interior 004A N face of S wall interior 004A N face of S wall interior 004A SW interior corner of 004A

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154

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W wall window 004A W wall window 004A W wall window 004A W wall window 004A 004A W interior wall 004A W interior wall 004A interior of N wall W half 004A interior of N wall central 004A interior of N wall E half 004A interior of N wall E half 004A N and W wall interior 004A N and W wall interior 004A N and W wall interior 004C pathway 004C pathway 004C pathway with 004A 004C pathway with 004A 004A N wall exterior 004A N wall exterior 004A corner of N/E wall 004A E wall exterior 004A E wall exterior 004C, wood edging to path 004C, wood edging to path 004A W wall, exterior N half 004A W wall, exterior S half 004A W wall, exterior S half 004A W wall, exterior centre 004A W wall, exterior N half 004A W wall, exterior N half 005A S exterior wall 005A S exterior wall 005A S SW corner 005A W wall SW corner 005A SE corner 005A SE exterior 005A NE corner 005A interior S wall 005A W wall interior 005A W wall pipe interior 005A SE corner interior 005A E wall interior 005A E wall interior 005A E wall interior close up 005A E wall interior 005A E wall interior Working shot 005B pathway 005B pathway 005B pathway 005A N exterior 005A N exterior 005A Wall stub E face

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207

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005A Steps E of entrance 005A Steps E of entrance 005A Wall stub N face 005A W face wall stub 005A Wall stub at wall join Slope below Ionic temple Slope below Ionic temple Slope below Ionic temple 005C Septic tank 005C Septic tank 005C Septic tank 005C Septic tank 006A Structure overall 006A Structure overall 006B Retaining wall Working shot 006B Retaining wall 006A Structure wall 006A Structure wall 006A Structure 006A Structure 006A Structure 006B Retaining Wall 006B Retaining Wall 006A Associated clearing 006A Associated clearing 006A Associated clearing Pipe bowl at 006A 007 N end 007 N end 007 N end 007 N end 007 N end 007 N end Vegetation, slope, 007 Vegetation, slope, 007 Vegetation, slope, 007 View down slope Vegetation, slope Vegetation, slope 008 Medieval path 008 Medieval path 008 Medieval path 008 Medieval path 008 Medieval path Vegetation, slope, 007 Vegetation, slope, 007 Vegetation, slope, 007 Vegetation, slope, 007 009 Path 009 Path 009 Path 009 Path

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260

S S E E E E E W W W W NW NW NW E E N N N S S S NE SW W W S S S E W S S S W W NW N S S W N N N N N N N N N N N N

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009 Path 009 Path 007 Overall, vegetation 007 Overall, vegetation 007 Overall, vegetation 010 Quarry from above 010 Quarry from above 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry stone face 010 Quarry entrance 010 Quarry entrance 010 Quarry N entrance 010 Quarry N entrance 010 Quarry N entrance 010 Quarry S entrance 010 Quarry S entrance 010 Quarry S entrance 010 Quarry stones Working shot 010 Quarry stones 010 Quarry stones 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road with slope 011 Quarry road with slope 011 Quarry road slope 011 Quarry road slope 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road Down slope Down slope Down slope Quarry stone Clearing at end of 011 Clearing at end of 011 Slope at clearing 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271

N N N N N N N N N

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011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road 011 Quarry road Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple Info boards at Ionic temple 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 012 Field wall within canal 013 Viewshed 013 Viewshed 013 Viewshed 014 Viewshed 014 Viewshed 014 Viewshed 014 Viewshed Down to retaining wall Down to retaining wall Down to retaining wall 015 Viewshed 015 Viewshed 015 Viewshed Up terrace 016 Viewshed 016 Viewshed 016 Viewshed 017 Viewshed 017 Viewshed 018 Viewshed 018 Viewshed 018 Viewshed

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366

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001 Carriageway 001 Carriageway 001 Carriageway 019 Viewshed 019 Viewshed 019 Viewshed 020 Viewshed 020 Viewshed 021 Viewshed 021 Viewshed 021 Viewshed 022 Viewshed 022 Viewshed 022 Viewshed 023 Viewshed 023 Viewshed 023 Viewshed 023 Viewshed 024 Viewshed 024 Viewshed 024 Viewshed 025 Viewshed 025 Viewshed 025 Viewshed 007 Wall 012 Wall S extent 012 Wall S extent 026 Earthwork 026 Earthwork 027 Trackway 027 Trackway 027 Trackway eastern branch 027 Trackway eastern branch 027 Trackway 028 Canal 028 Canal 027 Trackway 028 Canal 027 Trackway, working shot 028 Canal 027 Trackway 027 Trackway 027 Trackway 028 Canal 028 Canal 027 Trackway 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414

E E N SW S E S E NW E SW SW S E E EW W NE N N NW NW SE NW SW SE E E SE SE SE NW S S E SE E E E NE E E E SW SW SW E E

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029 Retaining wall 029 Retaining wall 027 Trackway 30A Quarry 30A Quarry 30A Quarry 30A Quarry 30A Quarry 30A Quarry 30B Quarry 30B Quarry 30B Quarry 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 031B Possible building 031B Possible building 031 Boundary wall 031 Boundary wall 31C Quarry 31C Quarry 31C Quarry 31D Quarry 31D Quarry 31D Quarry 31E Quarry 31E Quarry 31E Quarry 31E Quarry 032, Road 032, Road 033A Quarry 033A Quarry 033A Quarry 033B Quarry 033A Quarry 033A Quarry 033A Quarry, possible toolmarks 033A Quarry, possible toolmarks 033A Quarry, possible toolmarks 034 Boundary wall 034 Boundary wall 034 Boundary wall 035 Permissive footpath 035 Permissive footpath

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Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley, North York Moors National Park

Appendix C: Photographic Thumbnails, Rievaulx Terrace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archaeological Survey and Assessment

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7.2 Rievaulx Canal Hydrological Conceptualisation

Rievaulx Canal Hydrological Conceptualisation JBA December 2015

Rievaulx Canal Hydrological Conceptualisation Final Report December 2015

Southern Green Ltd 221, Durham Road Low Fell Gateshead NE9 5AB

JBA Project Manager Alex Jones JBA Consulting Salts Mill Victoria Road Saltaire SHIPLEY BD18 3LF

Revision History Revision Ref / Date Issued

Amendments

Issued to

Final Draft

Client Comments

Southern Green

Contract This report describes work commissioned by Simon Green on behalf of Southern Green, by a letter dated 27th August 2015. Alex Jones of JBA Consulting carried out this work.

Prepared by .................................................. Alex Jones BSc MSc FGS Analyst

Reviewed by ................................................. Mike McDonald BSc MSc PhD FGS Principal Hydrogeologist

Purpose This document has been prepared as a Draft Report for Southern Green. JBA Consulting accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the Client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. JBA Consulting has no liability regarding the use of this report except to Southern Green.

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Carbon Footprint A printed copy of the main text in this document will result in a carbon footprint of if 100% postconsumer recycled paper is used and if primary-source paper is used. These figures assume the report is printed in black and white on A4 paper and in duplex. JBA is aiming to reduce its per capita carbon emissions.

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Executive Summary A small wetland, referred to as the Canal Wetland, lies at the base of the slope of the Rievaulx Terrace and Rievaulx Wood SSSI. It lies within the floodplain of the River Rye, within a depression formed by a monastic canal. The canal was constructed in three phases in the 12th Century (Rye 1900) and the Canal Wetland lies within a canal section formed during the second construction phase. This second phase of the canal was fed with water through a weir (roughly at the location of the current Rievaulx Bridge) which backed water up in the River Rye, and a flow from the canal built in the first phase, which passed through the grounds of Rievaulx Abbey (see figure below). History of the Canal

Historic maps from the early 20th Century show at that time there was no wetland or ponds, but instead there was only a small drain along the line of the canal. At some point in the mid to late 2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx iii

20th Century, a weir was installed within the depression formed by the canal, blocking the line of a drain (see photograph below). This backed up the water in the drain leading to shallow flooding of the depression to form the Canal Wetland. More or less coincident with the construction of the weir, the pond north of the National Trust land and the pond which lies close to the weir appear to have been excavated. With the latter, the weir appears to have been specifically designed to divert water from the canal drain, into the pond, through a culvert. Weir at Bottom End of the Canal Wetland

The Canal Wetland persists for two main reasons: â&#x20AC;˘

It is underlain by relatively low permeability silty clay alluvial (river) deposits which means limited water is lost from it to the surrounding ground and the weir can form a good seal at the bottom end of the wetland.

It is supplied by two springs: one from the bedrock and also possibly a discharge associated with a culverted section of the old canal through Rievaulx Abbey. These features are shown in the conceptual model of the wetland developed for the study (see below). As a result of the nature of the controls on the wetland, it should continue to remain wet in most conditions as long as the weir does not fail. â&#x20AC;˘

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Conceptual Model

Immediately downstream of the weir and the Southern Pond, the water within the canal system disappears into the ground at a sink. This sink may be the result of a fault, or fracture in the bedrock which passes through this location. Following the installation for the weir, records showed that the wetland appeared to fill rapidly with vegetation. Therefore, management of the wetland to allow more open water in the future may require a regular program of maintenance (e.g. clearing of vegetation). This might be coupled with a new, higher, weir which could create deeper water in the wetland if this was required.

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Contents Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... iii 1

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1

1.1 1.2

Background ............................................................................................................ 1 Data sources .......................................................................................................... 1

Site Description ................................................................................................... 3

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

Introduction ............................................................................................................ 3 Canal History ......................................................................................................... 3 Canal Citation and Ecological Description............................................................. 5 Topography, and land use ..................................................................................... 5 Geology and soils .................................................................................................. 5 Hydrology ............................................................................................................... 8 Hydrogeology ......................................................................................................... 15

Hydrogeological Conceptual Model .................................................................. 17

Implications for Management ............................................................................. 19

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List of Figures Figure 1-1: Rievaulx Terrace and the Canal Wetland ........................................................ 1 Figure 2-1: History of Canal Elements ................................................................................ 4 Figure 2-2: Bedrock Geology .............................................................................................. 7 Figure 2-3: Superficial Geology .......................................................................................... 8 Figure 2-4: Hydrological Features ...................................................................................... 9 Figure 2-5: River Rye - Looking Northwards from NGR 457440, 484320 .......................... 11 Figure 2-6: Issue from line of Canal (looking south-eastwards from NGR 457620, 484860) ............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 2-7: Covered Pit in the grounds of Rievaulx Abbey (looking eastwards from NGR 45756, 484910) ................................................................................................. 12 Figure 2-8: Top Pond - looking Southwards from NGR 457720, 484830 .......................... 12 Figure 2-9: Weir at downstream end of the Canal Wetland (looking westwards from NGR 457600, 484500) ...................................................................................... 13 Figure 2-10: Culvert inflow from Canal Wetland and Culvert outflow into Southern Pond (around NGR 457560, 484500) ......................................................................... 13 Figure 2-11: Series of Historic Maps showing change to the Canal Wetland Area............ 14 Figure 3-1: Conceptual Model ............................................................................................ 18

List of Tables Table 2-1 Geology of the site ............................................................................................. 5 Table 2-2: Hydrogeological Units ....................................................................................... 15 Table 4-1: Management Options Pros and Cons ............................................................... 19

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Introduction

1.1

Background Rievaulx Terrace and Rievaulx Woods SSSI, is owned by the National Trust and lies southeast of the village of Rievaulx, on the eastern valley side of the River Rye. At the base of the valley side, a section of the Rievaulx monastic canal crosses the land. Within this canal, is a wetland, known within this report as the Canal Wetland (see Figure 1-1). JBA Consulting have been instructed by Southern Green Ltd acting on behalf of the National Trust to investigate this wetland and understand the hydrological conditions that support it. Figure 1-1: Rievaulx Terrace and the Canal Wetland

1.2

Data sources The data used in the desk study were obtained from the following sources; â&#x20AC;˘

Topography and general mapping: o OS Open Data, Terrain 50 DTM o 2m LIDAR DTM o Aerial photography (Google Earth and Bing Maps)

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•

Geology and Soils: o BGS 1:50,000 Geology Map, Solid and Drift Edition, Sheet 53, Pickering (2000) o BGS digital geology mapping o BGS online borehole database (BGS website) o BGS online Lexicon (BGS website) o 1:250,000 soils mapping (Soil Survey of England and Wales, 1983)

•

Hydrogeology: o Aquifer classification (Environment Agency website) o Groundwater vulnerability (Environment Agency website)

Other information relating to the site: o Rye, H.A., 1900, Rievaulx Abbey: its canals and building stones’, Archaeological Journal, Vol 57, p69–77 o Scruby, M. and Alexander, K., 1987, Rievaulx Terrace and Temples National Trust Biological survey o Rob, C.M., 1954, Rievaulx Wood. The site walkover survey was undertaken by a JBA hydrogeologist on 14th September 2015. This included: •

•

Site walkover,

•

Shallow soil sampling through hand augering,

•

Photography.

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Site Description

2.1

Introduction This chapter describes the geology, hydrology, and hydrogeology and site history of land in and surrounding the Canal Wetland. This information will be used together to form a conceptual model of the wetland described in Section 3.

2.2

Canal History The construction of the canal at Rievaulx Abbey appears to have begun in 12th Century to aid in moving building stone from local quarry to the abbey (Rye 1900) (see Figure 2 1). The canal appears to have been constructed in 3 stages: •

Stage 1: o To the north of Rievaulx Abbey the River Rye was moved into a channel cut along the western edge of the floodplain. o A canal channel was cut along the eastern edge of the floodplain. Water was diverted into the canal through the construction of a weir at the upstream mouth of the canal.

•

Stage 2: o This includes the section of the canal within NT ownership. o This was created through the following stages: Excavating the canal channel. Excavating a connection channel to supply water from the river to the canal section. Building a weir at Rievaulx Bridge and backing water up in the River Rye and into the canal through the connecting channel. The second canal section thus acted a backwater lake of the River Rye. o The slope of the floodplain means that the northern section of the second stage of the canal would have had to have been cut deeper into the ground surface. The LIDAR data indicates that the spoil heaps/embankments in this northern section are much larger than in the south, which aids in confirming this hypothesis.

Stage 3: o This was constructed in a similar way to stage 2, with a weir in the river at the lowest section backing up the water in the canal section. The gap between the Stage 2 and 3 canals, occurs at the Cleveland Way road. As the two sections of the canal needed water levels at different elevations, in the past there could not be an open connection between these two. A lock may have been created at this location. •

The boundary between the Stage 1 and 2 sections may be different from the Stage 2 and 3 boundary. As the Stage 1 section of the canal was reliant on diverting water into the canal, there may have been a flow along it. As a result the Stage 1 section may have been designed to supply water to the Stage 2 section. Figure 2-1 also show the lines of paleochannels that are observable in the LIDAR topography data, which may represent the former line of the River Rye before the canals were installed and the river diverted. The recent changes to the Canal Wetland area are discussed in Section 2.6.1.

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Figure 2-1: History of Canal Elements

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2.3

Canal Citation and Ecological Description The SSSI citation for the Rievaulx Wood SSSI, contains the following description of the Canal Wetland. "The canal, fed by two springs at its northern end, flows very slowly southwards and is on average 20cms deep. The vegetation is dominated by lesser pond sedge Carex acutiformis which forms single species stands in places, but comprises many species including greater tussock sedge C. paniculata, slender tufted sedge C. acuta, wood clubrush Scirpus sylvaticus, reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea, watercress Nasturtium officinale and meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. In the pool at the northern end there is a well-established colony of alder Alnus glutinosa and goat willow Salix caprea". A biological survey from 1987 gives the following description of the canal "The old canal at the base of the wood provides a wetland habitat of general value for wildlife. It is mostly covered by tall fen vegetation, but small patches of open water occur at either end, those in the northern part having been created fairly recently. The fen vegetation is mostly species-poor, consisting of only a few species, although the northern section is slightly richer, having a greater variety of typical wetland herbs. Wood club-rush (Scirpus sylvatica), a relatively uncommon species in Yorkshire, occurs in the southern pool, but no other species of note have so far been recorded in this stretch. Neither invertebrate nor birdlife appears to be of any great interest at present, although the wetland habitat does support a number of species which might otherwise not occur on the property. Common frog and toad are reported to be numerous, and smooth newt and palmate newt also present; there are also water vole and water shrew here. Harvest mouse has been recorded close-by - a nationally scarce species". It should be noted that a survey from 1954 (Rob 1954) does not appear to mention the Canal Area. This may be evidence that it has only been a significant wetland since the around the early 1980s/late 1970s (see Section 2.6.1). It should also be noted that in 1987, the wetland was described as only having small patches of open water. This is only a few years after works were undertaken to create the wetland (see Section 2.6.1 and 2.6).

2.4

Topography, and land use

2.4.1

Topography The Canal Wetland lies in the floodplain of the River Rye against the eastern side of the valley. It is contained to the west by an embankment, which appears to be formed from the spoil from when the canal was cut. It appears that the canal has subsequently infilled, and so, although lower than the rest of the floodplain, the canal may only be 10-20cm lower than the adjacent ground on the far side of the embankment (from LIDAR topography data). Across the rest of the floodplain are relics of the paleochannels of the River Rye and ditches which once formed part of the canal system. The hill side to the east of the canal rises rapidly from circa 77mAOD at its base to circa 165mAOD on the terrace.

2.5

Geology and soils Information on the soils and geology of the site and surrounding area has been derived from the Soil Survey of England and Wales (1983), 1:50,000 BGS geology mapping, and the BGS online borehole archive. The geology beneath the site is summarised in Table 2-1. Table 2-1 Geology of the site

Age

Group

Formation

Quaternary Jurassic

Corallian

Coralline Oolite

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Member

Description

Thickness

Alluvium

Clay, silt, sand and gravel

5m +

Hambleton Oolite

Ooidal limestone

At least 5m 5

Group

Formation

Member

thick

Malton Oolite Member and Coral Rag Member

Ancholme Group

Lower Calcareous Grit Formation

Sandstone, fine grained, quartzose, bedded, calcareous

40 -50 m*

Oxford Clay Formation

Silicate mudstone, grey, smooth to slightly silty, sporadic beds of argillaceous limestone nodules.

30 - 50 m*

Osgodby Formation

Sandstone, calcareous, and poorly lithified sand.

0 - 15 m*

Sources: * BGS 1:50,000 Geology Map, Solid and Drift Edition, Sheet 53, Pickering (2000)

2.5.1

Bedrock Geology The valley of the River Rye cuts through a succession of Jurassic bedrock (see Figure 2-2). The youngest strata locally is the Hambleton Oolite Member which outcrops at the top of the hill beneath Rievaulx Terrace. It also outcrops on the opposite (western) side of the valley around the peak of Ashbury Hill. This is because the bedrock strata in the area only shallowly dips (3 degrees) to the south. The Hambleton Oolite Member is underlain by the Lower Calcareous Grit Formation which is in turn underlain by the Oxford Clay Formation. Both of these strata outcrop in the valley sides and underlie Terrence Bank Wood. The Osgodby Formation outcrops in the lower valley sides and subcrops beneath alluvial deposits in the base of the valley. The Weaverthorpe Fault crosses the site roughly at the location of the southern pond. The orientation of the fault is from east to west. The southern side of the fault has been downthrown. This means that south of the fault the Oxford Clay Formation immediately underlies the floodplain rather than the Osgodby Formation. The throw on the fault is likely to be only a limited distance at this location as the end of the fault lies only 600m west of the canal. However the Oxford Clays may be less than 10m thick under the floodplain.

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Figure 2-2: Bedrock Geology

2.5.2

Superficial (Drift) Geology The base of the valley is underlain by alluvial deposits associated with the River Rye (see Figure 2-3). Hand augering and observations of the River Rye bank indicated that the alluvium consists of reddy brown silty clay. Although it may thin towards the edge of the floodplain, along the line of the river, this deposit is over 5m thick (the river channel is incised at this point).

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Figure 2-3: Superficial Geology

2.5.3

Soils The soils in the base of the valley belong to the Enborne Soil Association which comprises deep stoneless fine loamy and clayey soils variably affected by groundwater. These soils are found on flat land at risk of flooding.

2.6

Hydrology The hydrological features in and surrounding the Canal Wetland are shown in Figure 2-4.

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Figure 2-4: Hydrological Features

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The canal wetland and surrounding area have the following hydrological features: •

The River Rye lies on the western edge of the floodplain within a deep channel approximately 2.5m deep. Analysis of the LIDAR suggests that the channel may have naturally deepened (incised) as a result of the straightening of the river (see Section 2.2.1). This would have been caused as the straightening of the river also steepened its slope, leading to it having more energy and therefore eroded its bed (see Figure 2-5).

•

The SSSI citation notes that the canal wetland is supplied by two springs. o One spring was identified on the day of the site visit. This was located within the line of the old canal (see Figure 2-6). It may therefore be an issue from a collapse/partially infilled culvert discharging water from the first canal section (see Section 2.2.1) into the second canal. Within the grounds of Rievaulx Abbey is marked a spring on the OS mapping. This was also visited and appeared to be a flagged covered pit on the line of the first canal (running water was heard from within the pit) (see Figure 2-7). o The other spring appears to have been incorporated into the top pond which has been created since 1979 (see Section 2.6.1).

•

Immediately north of the Canal Wetland area is the Top Pond (see Figure 2-8). The water level within this pond is controlled by a culvert at its bottom end which runs under a track and feeds the canal wetland. o Review of historic maps suggests the Top Pond has been created since the late 1970s.

•

The Canal Wetland appears to have been a relatively recent creation (see Section 2.6.1). o At the southern end is a wooden weir which impounds the water. It is currently in a poor stage of repair (see Figure 2-9). o Review of historic maps suggests the weir has been created since the late 1970s. o The weir backs up water in the Canal Wetland so it acts as a long extended lake. This limited the velocity of the water within the Canal Wetland. o At the southern end of the Canal Wetland is a small open area of water. This may have remained open water as the water is deepest at this location. Further upstream within the canal wetland, open water is limited to a narrow line through the vegetation and some cleared areas of vegetation. The open line of water may follow the old ditch which cut through this area before the installation of the weir.

•

The weir appears to be designed to impound water so that it can be diverted off via a culvert into the Southern Pond (see Figure 2-10). The Southern Pond appears to have been enlarged at a similar time as the weir was installed (see Section 2.6.1). o The weir was not overtopping on the day of the site visit, so all the flow along the canal appeared to discharge through the culvert.

•

Review of historic maps indicates that the size of the Southern Pond has increased since the late 1970s. Observation of the steep nature of the existing banks suggest that this was probably the result of excavation works.

•

The Southern Pond discharges water back to the line of the canal downstream of the weir into a ditch. This water is quickly lost to the ground in the ditch within 10m of the culvert discharge point.

•

The ditch, along the canal, south of the weir is mainly dry until 30m north of Cleveland Way. The ditch deepens at this point and there is an open pond.

•

No culvert appears to lie under Cleveland Way. This location appears to be the boundary between the second and third canal (see Section 2.2.1) and this may explain the lack of connection.

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Figure 2-5: River Rye - Looking Northwards from NGR 457440, 484320

Figure 2-6: Issue from line of Canal (looking south-eastwards from NGR 457620, 484860)

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Figure 2-7: Covered Pit in the grounds of Rievaulx Abbey (looking eastwards from NGR 45756, 484910)

Figure 2-8: Top Pond - looking Southwards from NGR 457720, 484830

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Figure 2-9: Weir at downstream end of the Canal Wetland (looking westwards from NGR 457600, 484500)

Figure 2-10: Culvert inflow from Canal Wetland and Culvert outflow into Southern Pond (around NGR 457560, 484500)

2.6.1

Recent history of the canal A review of available historic maps indicates that the Canal Wetland area has undergone several changes over the last 40 years. The dates of the historical mapping however make it uncertain of the exact dates of the changes. Several historic maps were available to present in this report (see Figure 2-11). They show the following: â&#x20AC;˘

The 1893, 1895 and 1958 maps show that the area of the Canal Wetland was relatively dry and only contained a small drain.

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

•

The Southern Pond first appears on the 1979-1981 map (the OS map from 1958 does not show it). However its extent is smaller than today's extent.

•

The 1979-81 map does not show the Top Pond.

•

The current Vector Map raster (and master map) for the area shows the Southern Pond, Top Pond and pond upstream of the weir in the Canal Wetland at their current extent.

•

The Current Streetview map of the area appears to be based on a survey undertaken between the 1979-81 map and the Vector Map raster. It shows a slightly smaller Top Pond and no water impounded behind the weir (see Section 2.6).

Overall the historic maps pre the later 1979 show the area been relatively dry. Since that period, the ponds have been created and extended and a weir has been installed (though the later appears on no maps). Figure 2-11: Series of Historic Maps showing change to the Canal Wetland Area

1893

1895

1958

1979-1981

Current Streetview

Current Vector Map Raster

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

2.7

Hydrogeology There are several hydrogeological units underlying and surrounding the Canal Wetland. These are detailed in Table 2-2. Table 2-2: Hydrogeological Units

Formation

Description

Thickness

Aquifer

Alluvium

Silty Clay

Unknown

Aquitard

Coralline Oolite Formation

Ooidal limestone.

At least 5m thick

Aquifer

Lower Calcareous Grit Formation

Sandstone, fine grained, quartzose, bedded, calcareous.

40 -50 m*

Aquifer

Oxford Clay Formation

Silicate mudstone, grey, smooth to slightly silty, sporadic beds of argillaceous limestone nodules.

30 - 50 m*

Aquitard

Osgodby Formation

Sandstone, calcareous, and poorly lithified sand.

0 - 15 m*

Aquifer

Description Locally silty clay - likely to be relatively low permeability. The vast majority of flow through the aquifer is along major flow paths towards a small number of major springs. Lower Calcareous Grit Formation are regarded as Principal aquifers. The Oxford Clay Formation is regarded as an unproductive strata meaning it has a low permeabilty and negligible significance for water supply or river base flow. The Osgodby Formation is predominantly sandstone and can also form springs. Where the strata is free from drift, considerable amounts of water may enter the bed and emerge as springs down dip.

The Coralline Oolite and Lower Calcarous Grit Formation are, as part of the Corallian group, principal aquifers. However, within the vicinity of the site no springs or issue are derived from these aquifers. Their location up the valley side, means that they play no real role in the hydrogeological control on the Canal Wetland. The canal is underlain by alluvial which is a silty clay in nature and therefore likely to be low permeability in nature. It is likely however to be relatively thin on the valley edge. 2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Underlying the canal and along the valley edge of the Canal Wetland, the bedrock is the Osgodby Formation. It is classified as a Secondary A aquifer, and as a sandstone is likely to be moderately permeable. Approximately on the line of the weir is a fault, south of which the Osgodby formation is replaced by a thin layer of Oxford Clay which acts as an aquitard. 2.7.1

Groundwater flow Springs are limited in the immediate area, with one spring from the Osgodby Formation possibly supplying the wetland. The low permeability alluvium beneath the wetland is likely to limit lateral groundwater movement. Further evidence of this is provided by the weir which is able to retain water. A similar weir in higher permeability material would be less effective. This is because a significant flow of groundwater would flow around and under the weir and therefore limit its ability to function. Where the alluvium thins toward the edge of the floodplain, water within the Canal Wetland may be in continuity with the water table within the Osgodby Formation. If it is, given the fracture dominated nature of the flow within it, the Osgodby formation will likely only supply significant water to the wetland where there is a spring (like the one north of the site) (i.e. it will not provide a significant seepage discharge to the Canal Wetland along its length). Water is lost to ground in the drain south of the weir at a sink. This water must be flowing towards a waterbody at a lower elevation. However between the River Rye and the sink, the valley is filled will low permeability alluvium underlain by Oxford Clays, both of which will limit flows. Close to the sink, the Weaverthorpe Fault is mapped. One, potential cause of the sink, is that the fault acts as a high permeability route from the sink to the river. Another potential cause, could be that locally to the sink there is a higher permeability lens of material within the alluvium.

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Hydrogeological Conceptual Model This section summarises the conceptual model of the Canal Wetland developed in this study. A conceptual model presents a synthesis of information gathered to understand how a system works as a whole. The conceptual model is presented in Figure 3-1 and has the following features: •

The depression within which the Canal Wetland is located was initially created as a result of a canal being cut into the alluvium in the 12th Century. o A historic weir in the River Rye backed water up into the canal. When it was removed, the canal was drained resulting in a relatively dry depression with a small drain passing through the bottom.

•

The canal connected to a previous phase of the canal which passed through Rievaulx Abbey (see Figure 2-1). o An issue to the north of the site appears to be a collapsed/partly infilled culvert along the line of this old canal and supplies the top to the wetland system.

•

A second spring supplies the canal and discharges from the Osgodby Formation.

•

In the late 1970s/early 1980s a weir was installed on the downstream end of the Canal Wetland. This raised water levels to create an extended shallow pond. o The weir ties into the low permeability alluvium limiting the groundwater flow around or underneath the structure. o The weir also appears to have been installed to raise water levels to allow water to be diverted through a culvert to an enlarged Southern Pond excavated into the alluvium. o The shallow water levels created by the weir allowed for significant colonisation of the area by fen species by 1987.

•

The Canal Wetland lies within low permeability clays and therefore is unlikely to receive significant groundwater inputs. o It will receive some significant inputs from the Osgodby Formation at spring locations where the alluvium is thin or absent.

•

Water is returned from the southern pond to a ditch along the line of the canal downstream of the weir. The water is quickly lost to ground at a sink. The nature of this sink is uncertain but may be formed by a fault running across the drain, creating a high permeability flow path between the sink and the River Rye.

•

The main supplies of water to the Canal Wetland are likely to be: the issue from the canal system, the spring from the Osgodby Formation and surface water run-off from the steep slopes to the east of the canal.

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Figure 3-1: Conceptual Model

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

Implications for Management It appears that the Canal Wetland is a relatively recent feature and was created by a weir installed around the late 1970s/early 1980s. Much of the open-water created was subject to rapid colonisation and by 1987, there was limited open water. Since that time further colonisation of fen vegetation and the accumulation of litter may have reduced the open water further. To re-establish more open water there are three potential options: •

Raise the level or the weir at the southern end of the wetland,

•

Clear the vegetation and remove the vegetation accumulation within the wetland,

• A combination of both of these approaches. The pros and cons of the two main approaches are discussed in Table 4-1. Table 4-1: Management Options Pros and Cons

Option Raise the level of the weir at the downstream end of the wetland

Pros Would increase the depth of water. May reduce vegetation colonisations as a result (ecological advice should be sort regarding this) Would replace the poorly maintained weir

Cons Neighbouring farmers' land may be affected because of raised water levels Culvert discharging water to the southern pond would require modification Deeper water may result in safety issues.

Clear and remove the vegetation accumulation

Would create a tapestry of habitats

Modifications to the structure /new structures should only be installed after consultation with an engineer. Archaeological issues from excavation This would require an ongoing maintenance programme as natural succession, potential rapid, will lead to the vegetation reestablishing

Another general concern is the reliance on the issue from the canal system that supports the wetland. It has been inferred that it is likely to be an issue from the old canal system. Further work could be done, possibly with English Heritage to confirm this. This work could also lead to improvements to the supply, or ensure that it is not modified in a way which reduces flows to the wetland.

2015s3225_Rievaulx_Final_151218.docx

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t:+44(0)1756 799919 e:info@jbaconsulting.com

Jeremy Benn Associates Ltd Registered in England 3246693

Visit our website www.jbaconsulting.com

7.3 Tree and Woodland Report

Tree and Woodland Report Enviroscope July 2016

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report Report for The National Trust July 2016

Enviroscope Consulting Ltd York Eco Business Centre, Amy Johnson Way, York YO30 4AG T: 01904 479094

E: office@enviroscope.eu

W: www.enviroscope.eu

Document Control Project:

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire

Client:

The National Trust

Project Number:

525

Document Review Prepared By:

Guy Morrison

Reviewed By:

Claire Leather

Date:

17 July 2016

Issue Number:

Status:

Final

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1

Scope & Brief ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.2

Report Author .................................................................................................................... 1

1.3

Survey Limitations ........................................................................................................... 1

SITE DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................. 2 2.1

Site Location ....................................................................................................................... 2

2.2

Land-use & Access ........................................................................................................... 2

2.3

Geology & Soils ................................................................................................................. 4

2.4

Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 5

2.5

Site History ......................................................................................................................... 5

STATUTORY PROTECTION & DESIGNATION .............................................................. 7 3.1

Sites of Special Scientific Interest ............................................................................. 7

3.2

Tree Preservation Orders & Conservation Areas .................................................. 8

3.3

Felling Licences ................................................................................................................. 8

3.4

Protected Species ............................................................................................................. 8

METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 9 4.1

Tree Survey ........................................................................................................................ 9

4.2

Tree Plotting ..................................................................................................................... 10

4.3

Tree Age Estimates ........................................................................................................ 11

RESULTS & DISCUSSION ................................................................................................ 11 5.1

Woodland Character & Condition ............................................................................. 11

5.2

Individually Surveyed Trees....................................................................................... 16

5.3

Tree & Stand Age ........................................................................................................... 16

RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................ 17 6.1

Vision & Objectives ........................................................................................................ 17

6.2

Woodland Management ............................................................................................... 19

6.3

Arboricultural Works & Inspection ........................................................................... 20

6.4

Tree Planting & Maintenance ..................................................................................... 20

6.5

Pests & Diseases ............................................................................................................. 21

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

6.6

Protected Species ........................................................................................................... 22

6.7

Recommendations Summary ..................................................................................... 23

APPENDIX A – TREE & WOODLAND SURVEY SCHEDULE................................................ 26 APPENDIX B – PHOTOGRAPHS.................................................................................................. 48 APPENDIX C – PLANS ................................................................................................................... 51

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Scope & Brief This tree and woodland survey report was commissioned by Southern Green on behalf of The National Trust. The report relates to Rievaulx Terrace which is a historic landscape and woodland. The tree and woodland survey has been carried out to inform a Conservation Management Plan which is being produced for the site. Separate studies have been commissioned

into

the

historic

landscape,

designed

landscape,

buildings,

archaeology, hydrology and ecology of the site. 1.2

Report Author The report was prepared by Guy Morrison, Principal Arboriculturist and Director of Enviroscope Consulting Ltd. I am a Chartered Forester and Registered Consultant with the Institute of Chartered Foresters. I am also a professional member of the Arboricultural Association and hold the Royal Forestry Society Professional Diploma in Arboriculture.

1.3

Survey Limitations The scope of the survey was to consider the condition of the trees and woodlands and make recommendations for their management within the context of the proposed scheme which aims to conserve and enhance the heritage, ecological and landscape value of the site. A tree hazard survey was not undertaken, although the report notes where obvious hazards were apparent and makes appropriate recommendations. The report also estimates the age of trees on the site in order to inform the analysis of the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Trees were assessed visually from ground level. No climbed inspection, detailed investigation of decay or sub-soil investigations were made.

These may be

recommended in the report where required. Tree condition can change significantly over a relatively short period of time, and therefore the results and recommendations of this survey can only be held to be valid for a period of 12 months following the survey date. The trees should be reinspected at this time by a competent person.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

SITE DESCRIPTION

2.1

Site Location Rievaulx Terrace is located to the east and south of Rievaulx village, near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park (site centre OS grid reference SE 57900 84770). The site boundary is illustrated in Figure 1 below.

Fig 1: Aerial photograph and site boundary 2.2

Land-use & Access The 26ha site is a historic landscape garden and woodland. The site comprises a long strip of mown grass terrace, with neoclassical temples at the northern (Ionic Temple) and southern (Tuscan Temple) ends. The terrace is surrounded by woodland.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

The woodland occupies the majority of the site area and includes three distinct areas of woodland. These are Terrace Bank Woodland on the steep west-facing slope to the west of terrace, Mossy Bank Wood on the north-facing slope at the northern end of the site, and Backdrop Wood which occupies level ground to the east of the terrace. These woodlands are shown in Figure 2 below.

Fig 2: Aerial photograph showing woodland names, SSSI (blue hatch) and designated ancient woodland (green hatch) The site is a National Trust garden, and the terrace and Backdrop Wood are open to the public. There is a visitor centre and car park which is accessed from the B1257 road. Backdrop Wood contains several paths, and visitors are encouraged to walk along these before entering the terrace close to its southern end.

The

terrace provides extensive views of the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and the Ryedale valley via twelve vistas that have been cut through Terrace Bank Wood to the west.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Mossy Bank Wood has no open access, but it contains the site car park and access road to the south.

It is also crossed by a discretionary footpath from Rievaulx

village to the visitor centre. The woodland contains the gardeners’ yard in its southwest corner. The woodland is bordered by Rievaulx Bank road to the north. There is no public access to Terrace Bank Wood except for occasional guided walks. It is accessed for management and maintenance of the vistas via a track, known as the Logging Track that runs along most of the length of the woodland from the gardeners’ yard at the northern end. Another track, known as the Canal Track, runs parallel to the base of the slope from the Ingdale Howl road at the southern end. Mossy Bank Wood and Terrace Bank Wood are separated by a tumbledown drystone wall. Terrace Bank Wood is bordered to the west by a deep ditch and bank along the northern third of its length. Along the southern two thirds of its length it is bordered to the west by a water-filled ditch on the line of a former medieval canal that extended north to the abbey. 2.3

Geology & Soils The British Geological Survey ‘Geology of Britain’ map1 shows that the site has a relatively diverse geology. The Terrace, Backdrop Wood and the eastern third of Mossy Bank Wood is underlain by limestone of the Hambleton Oolite Member. The western two thirds of Mossy Bank Wood and the eastern upper slopes of most of Terrace Bank Wood are underlain by calcareous sandstone of the Lower Calcareous Grit Formation. The mid and western lower slopes of Terrace Bank Wood are underlain by mudstone of the Oxford Clay Formation, with sandstone of the Osgodby Formation to the west of this. A geological fault run through the southern end of the site and introduces a strip of sand and oolitic limestone to the west of this on the upper slope of Terrace Bank Wood. There are no superficial deposits recorded on the site except for the alluvial deposits along the line of the canal in valley bottom. There are several small rock outcrops close to the base of the slop along the length of Terrace Bank Wood. There are also two distinctive limestone knolls on the upper slope at the southern end of the wood.

www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

The Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute Soilscapes map 2 describe soils over the majority of the site as shallow lime-rich soils over chalk or limestone. Soils along the canal to the west of Terrace bank Wood are described as loamy and clayey floodplain soils with naturally high groundwater. Vegetation on the site shows that soils are generally lime rich, but areas of more neutral soils and pockets of moderately acidic soils are found on the slopes of Terrace Bank Wood. Soils are generally freely draining with moister soils at the base of the slope and small flushed areas on the slope of Terrace Bank Wood. 2.4

Vegetation Terrace Bank Wood and Mossy Bank Wood are mature broadleaved woodlands with abundant

ash

(Fraxinus

excelsior),

sycamore

(Acer

pseudoplatanus)

and

pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) in the main canopy, and an understorey dominated by hazel (Corylus avellana) and a wide variety of other small trees and shrubs.

Backdrop Wood is a mixed plantation dominated by beech (Fagus

sylvatica). The woodlands have diverse and species-rich understorey which is described in the accompanying Enviroscope Ecology Report. 2.5

Site History Rievaulx Terrace is a Grade I Listed site in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest3. The list entry states: A terrace laid out in c 1758 with views of the valley of the Rye and the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. The layout of the Terrace with the emphasis on unfolding views rather than formal axes was a departure which has been described as 'a landmark in the development of English Landscape style' â&#x20AC;Ś and 'a superlative example of large-scale landscape gardening' The list entry describes the history of the site: The Terrace at Rievaulx is on land owned by Rievaulx Abbey until the Dissolution of the Monasteries when it was granted to Thomas Manners, Earl 2

www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001072

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of Rutland, who already owned the neighbouring estate at Helmsley. The estates passed to George Villiers, first Duke of Buckingham, who married the heiress Katherine Manners. After the death of the second Duke of Buckingham in 1687 the estates were sold to Sir Charles Duncombe who bequeathed them on his death in 1711 to his nephew Thomas Duncombe who laid out the terrace at Duncombe Park (qv) in 1718. His son, the second Thomas Duncombe, laid out the Rievaulx Terrace c 1758. The estate remained in the family, who were created earls of Feversham in 1868. Following the death of the last Earl in 1963 the site passed to the National Trust in whose ownership it remains (1998) while the ruins of the Abbey were acquired by the Government in 1917 and passed into the care of English Heritage, in whose ownership they remain (1998). Both the Ionic Temple and the Tuscan (Doric) Temple are Grade 1 Listed buildings4. Both Terrace Bank Wood and the majority of Mossy Bank Wood (excluding the very western end) are recognised as ancient woodland5.

Ancient woodland is any

wooded area that has been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD. All ancient woodland is of high heritage and ecological value. Backdrop Wood is not recognised as ancient woodland. The eastern strip of the woodland is known to have been planted in the 20 th Century, but the western strip located immediately to the east of the terrace contains a large number of ancient woodland indicator species (discussed in the accompanying Enviroscope Ecology Report) and its origin is unknown, although it is generally considered that it was first planted in the 18th Century as part of the landscaping of the newly or recently constructed terrace.

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001072

www.magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap

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STATUTORY PROTECTION & DESIGNATION

3.1

Sites of Special Scientific Interest Terrace Bank Wood and a small part of Mossy Bank Wood (located west of the concessionary footpath) fall within the Rievaulx Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest6 (SSSI). The SSSI also includes species-rich grassland on banks to the east of the wood, and the canal and accompanying wetland vegetation on the site, as well as grassland in a field to the west of the site. Consent is required from Natural England for all tree felling and other forms of woodland management on the site.

The land is currently managed under an

agreement7 with Natural England and the agreed actions relating to the woodland are: 

Continue to clear viewing areas through the tree on a rotational basis at a rate of no more than two areas per year.



Protect coppice stools by leaving brash from felled trees around the stools – leave larger pieces of wood within the more mature trees adjacent to the coppiced areas.



Leave as much standing dead wood as possible within the constraint of ensuring public safety.



Where trees are considered a danger adopt a policy wherever possible of removing affected limbs and leaving as much in situ as safety allows.



Leave as much dead wood as possible on the woodland floor as a wildlife habitat

The management requirements and implications of the SSSI designation are discussed in more detail in the accompanying Enviroscope Ecology Report.

www.magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap

Site Management Statement – Rievaulx Woods SSSI, English Nature, December 1997

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3.2

Tree Preservation Orders & Conservation Areas The North York Moors National Park online planning map8 shows that the site is not currently covered by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). The majority of the site is located within the Rievaulx Conservation Area, with the exception of the eastern parts of Backdrop Wood, Mossy Bank Wood and the entrance drive. Within Conservation Areas there is a requirement to serve six weeks prior notice on the local planning authority (LPA) of all proposed felling and pruning works to trees with a stem diameter greater than 7.5cm at 1.5m height, subject to various exemptions9. The LPA may choose to place a TPO on trees in order to prevent or control the proposed works if it is deemed in the interest of public amenity. It is not necessary to serve notice for works in a Conservation Area for felling trees in accordance with a Felling Licence or a plan of operations approved by the Forestry Commission under one of their grant schemes.

3.3

Felling Licences Tree felling on non-residential land is controlled by the need to obtain a Felling Licence from the Forestry Commission before felling more than 5m3 of timber (or 2m3 if the timber is sold) per three month period, subject to various exemptions10.

3.4

Protected Species Trees and scrub provide habitat for a wide range of species, some of which are protected. Most nesting birds and their nests are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). All bats and their roosts are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and gain additional protection as under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. Birds listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and all bat species are also protected from disturbance when using nesting or roosting sites.

www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/planning/planning-applications/application-search-map

http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/

www.forestry.gov.uk/england-fellinglicences

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The implications of protected species legislation are discussed in more detail in the accompanying Enviroscope Ecology Report.

METHODOLOGY

4.1

Tree Survey The site was visited during July to September 2015 to carry out survey of woodlands and trees on the site. The woodlands were sub-divided into sub-compartments based on differences in the stand composition and structure, or topography.

Tree were identified for

individual survey in the strip of mature trees to the east of the terrace. This strip on trees was surveyed individually because it plays an important role in the designed landscape and has been subject to significant felling due to tree condition in recent years. The following information was collected for each woodland compartment or individual tree: a) Reference number b) Species c) Age class (see below) d) Stem diameter (at 1.3m height) e) Height f) Maximum crown-spread (excluding leaning stems) g) Condition class (good, fair, poor, very poor and dead) h) Comments i)

Work recommendations

j) Work priority (urgent, high, medium and low) k) Life expectancy (see below) l)

Reinspection period

Where woodland compartments were surveyed, measurements were taken from a representative number of trees in the main canopy layer and averaged for the stand.

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Tree age class was determined based on the estimated age of the tree in relation to its likely life expectancy: 

Young - <1/3 of life expectancy



Semi-mature - 1/3 – 1/2 of life expectancy



Early-mature - 1/2 - 2/3 of life expectancy



Mature - >2/3 of life expectancy



Late-mature - >2/3 of life expectancy, and crown retracting due to age

Management works are proposed in order to either remove/reduce hazards or promote good future growth and development of the tree within the context of the site. The recommended works are assigned to the following priority categories:

4.2



Urgent – Carry out as soon as possible (≤3 months)



High – Carry out works within one year



Medium - Carry out works within 3 years



Low – Consider carrying out works within 5 years

Tree Plotting A topographical survey plan was provided for the terrace and Backdrop Wood, and this was used to position the majority of individually surveyed trees. The position of additional trees on the site was determined using a Leica Zeno global navigation satellite system (GNSS) utilising GPS and GLONASS signals with EGNOS differential correction. Positions were recorded where a horizontal accuracy of 2.0m, or better, was indicated on the instrument. A laser rangefinder was used where necessary to obtain offset positions in areas of dense shade. Woodland compartments were plotted using the topographical survey plan, GNSS positions and overlaid aerial photographs.

Woodland sub-compartments were

plotted to the full extent of the canopy were they overhang open areas, and boundary features were they adjoin woodland. The location of woodland sub-compartments and individually surveyed trees is shown on the Tree & Woodland Survey Plan (Appendix C).

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4.3

Tree Age Estimates In order to inform the Conservation Management Plan, estimates for the age of larger trees on the site were made in accordance with the methodology of Forestry Commission publication â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Estimating the Age of Large and Veteran Trees in Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;11. This method is based on the stem diameter of the tree, and its relationship between estimated site productivity and the known growth rates and stages of different species. The methodology above provides a model for estimating the age of ash, beech, pedunculate oak and sycamore trees. For other species, a subjective estimate of age was made by the surveyor, taking account of size, species, condition and site characteristics. Age estimates are provided for the area of plantation woodland in Backdrop Wood and elsewhere. Estimates of age are not provided for the ancient semi-natural woodland within Terrace Bank Wood and Mossy Bank Wood.

These woodlands

contain stands of mixed age without a single planting date.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

5.1

Woodland Character & Condition The survey considered twelve woodland sub-compartments and 196 individual trees. The full survey results are shown in the survey schedule in Appendix A and the location of the trees is shown in the plan in Appendix C. Mossy Bank Wood Mossy Bank Wood is subdivided into four sub-compartments. The north-eastern sub-compartment 1a occupies a moderately steep north-facing slope. It is high forest of plantation origin with a two tier canopy and a sparse understorey. The canopy is formed by scattered early-mature sycamore and ash, with a mid-canopy of semi-mature beech and ash, which is understood to have 11

White, J, 1998. Estimating the Age of Large and Veteran Trees in Britain. Forestry

Commission Information Note 12. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

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been planted as part of work carried out in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Occasional semi-mature wych elm (Ulmus glabra) is also present in the midcanopy. The understorey is generally sparse, and is predominantly composed of hazel at base of bank and holly (Ilex aquifolium), yew (Taxus baccata) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) which have been planted on the bank top. The north-western sub-compartment 1b also occupies a moderately steep northfacing slope, with a small area west-facing. It is semi-natural woodland derived from abandoned coppice with standards, and is now a high forest with dense understorey.

Early-mature and mature ash are dominant and sycamore is

abundant in the main canopy. Pedunculate oak is abundant at the western end. Beech is occasional and downy birch (Betula pubescens) is rare. The understorey is dominated by hazel with occasional field maple (Acer campestre), holly, and semi-mature wych elm and sycamore. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) are rare, although the former is more frequent at the western end. Mountain currant (Ribes alpinum) is also found at the western end of the wood. Young yew is present at the top of slope, where it is probably planted, and planted semi-mature wild cherry (Prunus avium) and field maple occurs with elder (Sambucus nigra) at the base of slope. Sub-compartment 1c is a narrow strip of woodland to the south of the access road and car park. It has an upper canopy of abundant sycamore and European larch (Larix decidua) with ash and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and a mid-storey of semi-mature beech, silver birch (Betula pendula), common lime (Tilia x euopaea), sycamore and wych elm. The understorey includes yew, holly, hazel, field maple, hawthorn, blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), elder and spindle (Euonymus europaeus), which appears to have been partly planted to landscape the access road and car park. Sub-compartment 1d is the gardenersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; yard and strip of trees forming the backdrop to the Ionic Temple.

This area contains mature common lime and beech, with

semi-mature wild cherry, ash and yew. Terrace Bank Wood Terrace Bank Wood is sub-divided into six sub-compartments.

The majority of

these are wholly or partly sub-divided by the cleared vistas.

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Sub-compartment 2a is at the northern end of the wood extending south to Vista no. 13.

It occupies a moderately steep west-facing slope.

It is semi-natural

woodland derived from abandoned coppice with standards, and is now a high forest with dense understorey. The main canopy contains abundant mature pedunculate oak and ash, with frequent sycamore and downy birch occurring rarely. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) also occurs in an area close to the base of the slope.

The

understorey is dominated by hazel, with frequent rowan, and semi-mature wych elm and sycamore. Mountain currant and yew are present with elm on small outcrop close to base of slope. Two small clearings have been created by the felling of sycamore approximately 5 years ago, and several young oak trees have been planted here. Sub-compartment 2b is composed of a series of strips of mature woodland between Vista no. 6 and Vista no. 13. It occupies a steep west-facing slope and has a similar structure to sub-compartment 2a. The canopy is composed of abundant mature and early-mature ash and pedunculate oak, with frequent sycamore, occasional beech and Scots pine occurring rarely. The understorey is dominated by hazel with occasional holly, rowan, hawthorn and field maple, which is abundant in places. Semi-mature ash, sycamore, beech and wych elm are also present. Crab apple (Malus sylvestris), blackthorn, dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and elder occur more rarely in the understorey. Several small clearings have also been created by the felling of sycamore in this sub-compartment and several young oak trees have been planted here. The vistas are managed to maintain views, with clearance being carried out on a rotational basis every six years. All vistas contain scrub from coppice regrowth with a typical cover of 20-50%. The scrub includes abundant sycamore and ash, and frequent hazel and wych elm. Occasional hawthorn, blackthorn (abundant in patches), elder, holly, field maple, guelder rose and birch are also present, along with bramble (Rubus fructicosus), raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and occasional dogs rose (Rosa canina). Roe deer are present in the wood, and elm and hazel coppice regrowth is preferentially browsed by the deer, preventing regrowth of these species in some places. Sub-compartment 2c is located between Vista no. 6 and Vista no. 4. It occupies a steep west facing slope that extends down to the canal at the southern end where there is a very steep bank and several small rock outcrops. The structure and

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composition of the stand is similar to sub-compartment 1b, except that the upper canopy is denser in places on the upper and mid slopes, and pine is not present. The understorey is densest towards the base of the slope where canopy trees are generally absent. This area is dominated by semi-mature ash and hazel (some part windthrown), with occasional hawthorn, guelder rose, dog-rose and elder. Mountain currant occurs on the rock outcrops with wych elm, ash and field maple. Sub-compartment 2d is located between Vista no. 4 and the Vista no. 1.

It is

located on a steep-west-facing slope and has several distinctive rocky limestone knolls close to top of slope. The vistas associated with the sub-compartment do not extend the full width of the woodland. The stand contains abundant mature and early-mature ash and oak. The oak is generally pedunculate oak to the north, with a mixture of pedunculate and sessile oak to the south. The sessile oak is most common on areas of more acidic ground but also occurs on the limestone knolls. Frequent sycamore and occasional beech and downy birch are present. The stand contains mature multi-stemmed small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), with two trees present on the slope above the logging track and one tree on the edge of Vista no. 2. There is no evidence that these trees have been planted within the semi-natural stand and they are assumed to be of native origin. Hazel is generally abundant in the understorey but reduced in frequency on more acidic soils were holly is abundant. Rowan and bird cherry (Prunus padus) are locally frequent on mid and upper slopes. Field maple, hawthorn and elder are occasional. Semi-mature ash is abundant in patches, and wych elm, beech and sycamore are also found. Spindle, gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa), blackthorn and fly honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum) occur rarely in the understorey. Sub-compartment 2e occurs on a west and south-west facing slope at the southern end of the woodland. The upper slopes are relatively level compared to elsewhere in Terrace Bank Wood.

The stand contains a higher proportion of oak (largely

pedunculate oak) than elsewhere, with frequent ash, sycamore and occasional beech. The understorey of hazel, field maple, rowan, holly and semi-mature ash and elm is sparse in places. Sub-compartment 2f occupies a narrow strip on level ground alongside the former canal on the western boundary of the woodland.

It is composed of scattered

mature ash and pedunculate oak, with early and semi-mature ash, sycamore and alder (Alnus glutinosa), and understorey of hazel and guelder rose.

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Terrace Bank Wood has been managed with minimal intervention in recent years, other than the maintenance of the vistas and small-scale sycamore removal. The wood contains a significant amount of deadwood habitat, including fallen mature trees and snags, as well as partially decayed trees and standing deadwood. Terrace Bank Wood is a semi-natural wood of high ecological and landscape value. It is of high structural diversity and relatively high species diversity. Backdrop Wood Backdrop Wood is sub-divided into two sub-compartments. The western strip of Backdrop Wood forms sub-compartment 3a. This narrow strip of plantation woodland is located on a low bank to the east of the terrace. It is dominated by mature and early-mature beech with frequent early-mature variegated sycamore. Many of the trees in this sub-compartment were surveyed individually and are described in section 5.2 below. The sub-compartment widens to the south where it contains mature and early-mature beech, sycamore, ash and common lime. The understorey is dense along the western boundary where there occasional mature whitebeam (Sorbus aria), semi-mature ash, beech and wych elm and planted band of shrubs which runs the entire length of the terrace. This shrub bed contains abundant mountain currant and fly honeysuckle, and also spurge laurel (Daphne laureola), butchers broom (Ruscus aculeatus), lilac (Syringea vulgaris), mock orange (Philadelphus sp.), rose (Rosa sp.), guelder rose and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Sub-compartment 3b is a strip of younger plantation woodland on level ground to the east. It contains abundant semi-mature beech with frequent ash, sycamore and European larch. The understorey is sparse and contains frequent scattered elder and occasional yew, hazel and bird cherry, which generally appear to be planted. Backdrop Wood contains several paths used by most visitors to the site, as well as large-scale games and art installations. It is understood that mature trees in this area are subject to regular arboricultural inspection.

Sub-compartment 3a was

subject to significant felling in the late 1990s when approximately 25% of the mature beech trees were felled following a tree safety inspection.

There are

numerous decayed stumps arising from this operation, and the stand has developed

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an irregular structure where semi-mature ash and beech trees have grown to fill the gaps. More recent arboricultural works have been carried out and a number of trees have been subject to crown reduction, or more drastic topping to create monolith trees as a deadwood habitat feature. 5.2

Individually Surveyed Trees The survey of individual trees considered 180 individual trees.

The majority of

these are mature or early-mature beech trees with a smaller number of earlymature variegated sycamore, ash and oak, and mature whitebeam trees that form the eastern backdrop to the Terrace. The majority of these trees are in a good or fair condition, and the survey of did not identify the need for felling, pruning or other arboricultural works to these trees. This is likely to be because the survey followed works arising from a separate inspection carried out by the National Trust. The three small-leaved lime trees of likely native origin were also individually surveyed and mapped to allow their conservation and future management. 5.3

Tree & Stand Age The estimated age of the individually assessed trees and plantation stands of trees is given in the survey schedule (Appendix A). The estimated age of the beech trees in the strip east of the Terrace (subcompartment 3a) varies from the mid-1700s to the early 1900s. This is partly due to the mixed age of the stand and also arises as result of the variation in stem diameter arising from competition within the woodland and perhaps variation in soil quality following the cutting of the terrace. It is difficult to estimate the age of the trees with accuracy, but it is not unreasonable to consider that a small proportion of the trees may originate from 18 th Century planting, with a larger number of trees originating from planting made in the first half of the 19th Century, and further planting later in the 19th Century or early in the 20th Century. The variegated sycamore in the strip east of the Terrace are generally smaller than the beech, and have an age that varies from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. These trees are generally overgrown by the larger beech, and it is assumed that the sycamore was planted with whitebeam, which are now mature, as a feature to diversify the strip of beech trees once it was already established.

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The area of woodland forming the eastern part of Backdrop Wood (subcompartment 3b) is not shown on OS plans until it appears after the 1958 1:10,560 edition. It is assumed that the planting was carried out shortly after this given the size of the trees. The semi-natural stands of trees in Terrace Bank Wood and Mossy Bank Wood are of mixed age and therefore cannot be assigned a planting date. Terrace Bank Wood does contain some large mature oaks with a stem diameter of approximately 110cm which may indicate date of origin of approximately 1650. It is likely that these trees were formerly standards in a woodland managed under the coppice with standards system, and they may be younger if they grew faster under this management where there was less completion for canopy space.

RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1

Vision & Objectives The following long-term vision and objectives are provided to guide future woodland management. Mossy Bank Wood Mossy Bank Wood should be managed for both nature conservation and landscape objectives. The woodland should have a complex high forest structure, which contains a wide variety of tree age classes and a relatively dense understorey.

The woodland

should contain a moderate density of deadwood, including limited standing deadwood where assessment of public safety allows. Woodland management should seek to maintain continuous canopy cover, with felling limited to stand thinning, small group selection and the felling of dangerous trees. The existing diversity of species should be maintained within the area of existing semi-natural woodland to the west. Opportunities should be sought to diversify the eastern stand so it develops from a plantation structure to a semi-natural woodland dominated by locally native species. Long established but non-locally Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

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native species such as sycamore and beech should be maintained as minor species in the stand. Terrace Bank Wood Terrace Bank Wood should be managed for both nature conservation and historic landscape objectives. The woodland should be managed to maintain the twelve existing coppiced vistas providing views of Rievaulx Abbey and the Ryedale valley from the Terrace. Beyond the vistas, the woodland should have a complex high forest structure, which contains a wide variety of tree age classes and a relatively dense understorey.

Mature trees should be retained to form veteran trees, and the

woodland should contain a high density of standing and lying deadwood where assessment of public safety allows. Management of the woodland away from the vistas should allow for to development of a stand dominated by natural ecological processes and woodland dynamics, with less intervention than that proposed for Mossy Bank Wood or Backdrop Wood. The existing diversity of species should be maintained. Woodland resilience should be increased through the retention and promotion of appropriate alternatives to ash which is likely to be affected by ash dieback disease. Long established but nonlocally native species such as sycamore and beech should be maintained as minor species in the stand. Backdrop Wood Backdrop wood should be managed primarily for historic landscape objectives and visitor access. Trees within the woodland should be tall and straight to complement the formality of the terrace. Trees and shrubs should be managed to maintain a dense â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of vegetation where the woodland provides a backdrop to the terrace. Woodland management should seek to maintain continuous canopy cover, with felling limited to stand thinning, single tree selection and the felling of dangerous trees.

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Opportunities should be sought to diversify the existing stand to increase the proportion of locally native tree species, but beech should remain a major constituent of the woodland, along with variegated sycamore of the edge of the terrace. The band of planted ornamental and native shrubs on the edge of terrace should be maintained and protected. 6.2

Woodland Management The survey schedule (Appendix A) contains recommendations for management of woodlands on the site.

It is recommended that they are adopted within the

Conservation Management Plan which is being prepared for the site. Terrace Bank Wood is in good condition and is largely fulfilling it ecological and landscape potential. It is recommended that it is subject to minimal intervention over the next ten years, other than the maintenance of the vistas, the maintenance of the existing oak planting (see section 6.3), and clearance of a small number of additional small clearings for additional planting of oak and small-leaved lime (see section 6.3). The twelve open vistas are re-cut on a cyclical basis. This done on a prioritised system due to the irregular regrowth. The vistas are assessed each year and the two highest priority vistas are re-cut. It is recommended that this management continues, with each vista to be coppiced on 5-7 year rotation. All mature trees on the edge of vistas should be retained with careful pruning to remove branches encroaching on the vistas. Shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn and elder should be retained on the edges to provide pollen and nectar sources for invertebrates. Sufficient brash to be stacked on top of coppice stools, particularly hazel and elm, to minimise browsing by deer. Stem wood to be piled on the edge of adjacent woodland to provide habitat for deadwood invertebrate and fungi. New trees and scrub should be promoted in the vistas the ecological value of the vistas will be maximised by the presence of coppice vegetation, rather than permanent open space. Mossy Bank Wood sub-compartment 1a and Backdrop Wood sub-compartment 3b contain dense stands of semi-mature trees which would benefit from thinning to

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promote future growth potential. It is recommended that both stands are thinned in the next five years, removing 20% of the stems. Beech and sycamore (and larch in 3b) should be preferentially selected for thinning in order to increase the diversity of the stands 6.3

Arboricultural Works & Inspection No arboricultural works to individual trees are recommended arising from this survey. It is recommended that the trees on the site are inspected and managed in accordance with the Nation Trust’s Tree Safety Management Policy12. All areas within the site are broken down into 'usage zones' and these zones dictate the regularity of surveying.

The policy also sets requirements for recording of

inspections and provides guidance for management of sites in relation to the risk posed by trees during and following high winds and storms. All surveyors should be competent to assess trees and should have passed the National Trust’s in-house Level 1or Level 2 tree survey training. Recommended arboricultural works will need to balance the safety of visitors and staff, with the high ecological, landscape and heritage value of the site, and its statutory protection. All arboricultural works should be carried out by experienced arboricultural contractors

and

should

comply

with

BS3998:2010

‘British

Standard

Recommendations for Tree Work’13. 6.4

Tree Planting & Maintenance Tree planting is not required to maintain the majority of the species in the stand as they are regenerating satisfactorily, even with moderate levels of deer browsing. The exceptions where tree planting is recommended are oak and small-leaved lime. The semi-natural stands in Terrace Bank Wood and parts of Mossy Bank Wood contain a significant proportion of oak as mature trees, but very few semi-mature 12

Health and Safety Instruction No. 11 and Explanatory Guidance: Tree Safety

Management, The National Trust, May 2007 13

BS 3998:2010 Tree Work – Recommendations, British Standards Institute, 2010

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or smaller trees. Oak, especially pedunculate oak, regenerates most successfully with larger canopy clearings and is unlikely to maintain itself at its current representation without active management. Young oak trees have been planted in a number of clearings in Terrace Bank Wood and these should be maintained. It is recommended that five additional clearings of ~0.04ha are created to allow additional planting to take place. Sycamore trees should be preferentially selected to create clearings. Small-leaved lime rarely regenerates in Northern England due to reduced seed viability arising from climate change. It is recommended that new lime trees are propagated from the three native trees on site, using cuttings or seed where this is found to be viable. A small number of these lime should then be planted out within suitable locations in Terrace Bank Wood. All new planting should be subject to maintenance and is likely to require additional intervention, including the felling of adjoining trees, to prevent it being overgrown and supressed by surrounding vegetation. It is recommended that all trees and shrubs used in tree planting are of local provenance stock (Forestry Commission Local Seed Zone 401)14 where they are locally native species. Where species which are not locally native (such as beech) are planted, it is recommended that UK provenance stock is used. 6.5

Pests & Diseases Ash dieback disease (Chalara fraxinea)15 is present in North Yorkshire and is likely to become established in the local area within the next few years. The disease has the potential to damage and kill large numbers of ash trees, although the exact impact of the disease in the UK cannot yet be accurately predicted. The disease could have a very significant impact on the woodland as ash forms a major part of the current stand, makes a major contribution to landscape character and is relied upon as a habitat by a number of rare invertebrates on the site.

Herbert, R, Samuel, S. & Patterson, G. 1999. Using Local Stock for Planting Native Trees

and Shrubs. Forestry Commission Practice Note 8, 1999 15

www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

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The woodland should be subject to annual summer monitoring to determine if ash dieback is present. If the disease is discovered, it is recommended that infected trees are retained (where compatible with public safety and landscape objectives) as there is likely to be genetic variation in disease resistance, and some infected trees may show greater resistance to the disease which will allow them to survive in the long term and produce regeneration with increased resistance to the disease. The resilience of the woodland should be maintained by the promotion of new small-scale planting of oak and small-leaved lime in the stand (see section 6.3). It is recommended that sycamore and beech are retained in Terrace Bank Wood and Mossy Bank Wood as significant secondary species in order to improve woodland resilience.

Although Sycamore is not native in the UK and beech is commonly

recognised as not native in Yorkshire (although this is subject to debate16), their retention would maintain diversity in the stand if the woodlands were subject to loss of a large number of ash trees. Grey squirrels are present in the wood and have cause damage to trees, especially semi-mature sycamore and beech trees in the understorey or lower canopy. The level of damage is not currently significant but this should be monitored. Successful control of squirrels would be very difficult to achieve in this public site which is directly connected other woodland under different ownership. 6.6

Protected Species Trees and shrubs on the site may be used for nesting by birds during the spring and summer. Advice should be sought from an ecologist if it is proposed to fell trees in the standard nesting season from March to August. The woodlands on the site contain many large trees containing features that are commonly associated with bat roosting, such as cracks, cavities, loose bark and dense ivy cover. Although the felling of these trees is not proposed in this report, it is recommended that any future proposals for the felling or pruning of mature trees are assessed before felling by an ecologist who will advise on requirements

Peterken, G.F., Native Woodland Development in the North York Moors & Howardian

Hills, Report for Forestry Commission, North York Moors National Park, Howardian Hills AONB, English Nature and the Royal Forestry Society, 2002

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

for additional survey and precautions that may be required to avoid impacting on bats. 6.7

Recommendations Summary The proposed woodland management works are summarised below: Management

1. Mossy

2. Terrace

3. Backdrop

Recommendation

Bank Wood

Wood

a. Manage stand with minimal

√

intervention (excluding maintenance of vistas and smallscale group felling) b. Maintain vistas on a cyclical

√

basis. Each vista to be coppiced on a 5-7 year rotation, following annual assessment of priorities before cutting two vistas per year. c. Maintain new oak planting,

√

carrying out additional felling of lower value trees where the planting is becoming overgrown. d. Previously cut sycamore within

√

woodland to be recut and treated with herbicide.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Management

1. Mossy

2. Terrace

3. Backdrop

Recommendation

Bank Wood

Wood

e. Create six new small clearings

√

(0.04ha) in sub-compartments W2c-e. Retain proportion of wood in-situ as deadwood habitat. Carry out planting of pedunculate (W2c/e) or sessile oak (W2d) and small-leaved lime (see recommendation g below), supplemented by natural regeneration of other species. f. Thin stands to promote future

√

growth and maintain diversity of stands. Thin to remove 20% stems in the canopy, preferentially removing beech and sycamore (and larch). Retain proportion of wood in-situ as deadwood habitat. g. Propagate the native small-

√

leaved lime in through cuttings, or seed collection where viable. Plant any successfully propagated saplings into the wood to conserve the species on the site and enhance woodland resilience. h. Consider removing semi-

√

mature lime trees that have been planted on the eastern boundary of Terrace Bank Wood close to the location of the native lime trees.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Management

1. Mossy

2. Terrace

3. Backdrop

Recommendation

Bank Wood

Wood

√

i. Carry out arboricultural

√

inspections in accordance with the NT Tree Safety Management Policy and implement recommended works.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

APPENDIX A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TREE & WOODLAND SURVEY SCHEDULE

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

APPENDIX A – TREE & WOODLAND SURVEY SCHEDULE Table 1. Woodlands Sub-compartments No.

Overstorey Species

W1a

EM Sycamore and ash in

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

38-74

28-30

Generally sparse understorey.

Mossy Bank Wood – Ancient woodland.

Thin stand to remove 20% of stems.

upper canopy, scattered in

Hazel at base of bank. Holly,

Beech and sycamore should be

places. Lower canopy of SM

yew and guelder rose

High forest stand of plantation origin

preferentially selected for removal. Retain

beech and ash with occasional

(probably planted at bank

with two tier canopy and sparse

understorey.

wych elm in gaps.

top)

understorey. Compartment bordered by Rievaulx Bank road to north and NT access road to S.

W1b

EM/M ash dominant and

58-92

22-30

Hazel dominant with

Mossy Bank Wood – Part ancient

sycamore abundant.

occasional SM wych elm, field woodland and part SSSI.

Pedunculate oak abundant to

maple, holly, rowan (W end)

W. Occasional Beech and rare

and SM sycamore. Hawthorn

downy birch.

rare. Mountain currant at W end. Yew at top of slope probably planted. Planted SM wild cherry and field maple at base of slope.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

Semi-natural woodland derived from abandoned coppice with standards. Now high forest with dense understorey. Woodland divided from Terrace Bank Wood by tumbledown drystone wall. Deep ditch and bank at base of slope. Adjoins woodland under different ownership to W.

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W1c

Scattered upper canopy of

Understorey Species

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

38-74

28-30

Holly, yew, hazel, field maple, Mossy Bank Wood – Part ancient

sycamore and European larch

hawthorn, blackthorn, elder

with occasional ash and Scots

and spindle

pine. Mid storey of SM beech,

woodland. Narrow strip of woodland to the south of the access road and car park. Woodland

silver birch, common lime,

of plantation origin with two tier canopy.

sycamore and wych elm. W1d

Comments

Scattered M common lime

Yew, holly, SM wild cherry

Mossy Bank Wood – Part ancient

and beech

and ash

woodland and part SSSI. Gardeners’ yard and strip of trees forming the backdrop to the Ionic Temple.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W2a

Abundant pedunculate oak

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

50-94

20-30

Dominated by hazel.

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland

and ash. Frequent sycamore,

Frequent rowan, SM wych

and SSSI.

occasional beech and rare

elm and SM sycamore.

downy birch. Sessile oak

Mountain currant and yew

present at base of slope.

present on outcrop.

Maintain new oak planting

Carry out additional felling of lower value

Semi-natural woodland derived from

trees where the planting is becoming

abandoned coppice with standards. Now

overgrown.

high forest with dense understorey. Some small clearing from felling of sycamore with young oak planted. Woodland divided from Mossy Bank Wood by tumbledown drystone wall. Deep ditch and bank at base of slope. Small rock outcrop close to base of slope. Bisected by Logging track. Several fallen mature trees.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W2b

Abundant M/EM ash and

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

40-97

22-30

(occasionally less dense but

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland and SSSI.

Coppice vistas on a cyclical basis (six

pedunculate oak. Frequent

Dominated by hazel

sycamore, occasional beech

always abundant).

Semi-natural woodland derived from

and rare Scots pine.

Occasional holly, rowan,

Maintain new oak planting

abandoned coppice with standards. Now

field maple (abundant in

high forest with dense understorey.

places) and hawthorn. Crab

Some small clearing from felling of

apple, blackthorn, dogwood

sycamore with young oak planted. Deep

and elder rare. Also SM

ditch and bank at base of slope with

ash, sycamore, beech and

drystone wall along centre of ditch.

wych elm. Mountain currant

Bisected by Logging track. Woodland in

present close to terrace

strips (some narrow at approximately

edge.

two mature tree widths) between vistas.

year rotation).

H H

Carry out additional felling of lower value trees where the planting is becoming overgrown.

Several fallen mature trees and snags.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W2c

Abundant M/EM ash and

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

36-94

22-30

(occasionally less dense but

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland and SSSI.

Coppice vistas on a cyclical basis (six

pedunculate oak. Frequent

Dominated by hazel

sycamore and occasional

always abundant). Occasional

Character â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Semi-natural woodland

beech. Rare downy birch, EM

field maple (frequent in

Cut two new small clearings (0.04ha).

derived from abandoned coppice with

wych elm and wild cherry (to

patches), SM wych elm,

Retain proportion of wood in-situ as

standards. Now high forest with denser

rowan, hawthorn and holly.

deadwood habitat. Carry out planting of

canopy on upper and mid slopes than

Also SM ash and sycamore.

pedunculate oak and small-leaved lime

woodland to N (2a and 2b). Rock

Rare crab apple, guelder rose

(propagated on site), supplemented by

outcrop, probably former quarry close to

and bird cherry (S end).

natural regeneration.

base of slope to NW. Deep ditch and

Dense understorey at base of

bank at base of slope in NW. Very steep

slope dominated by SM ash

bank and canal track forms W boundary.

and hazel (some part

Bisected by Logging track. Woodland in

windthrown), with occasional

wide strips between vistas. Several

hawthorn, guelder rose, dog-

fallen mature trees and snags.

year rotation). M

rose and elder.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W2d

Abundant M/EM ash and oak.

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

32-104

20-31

in frequency on more acidic

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland and SSSI.

Coppice vistas on a cyclical basis (six

Oak is generally pedunculate

Hazel abundant but reduced

oak to the N, with a mixture

soils were holly is abundant

Semi-natural woodland with a high

of pedunculate and sessile

or understorey is sparse.

Cut two new small clearings (0.04ha).

forest structure. Several distinctive

oak to the S. Frequent

Rowan and bird cherry locally

Retain proportion of wood in-situ as

rocky limestone knolls close to top of

sycamore and beech, and

frequent on mid and upper

deadwood habitat. Carry out planting of

slope. Very steep bank and canal track

occasional downy birch. Three

slopes. Occasional field

sessile oak and small-leaved lime

forms W boundary. Bisected by logging

multi-stemmed small-leaved

maple, hawthorn and elder.

(propagated on site), supplemented by

track which passes close to upper slope.

lime trees of probable native

SM ash (abundant in

natural regeneration.

Vistas do not extend to full width of

origin present.

patches), wych elm, beech

woodland. Several fallen mature trees

and sycamore. Rare spindle,

and snags.

year rotation). M

gooseberry, blackthorn and fly honeysuckle. Dense understorey at base of slope dominated by SM ash. W2e

M/EM pedunculate oak

34-78

22-28

Understorey less dense than

dominant. Frequent ash,

in woodland to N. Hazel

sycamore and beech.

frequent, and field maple, holly, rowan and hawthorn occasional.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland and SSSI.

Cut two new small clearings (0.04ha).

Semi-natural woodland with a high forest structure. Very steep bank and canal track forms W boundary. Adjoins FC woodland on SE boundary. Upper slope relatively level compared to elsewhere in wood.

deadwood habitat. Carry out planting of

Retain proportion of wood in-situ as pedunculate oak and small-leaved lime (propagated on site), supplemented by natural regeneration.

July 2016

No.

Overstorey Species

W2f

Scattered M ash and

Understorey Species

Comments

Work Recommendations

Priority

DBH

Height

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

(cm)

(m)

serve conservation area notice where necessary

45-73

18-24

pedunculate oak, with EM/SM

Hazel, hawthorn and guelder

Terrace Bank Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ancient woodland

rose

and SSSI.

ash, sycamore and alder

Remove SM ash that have seeded in

Narrow strip on land alongside the former canal on the western boundary of the woodland.

W3a

M/EM beech dominant.

40-132

18-28

SM beech and ash frequent.

Frequent variegated

Occasional M whitebeam, SM

sycamore. Occasional EM ash

wild cherry, holly, wych elm

and pedunculate oak. Rare

and field maple. Strip of

Scots pine.

planted shrubs on edge of terrace include: mountain currant, fly honeysuckle,

Backdrop Wood Strip of mature woodland of plantation

shrub beds on W boundary.

origin forming backdrop to terrace. Woodland has a diverse structure due to past felling of beech. Trees 1-175 surveyed individually.

snowberry, lilac, rose, spurge laurel, butchers broom and guelder rose. Currant has spread to form understorey in woodland. W3b

SM beech dominant.

21-40

16-22

Scattered elder. Also yew,

Occasional ash, sycamore,

field maple, hazel, hawthorn

and European larch.

and bird cherry

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

Backdrop Wood Strip of relatively young plantation woodland with a uniform structure.

Thin stand to remove 20% of stems.

Beech, sycamore and larch should be preferentially selected for removal. Retain understorey.

July 2016

Table 2. Individual Trees No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1845

>100

Beech

8.5

1877

40-100

Beech

1904

Decay at 3.5m

20-40

Beech

1908

>100

Beech

1895

>100

Growing phototropically towards woodland boundary.

Beech

1940

Minor cankers on bark.

>100

Beech

1920

>100

Beech

1866

Multi-stemmed from 3m. Aluminium tag

>100

0182. 9

Beech

1932

>100

Beech

1904

>100

Beech

1929

>100

Beech

1885

>100

Beech

7.5

1864

Topped or failed at 7.5m. Aluminium

10-20

tags 0185 and 0156.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1913

>100

Beech

1942

Strong lean to the West.

10-20

Beech

1866

>100

Beech

1857

>100

Beech

1893

>100

Beech

1909

>100

Beech

1893

>100

Beech

1857

>100

Beech

1887

>100

Variegated

1910

2 stems from fork at 3m.

>100

Sycamore 24

Beech

1881

>100

Ash

1915

Strong lean to the West.

>100

Beech

1909

>100

Beech

1942

Strong lean to the West. Aluminium tag

20-40

Strong lean to the West. Major Cavity at -

10-20

0106. 28

Variegated

Sycamore

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

1915

2m. Monitor.

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1916

>100

Beech

1925

>100

Beech

1895

>100

Beech

1861

20-40

Beech

1904

Strong lean to the West.

40-100

Beech

1889

Aluminium tag 0056.

>100

Beech

1901

Aluminium tag 0107.

>100

Beech

1922

>100

Beech

1932

>100

Variegated

1913

Lean to the West.

40-100

Sycamore 39

Beech

1897

>100

Beech

1941

>100

Beech

1932

Slight canker.

40-100

Beech

1837

Heavily pruned recently. Topped at

20-40

>100

21m. Slight damage to roots from pruning work. Aluminium tag 0208. 43

Beech

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

1899

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1913

>100

Beech

123

1764

Very large tree. Multi stemmed from

40-100

fork at 2m. Aluminium tag 0191. 46

Beech

11.5

1934

Topped at 11.5m.

20-40

Unknown

Dead tree.

- Dead tree 48

Beech

1873

>100

Beech

1899

>100

Variegated

1925

Strong lean to the West.

40-100

Sycamore 51

Beech

1913

>100

Beech

1906

>100

Beech

1859

>100

Beech

1847

>100

Beech

1893

>100

Beech

1883

>100

Beech

1904

40-100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm) 58

Variegated

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

1893

Strong lean to the West.

>100

Sycamore 59

Beech

1925

>100

Beech

1875

>100

Beech

1942

Aluminium tag 0157.

>100

Variegated

1842

Strong lean to the West.

>100

1868

Heavily pruned, topped at 20m. Decay

10-20

Sycamore 63

Beech

from torn out branch at 1m. Aluminium tag 0206. Plastic tag 00557. 64

Beech

1932

>100

Beech

1906

Topped at 13m.

20-40

Whitebeam

1901-

Heavy epicormic growth from base.

10-20

1945

Damage to cambium at base. Aluminium tag 0084.

Variegated

1903

Leaning heavily to the west.

40-100

Sycamore 68

Beech

1941

Leaning heavily to the west.

40-100

Beech

1923

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1904

>100

Beech

1904

>100

Beech

Unknown

Aluminium tag 0181.

- Dead tree 73

Beech

1942

>100

Beech

1861

Decay centrally at root level. Monitor.

20-40

10-20

Plastic tag 00558. 75

Beech

1899

Main stem snapped at 2m, second stem snapped at 7m.

Beech

1935

>100

Beech

1879

>100

Beech

1897

>100

Variegated

1908

Strong lean to the West.

40-100

1901-

Strong lean to the West. Epicormic

20-40

>100

Sycamore 80

Whitebeam

1945

growth at base of stem. Decay at base of stem.

Beech

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

1935

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1920

>100

Beech

1902

>100

Beech

1938

>100

Beech

1936

>100

Beech

1925

>100

Beech

1933

>100

Variegated

1903

Strong lean to the West.

40-100

Sycamore 89

Beech

1913

>100

Beech

1922

>100

Beech

1923

>100

Whitebeam

1901-

>100

1945 93

Beech

1908

>100

Variegated

1915

>100

Sycamore 95

Beech

1899

>100

Beech

1891

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Beech

1891

>100

Beech

1936

>100

Beech

1917

Topped severely at 5m, but remains

10-20

alive. 100

Beech

119

1777

Topped at 7m. Westward branch removed. Basal decay evident.

101

Beech

102

1826

102

Beech

1899

>100

103

Variegated

1906

>100

50 50

1865

Three stems from 1m. Two stems

20-40

Sycamore 104

Beech

growing Westwards and rubbing.

105

Beech

1895

Topped at 11m.

20-40

106

Beech

1887

>100

107

Beech

100

1832

Two stems from fork at 1.5m.

20-40

Potentially weak union. 108

Variegated

1852

40-100

1859

>100

Sycamore 109

Beech

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

110

Beech

1906

>100

111

Beech

1906

>100

112

Ash

1926

>100

113

Ash

1906

>100

114

Ash

1918

>100

115

Beech

1873

>100

116

Ash

1932

>100

117

Beech

1893

>100

118

Beech

1861

>100

119

Beech

1906

>100

120

Ash

1893

Joined stems from ground level.

>100

121

Beech

1885

>100

122

Beech

1885

>100

123

Beech

1879

>100

124

Beech

1893

>100

125

Beech

1857

>100

126

Beech

1883

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

127

Beech

1895

>100

128

Beech

1922

>100

129

Beech

1861

>100

130

Beech

1887

>100

131

Beech

1877

Decay pocket at base, South side.

40-100

20-40

Monitor. 132

Beech

1911

Topped at 6m but still growing. Aluminium tag 0089.

133

Beech

1922

>100

134

Beech

1913

>100

135

Beech

1908

Decay at base. Monitor.

40-100

136

Beech

1902

>100

137

Beech

1917

>100

138

Beech

1899

>100

139

Beech

1875

>100

140

Beech

1857

>100

141

Beech

1922

>100

142

Beech

1870

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

143

Beech

1881

Aluminium tag 0202.

>100

144

Beech

1895

Aluminium tag 0144.

>100

145

Beech

1922

>100

146

Sycamore

1893

Aluminium tag 0147.

>100

147

Sycamore

1864

Leaning over path. Epicormic growth.

20-40

Monitor. 148

Sycamore

1917

>100

149

Beech

1877

>100

150

Beech

1837

>100

151

Sycamore

1925

>100

152

Sycamore

1860

>100

153

Pedunculate Oak

1934

Strong lean to the edge of the wood

40-100

from 3m. 154

Sycamore

1936

>100

155

Beech

1852

>100

156

Beech

1902

>100

157

Beech

1873

>100

158

Beech

1877

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm) 159

Beech

105

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

ion

1818

Priority

tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

Necrotic areas of material around the

Life expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date 27

Work Recommendations

40-100

roots. Monitor. 160

Ash

1939

>100

161

Beech

100

1832

>100

162

Beech

1847

>100

163

Whitebeam

1946-

>100

2015 164

Beech

1875

>100

165

Beech

1902

>100

166

Ash

1932

>100

167

Beech

1847

>100

168

Beech

116

1786

Topped at 9m. Still living. Extensive

10-20

Kretzschmaria deusta. No immediate risk due to woodland location. Monitor. 169

Beech

100

1832

>100

170

Ash

1897

>100

171

Pedunculate Oak

1796

>100

172

Pedunculate Oak

1787

>100

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

No.

Species

Age

Stem

Class

Diam.

Height Crown Estim. (m)

Rad.

(cm)

Plant.

Condit-

Comments

Work Recommendations

ion

Priority

expec-

NB: Seek SSSI consent & felling licence, or

Date

Life tancy

serve conservation area notice where necessary

173

Beech

1889

>100

174

Beech

1834

Aluminium tag 0186.

>100

175

Beech

132

1734

Major limb torn out at 4m. Branch

40-100

Large tree of spreading form adjacent to -

>100

snapped off at 10m. Aluminium tag 0160. 176

Sycamore

135

1711

path. 177

Sycamore

108

1803

Large tree of spreading form adjacent to entrance.

178

Small-leaved Lime

89 60

37 33

Unknown

Large multi-stemmed tree growing on rubble bank.

Coppice 179

Small-leaved Lime

27*17

Unknown

Large multi-stemmed tree growing on rubble bank. Coppice regrowth from

Coppice

mature stems cut recently. Large layered branch has taken root adjacent to coppice stool.

180

Small-leaved Lime

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

53 22

Unknown

17 15

Coppice

Tree located adjacent to vista. Some basal shoots recently cut to clear vista.

July 2016

Key General: * - Dominant species

# - Provisional

Condition: G – Good

P – Poor

F – Fair

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

NA – Not applicable

VP - Very poor

D – Dead

Age class: Y – Young Priority: U – Urgent

SM – Semi-mature H – High

EM – Early-mature

M – Medium

M – Mature

LM - late-mature

L – Low

July 2016

APPENDIX B â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PHOTOGRAPHS

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Photo 1. View of Ionic Temple with woodland

Photo 2. View of Rievaulx Abbey through the

backdrop.

vista in Terrace Bank Wood near Ionic Temple.

Photo 3. View of Rievaulx Abbey through vista

Photo 4. Interior of Terrace Bank Wood

in Terrace Bank Wood. Species rich grassland

showing standard ash and oak with

on bank in foreground.

understorey dominated by hazel.

Photo 5. Interior of Terrace Bank Wood

Photo 6. Interior of Backdrop Wood.

showing deadwood snag and hazel understorey.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Photo 7. Interior of Backdrop Wood showing

Photo 8. Interior of Backdrop Wood showing

mature beech trees.

semi-mature beech trees in more recently planted section.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

APPENDIX C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLANS -

Tree & Woodland Plan

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Tree & Woodland Report

July 2016

Key

Tree with estimated planting date: Pre-1750

1751-1800

1801-1850

1851-1900

10200E

10100E

10000E

9900E

9800E

5200N

1901-1945

1946-2015

Age not estimated Woodland compartments - Plantation (estimated planting date as colour) Woodland compartments - Semi-natural stand 5100N

5 BE

6 BE

Species AH - Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) BE - Beech (Fagus sylvatica) POK - Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) SLL - Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) SY - Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) WB - Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)

5000N

11 10 9

1 2

4900N

York Eco Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor York YO30 4AG T: 01904 479094 E: office@enviroscope.eu

Client:

The National Trust 4800N

Project:

Rievaulx Terrace North Yorkshire Drawing:

Tree & Woodland Plan Sheet 1 of 2 Scale:

Date:

Drawn:

Checked:

1:1,000 @A1

03/11/15

Project No.:

Drawing No.:

Revision:

525

Key

Tree with estimated planting date: Pre-1750

1751-1800

1801-1850

4700N

1851-1900

1901-1945

1946-2015

Age not estimated Woodland compartments - Plantation (estimated planting date as colour)

Woodland compartments - Semi-natural stand

4600N

154 SY

155 BE

180 SLL

2 178 SLL

4500N

163 WB 179 SLL

1 4400N

2 York Eco Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor York YO30 4AG T: 01904 479094 E: office@enviroscope.eu Client: 10100E

10000E

9900E

9800E

9700E 4300N

The National Trust Project:

Rievaulx Terrace North Yorkshire Drawing:

Tree & Woodland Plan Sheet 2 of 2 Scale:

Date:

Drawn:

Checked:

1:1,000 @A1

03/11/15

Project No.:

Drawing No.:

Revision:

525

7.4 Understanding the Historic Designed Landscape

The Rievaulx Terrace: Understanding the Historic Designed Landscape Fiona Green July 2016

THE RIEVAULX TERRACE UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORIC DESIGNED LANDSCAPE

FIONA GREEN for SOUTHERN GREEN LTD. on behalf of NATIONAL TRUST March 2016

THE RIEVAULX TERRACE - UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE 1.0

Terrace Bank before the 18th century

2.0

The Duncombe family and links between Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10

The Duncombe family Duncombe family connections Duncombe Park House Duncombe Terrace Who designed Duncombe Terrace? The relevance of Rokeby landscape garden Arthur Young visits Duncombe Terrace in 1768 and notes a transition in English landscape garden design Hussey on Duncombe Terrace Thomas Duncombe II's cultural environment Thomas Duncombe II's Rievaulx Terrace

3.0

The Rievaulx Terrace

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7

The origins The structure of Rievaulx Terrace The shrubberies at Rievaulx Terrace Changing perceptions of the landscape garden during the mid-eighteenth century and ideas which may have influenced the design of Rievaulx Terrace Comparisons between Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace The value of ruins in the landscape garden The move towards 'expressive' landscape

4.0

The experience of Rievaulx Terrace over time

4.1 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.3 4.3.1 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7

The role of Rievaulx Terrace The visitor experience of Rievaulx Terrace at the end of the 18th century Edward Knight Arthur Young and 'picturesque elegance' Arthur Young's description of his visit to Rievaulx Terrace in 1768 Pleasant prospects from Rievaulx Terrace Changing perceptions of Rievaulx Terrace The visitor experience of Rievaulx Terrace during the 19th century The visitor experience of Rievaulx Terrace during the 20th century Artists at Rievaulx Abbey

5.0

Significance

5.1 5.2 5.3 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.4 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.5 5.5.1 5.5.2 5.6

Introduction Evidential Value Historical Value Illustrative Associative value Aesthetic value Designed Value Architects and designers Fortuitous value Communal Value Social Value Commemorative and symbolic value Summary statement of significance

6.0

Summary

1.0

Terrace Bank before the 18th century

Terrace Bank (1856 OS) overlooks the Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx which was founded in 1132 under the protection of Walter Espec, Lord of Helmsley. The abbey was suppressed in 1538 and the building and lands were granted a descendent of Espec, Thomas Manners Earl of Rutland.

By 1632 the Rievaulx and Helmsley estates had passed to the dissolute 2nd Duke of Buckingham, however, they were confiscated during the Commonwealth. During the Commonwealth the Rievaulx manor was granted in 1650 to Sir Thomas Fairfax (1612-1671) former Lord General of the New Model Army, but George Duke of Buckingham recovered the properties on his marriage to Fairfax's daughter, Maria.

Buckingham's extravagance and profligacy ensured that he died in debt and without issue in 1687. He was satirised by Dryden; 'A man so various that he seem'd to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon.' 1

Following an act of parliament in 1689 Buckingham's trustees were able to sell 40,000 acres of the land in 1695 to Sir Charles Duncombe (1648-1711), which included the land where Rievaulx Terrace now stands, for a sum in the region of ÂŁ86,000.

Part of

the estate included Rievaulx and the woodland on an escarpment above the abbey, latterly called Terrace Bank, topped by a plateau where the terrace was created during the mid-eighteenth century.

1Dryden,

Works (ed. Scott), ix, 233. cited Paige ed. (1914) A History of the County of York North Riding

p485-505

2.0

The Duncombe family and links between Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace

Rievaulx Terrace was completed by Thomas Duncombe II (?1724-79), reportedly in 1757.2 His father Thomas Duncombe I (?1683-1746) built a precedent, Duncombe Terrace, at his seat Duncombe Park between c.1715 and c.1730. The family penchant for creating the two unique terraces is an extraordinary episode in the history of designed English landscape. This report examines the origins and experience of both terraces and the influences which make each terrace so distinctive.

2.1

The Duncombe family

Sir Charles Duncombe (1648-1711) was a commoner who developed significant business acumen. His father was a yeoman who worked as steward to a landowner with family connections to Edward Backwell (1618-83), a leading goldsmith-banker. 3 Backwell took Charles Duncombe on as an apprentice in 1665 and he was admitted to the freedom of the Goldsmithsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Society in 1672. By 1680 he was one of three commissioners in charge of the Royal Mint. In 1695 he bought out the mortgagees of the Duke of Buckingham's estates in North Yorkshire. Charles Duncombe did not marry and consequently settled his property on his nephews. One nephew, Anthony Duncombe, was created Lord Feversham but had no heir and his brother Valentine died in 1689 also without issue. Their sister Ursula Duncombe married Thomas Browne and their children Thomas and Mary inherited much of Duncombe's fortune.

Thomas Browne the younger (?1683-1746) changed his name to Duncombe on inheriting the Helmsley estates. He also named Duncombe Park in recognition of his benefactor, possibly swayed by the naming of Castle Howard after the Howard family who built it. He married Sarah Slingsby in 1714, whose brother Sir Henry Slingsby married Mary Aislabie.

His son, Thomas Duncombe II inherited in 1746 at the age of 22. He married Lady Diana Howard daughter of Henry Howard (1694-1758) the 4th Earl of Carlisle, in 1749. Thomas

Parker, Thomas List of Remarkable Occurrences cited NT Guide Book p. 7 of National Biography Sir Charles Duncombe.

3Dictionary

Duncombe II became MP for Morpeth with the help of Henry Howard who was Viscount Morpeth. Duncombe does not appear to have been particularly active in parliament.

2.2

Duncombe family connections

In considering potential design influences on the creation of Rievaulx Terrace it is helpful to trace the family connections of the Duncombe family. Some relatives by marriage were known garden aesthetes and may have influenced the design of Duncombe and Rievaulx terraces. Thomas Duncombe senior's sister in law, Mary Slingsby, was the daughter of John Aislabie, creator of Studley Royal gardens. Her husband, Sir Henry Slingsby, occupied one of the two Knaresborough parliamentary seats, the other was taken by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (1694-1753). Burlington was an acknowledged exponent of Palladian architecture in England and was involved in debate regarding garden taste with numerous garden designers and writers.4 Thomas Duncombe II married Lady Diana Howard, daughter of Henry Howard, the 4th Earl of Carlisle and grand-daughter of the 3rd Earl of Carlisle of Castle Howard. Her aunt, Elizabeth, was married to Sir Thomas Robinson of Rokeby.

2.3

Duncombe Park House (Grade I)

Duncombe Park was built in a prominent location with a commanding position that allowed panoramic views across a vast, almost circular park, 'Park Plain' which was contained by woodland plantations. 5 A well-known gentleman architect, William Wakefield (-1730), was commissioned to build the house in 1713.6,7 His other work includes Holme Hall (1720-3), Atherton Hall (1723-43), North Yorkshire, remodelling Gilling Castle c.1740 and an unexecuted design for Rokeby Hall (1724). A link between Wakefield and Vanbrugh is noted by many; including Colvin8, Blomfield9 and Whistler. 10,11,12. Wakefield

4Burlington

created his garden at Chiswick House, Middlesex partly in collaboration with William

Kent. 5 1st edition OS 6 Colvin p.860 - Sir Thomas Robinson wrote of him to Lord Carlisle in December 1730 ' doing a justice to my late dear friend Mr Wakefield' with the opinion that had he survived he would have made plans for the York Assembly Rooms 'full as convenient as Lord Burlington's'. 7 Campbell C. (1725) Vitruvius Britannicus III facsimile ed. 2007 p.11 credits Wakefield. 8 ibid. Colvin suggests he may have acted as a go between while Vanbrugh was employed at Castle Howard. 9Blomfield (reprint 2013) A short History of Renaissance Architecture in England 1500-1800

may have built Duncombe to Vanbrugh's design, however since the relevant estate archives were destroyed during a fire it is not possible to clarify these matters further.

Arthur Young, who provided the first detailed description of the Terrace after his visit in 1768, commented on Picturesque landscape but professed to know nothing of architecture; which may be the reason he mentioned few architects.13 The lack of clarification regarding the architect of Duncombe Park muddies the water as to the name of the designer of the temple and rotunda at Duncombe and inevitably the later temples at Rievaulx Terrace.

2.4

Duncombe Terrace - (element of Grade I landscape at Duncombe Park)

There are no surviving plans of the terrace at Duncombe Park owing to a house fire in 1879 and the burning of an archive at Helmsley Gas works in 1919. The Rievaulx Terrace first appears on an 1806 map by Hornby, but the first illustrative evidence of Duncombe Terrace is the Survey of Helmsley c.1822 (fig. 1).14 This shows the east and south terraces separated from the mansion by the 'Broad Walk' which is flanked by plantations; a square apron of lawn allows views to the east front of the mansion from the terrace. A statue of Father Time links views between the temples on the terrace and from the hall. It is assumed that the small dot visible on the 1822 map depicts this statue, indicating that this was an original part of the designed layout. Views towards the wider rugged landscape from the mansion are in contrast to the composed foreground view of a manicured lawn framed on both sides by woodland. 15

p.154 Here Blomfield suggests he may have supervised work on site as the latter's health declined, but this is not substantiated. 10 Whistler (1954) The Imagination of Vanbrugh and His Fellow Artists p.21 11 The link between Wakefield and Vanbrugh is also made regarding Gilling Castle. Colvin p. 360 12 Vanbrugh's influence at Gilling Castle is apparent in the sequence of spaces along the avenue and built up ground where the avenue approaches the castle allowing a panoramic view of the county with the west front in the foreground. Green F. (Southern Green Ltd.) (2011) Gilling Castle Registered Park and Garden Study 13Gazley, John, Gerrow (1973) The Life of Arthur Young 1712-1820 p.33 14 North Yorkshire Record Office ZEW IV/1/12/1 15Wheeler, J Aspinall, A (2007) Geophysics in the Garden: A survey of the Gardens at Duncombe Park, North Yorkshire Garden History p.90 V.35 no.1 pp. 85-91

Fig. 1

Survey of Helmsley 1822 North Yorkshire Record Office ZEW M35

The course of the terrace is a crescent, which is unusual in comparison with other terraces of the period such as Grimsthorpe, Lincolnshire where Switzer included a zigzag walk on one side of the garden c.1711, Bramham Park, Yorkshire of 1727 and within the bastions at Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland 1730s. Duncombe Terrace is integrated with the natural topography, an escarpment. The turf banks of the terrace slope down towards Bank Wood, which falls steeply to the river Rye. Tree cover adjacent to the bank is shown as sporadic on the first edition ordnance survey (1856) and could simply have provided picturesque 'breaks' in the views.

The woodland west of the terrace was probably planted as a 'wilderness' which opened into formal spaces but the only indication of this is shown on the first edition ordnance survey which illustrates woodland clearings; including an area where an orangery (Grade II) was added later, during the 1850s.

An Ionic Rotunda (Grade I) c.1730, stands at the north end of the terrace and is attributed to Vanbrugh. 16 The rotunda was built on a fortified terrace allowing greater command of spectacular views towards Helmsley Church, Helmsley Castle, the walled garden and surrounding landscape. The Doric Temple (Grade I) attributed to Sir Thomas Robinson, stands at the southern end. This was also built on a circular bastion allowing wide ranging views across the landscape. An estate account book for 1732-8 refers to only one temple and it is not until 1749 that both Temples are mentioned by Rev. Drake. 17

2.5

Who designed Duncombe Terrace?

There is no documentary evidence which reveals the designer of the Duncombe Park terrace. There was a great deal of landscaping underway in Yorkshire at the beginning of the eighteenth century owing to increased wealth through industry and improved agricultural management. So many estates were altered at the time that Plumptre described the county as 'the cradle of the English landscape movement'. 18

Stephen Switzer19 and Charles Bridgeman are both suggested as candidates for Duncombe, having worked with Vanbrugh at Castle Howard but there is no supporting documentation for their involvement. There is a theory that Vanbrugh may have advised on the design for Duncombe while at Castle Howard in 1718, 1721 or 1724, as there are believed to be strong similarities between his design for Eastbury (1713), Blandford Forum, for George Dodington (c.1717), and the Duncombe mansion. However, there is no supporting evidence for this either.

There is evidence that gardener and nurseryman Thomas Knowlton was at Duncombe, advising Thomas Duncombe senior. However, this was not until 1733/4. Knowlton (16911781) was born in Kent and during the early 1720s he worked for the Duke of Chandos at Cannons, Middlesex, reputedly one of the finest households in England, and moved to Londesborough for Richard Boyle 3rd Earl of Burlington (1694-1753) in 1726.20 As Lord Burlington did not reside permanently at his Londesbrough estate, Knowlton was able to 16

Historic England - List entry number 1001061. viz. rotunda at Stowe see Plumptre, G (1993) The Garden Makers p. 40 17Langdale 1822 A Topographical Dictionary of Yorkshire pp. 30,31 18Plumptre, G (1993) The Garden Makers p.40 19 Switzer took over from George London at Castle Howard. 20 Neave D Turnbull D Landscape Parks and Gardens of East Yorkshire p. 77

expand his business interests elsewhere in the region. 21 Knowlton had an exceptional library which included literature on botany, gardening and horticulture. Like some of his patrons he was a distinguished antiquarian and was also interested in ornithology and palaeontology. 22

There is no suggestion that Knowlton worked at Chiswick, Lord Burlington's estate in Middlesex which was nearing completion by the time he was employed in Yorkshire. However, the innovative mixture of formality and informality employed by Lord Burlington's at Chiswick is unlikely to have escaped his notice. Defoe for example commented; 'Next the Road his Lordship has raised a Terrace, (with the Earth which came out of the River) from whence you have a Prospect of the adjacent Country; and when the Tide is up, you see the Water of the Thames, with the Boats and Barges passing, which greatly enlivens the Prospect. In a Word, there is more Variety in this Garden, than can be found in any other of the same Size in England, or perhaps Europe...23

Apart from the impact this garden had nationally, this is a striking observation of movement being incorporated as a feature in the landscape and challenges the notion of a landscape garden being a static experience, like a landscape painting, a predominant aspect of garden aesthetics at the time.

There are two letters which link Knowlton to Duncombe Park. The first is dated 27th February 1733/4 from Dom John Bede Potts to Sir Marmaduke Constable which stated that 'ye person yt commands ye labourers under Mr Knowlton's direction is to go up to Mr Duncombe' (Thomas Duncombe). 24 A letter from Knowlton dated 22nd October 1736 stated, I imagine I shall be sent for to Mr Duncombs ... very soon they I know are Drawing to conclusion of what I had ... seat...out'. 25 This demonstrates that although a distinguished plantsman and nurseryman he was also involved in setting out new designs. Knowlton's work at Aldby Park, East Knowlton was a distinguished plantsman, he trialled many newly introduced plants in the northern climate. 22 Henry, B (1986) No Ordinary Gardener p. 16 Blanche also mentions that Knowlton discovered a Roman Road at Londesbrough Park, and Roman remains at Millington. 23 Hunt D H & Willis, P (1975) The Genius of the Place - The English Landscape Gardens 1620-1820 p. 171 from a Tour Thro' The Whole Island of Great Britain 24 Dom John Bede Potts was Chaplain to Sir Marmaduke Constable and supervised the estate while he was in Europe. Henry, Blanche (1986) No Ordinary Gardener p.275 25 ibid. p148 21

Riding, is of interest and potential relevance to Duncombe and Rievaulx. Estate accounts include invoices from 1746 'To Setting out & Forming the slopes' on 16th & 23rd June, ' To setting out & Levelling of the Dove Court Avenue & Lawn Slopes' 3rd & 8th July. In 1749 he billed the estate May 24th 'To setting out the slope'. These works, which incorporated the remains of a medieval motte, are evident on the 1854 OS (fig. 2).

Knowlton is also believed to have planted 'the slopes' at Aldby Park; an unsigned plan of 1746 exists and estate accounts mention planting 1000 Beech, 500 Hornbeam and 2000 birch.26,27 Knowlton's work at Everingham Park, documented with correspondence, a survey and map of 1765, provide an interesting context to the possibility he may have also been involved with laying out Rievaulx Terrace during the 1750s28. Two of Knowlton's letters mention advice for a green walk at Everingham for Sir Marmaduke Constable. 29 ,30

Fig.2

Detail from first edition ordnance survey showing terraces at Aldby Park.

North Yorkshire Record Office ZDA-DAR 88 March 31st and April 1. 1746 Whickham, Yorkshire Gardens Trust Newsletter Issue 25. pp. 8-10 28 Neave, D. Turnbull, D. (1992)Landscaped Parks and Gardens of East Yorkshire pp. 29,30 29 Henry, B (1986) No Ordinary Gardener pp.16,17 30Henry, B (1986) No Ordinary Gardener, p.288 26 27

Henry notes that Knowlton's letters discuss giving advice to many clients including Sir Charles Hotcham at South Dalton, Near Beverley, Thomas Willoughby of Bridsall Hall and Zachariah Bourryau, regarding 'some new waterworks' for Blyborough Park, Lincolnshire.

2.6

The relevance of the Rokeby landscape garden

Hussey suggests that the use of the serpentine line at Duncombe appears to be a very early application.32Sir Thomas Robinson also made use of serpentine topography for his terraced walk at Rokeby alongside the river Greta at a similar time. This landscape has a similarity to Rievaulx in its simplicity.

Robinson dismissed William Wakefield's plan for a new villa in 1724 and designed his new residence himself. He enclosed Rokeby Park in 1725 and embarked on a tree planting campaign which was documented in 1734 when he wrote a letter of thanks to Lord Carlisle for beech and Spanish chestnut trees. 33, 34 A Geometric plan of the Park and Plantations of Rookby ... by Paul Foudrinier of c.1740 shows the river, possibly canalised at the east end, approached by a circuitous, serpentine walk from the mansion through what appear to be shrubberies (Fig. 3). 35 The path joins another serpentine path just above banks and rocks. An alternative route onto a linear terrace would have allowed views across the park before descending to the river via angled slopes.

Fig. 3 A Geometric plan of the Park and Plantations of Rookby ... by Paul Foudrinier of c.1740 Was Zachariah Bourryau, a wealthy landowner in the West Indies, known to Sir Thomas Robinson? ibid. p. 218 32 Hussey, C. (1967) English Gardens and Landscapes p. 143 33 Colvin p. 703 34 Historic England Register of Historic Parks and Gardens List Entry Number 1000733 35 Engraver, Paul Foudrinier (1698â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1758) used a trade card designed by William Kent. He printed Kent's designs and those of Colen Campbell, James Gibbs and William Chambers among numerous others. DoNB Tessa Murdoch 31

This arrangement combined a formal and informal layout but whether there was any allegorical content is not clear. Robinson had antiquarian interests but it appears that his collection of antiquities was displayed in a 'museum' at the hall and adjacent garden. Pennant's description of the grounds is devoid of any reference to antiquities; 'After leaving the house, I walked through extensive plantations, and down to the Greata, a pretty river flowing between high mural rocks, finely wooded. It here forms several small cascades, whose waters have at times heaped up, a little below, piles of stone, or most tremendous and uncommon magnitude. 36

2.7

Arthur Young visits Duncombe Terrace in 1768 and notes a transition in English

landscape garden design

In contrast to Plumptre's assertion that Yorkshire was the cradle of the English landscape movement, Sir Thomas Robinson (1703-1777) gave credit for the transition a southern bias when he wrote to Earl of Carlisle, his father in law, in 1734; ‘There is a new taste of gardening just arisen, which has been practiced with so great success at the Prince’s garden in town [Carlton House], that a general alteration of some of the most considerable gardens in the kingdom is begun, after Mr. Kent’s notion of gardening, viz. to lay them out, and work without either level or line. By this means I really think the 12 acres the Prince’s garden consists of, is more diversified and of greater variety than anything of that compass I ever saw; and this method gardening is more agreeable, as when finished, it has the appearance of beautiful nature, and without being told, one would imagine art had no part in the finishing, and is according to what one hears of the Chinese, entirely after their models for works of this nature, where they never plant straight lines or make regular designs. The celebrated gardens of Claremont, Chiswick, and Stowe are now full of labourers, to modernise the expensive works finished in them, even since everyone’s memory. If this grows a fashion, t’will be happy for that class of people, as they will run no risk of having time to lay on their hands. 37

Forty years or so after this flurry of new gardens, Young still found the experience of Duncombe Terrace a novelty and as curious as Mr Duncombe's collection of paintings (which included works by Poussin and Lorraine) and viewing a noble picture, an ideal landscape.

Pennant, T (1804 ed.) A Tour from Alston Moor, to Harrogate ... p. 42 Hunt J D (1987) The Genius of the Place The English Landscape Garden cited p.46 38 Young's visits to the Duncombe and Rievaulx terraces occurred in 1768. The description was first published in 1770. Young, A (1770) A Six Months Tour Through the North of England Vol. IIpp 87-93 36 37

The raised terrace walk allowed views without the obstruction of a wall, fence or hedge. These landscape components, with the ha-ha, were befitting to the setting of a new mansion at the heart of a well-endowed estate. It is interesting that Young prefaced his description of Duncombe Park, some thirty years after its completion during the late summer of 1768, as being the place in this country by far the most worth the attention of the curious traveller, an intimation of the terrace's unusual design.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mr. Duncombe's grounds are, in their style, as curious as his paintings; and cannot be viewed without yielding the most exquisite enjoyment. The garden adjoining the house backs a terrace, from which the landscapes are much easier imagined from a few touches, than described in many words. At one end of it, is an iconic temple, commanding a noble variety of prospect and landscape: The former is seen to the left picturesquely broken by large trees near the temple itself : A little to the right of that a vast extent of country; then you look down upon a valley, winding at the bottom of a noble amphitheatre of hanging woods, and at the other end of the terrace, a Tuscan colonnade temple. The opposite woods which spread over a fine extent of hill, fringe the very shore of a beautiful river, which winds through the valley, and forms, almost in the centre of it, a considerable cascade.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Movement through the changing landscape allowed the visitor to use their own imagination to discover the poetic meaning of the experience. However, the experience was restricted through the control exerted by 'the terras being cut in right lines, with a straight edge, and slope from it to the edge of the precipice; and the yew-hedges on the other side being clipt in the exactest line of form, these circumstances act in very different stile from the wonders beneath, where the bold touches of natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pencil, are graces snatched beyond the reach of art, strangely dissonant from such regular doings'. A limit was placed on the degree of involvement with the landscape.

2.8

Hussey on Duncombe Terrace

Duncombe Terrace was the prototype for Rievaulx Terrace. Hussey suggests that Duncombe Terrace follows a similar plan to the landscape garden at Stowe. This includes a '...long lateral walk from the garden front; a lawn or parterre on the centre axis, flanked by plantations with winding walks and formal clearings'. However, he continues '...the terrace following the contours is unique to Duncombe. Forming a natural ha-ha terminated by circular bastions each carrying a temple is obviously closely related to the conception originated by Bridgeman at Stowe. 39

Hussey (1967) p. 142

Hussey continues with the theory that the ha-ha at Stowe was constructed later, between 1725-30. The ha-ha at Eastbury (1717) by Bridgeman, where Vanbrugh was also involved, forms the boundary to a parallelogram shaped enclosure, this may be an influence for the fortified edge of the terrace at Duncombe, which curbs the relationship between garden and field. The design of Rievaulx Terrace transformed the intellectual boundary between garden and sylvan landscape to another sphere where the spectator, within the safety of a beautiful garden could experience the thrill of sublime ruins in a deep valley, hundreds of feet below.

2.9

Thomas Duncombe II's cultural environment

The Duncombe Terrace marks a transition between the era of early English formal landscape drawing to a close and freer, naturalistic landscape resembling a picture, offering new opportunities for imaginative landowners. Thomas Duncombe II was the ideal candidate to assimilate ideas from changing approaches to the design of a landscape garden.

Upon Thomas Duncombe's return from the Grand Tour, commenced in 1747, he is said to have been elected to The Dilettante Society. 40, 41 The society was established in London in 1734 by a group of men who had been on the Grand Tour. 42 Initially the group was led by Francis Dashwood of West Wycombe whose Rococo gardens survive with a number of follies and temples in the care of the National Trust.

43, 44

The art collections at Duncombe Park were mentioned by Arthur Young in his description of the park and house; 'Upon the whole, this collection, though not very numerous, is extremely capital; the indifferent pictures are few, the fine ones admirable; some of them sufficiently great, to awaken in the beholder the most rapturous delight. Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, old Palma, Guido, Julio Romano, Dominichino,

40National

Trust Guidebook (2011) p.7 The Dilettantes Society sponsored the study of ancient Greek and Roman art. However, their toast was, and still is, 'serialudo', 'to take serious matters in a light hearted spirit'. McKie G (2015) British Clubs and Societies 42 ibid. 43The National Heritage List for England: Register of Parks and Gardens Grade I Reference GD1415 44 Wycombe also employed Borgnis who painted the ceiling fresco of the Ionic Temple at Rievaulx. 41

Parmediano, Poussin and Claude Loraine, may be studied in the small collection of works exhibited here, much better that in many more numerous ones.'45

Dominichino (1581-1641), Poussin (1594-1665), Claude (d.1682) and Salvator Rosa (16151673), the latter, who was mentioned earlier in the description, all painted classical landscapes and must have played a significant role in influencing Thomas Duncombe II's landscape 'mood'. His response to landscape would also have been affected by the literary debates on the subject available through writers such as Alexander Pope whose epistle to Lord Burlington of 1731 includes the immortal phrase, In all, let Nature never be forgot. Consult the Genius of the Place in all.

The poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) may have been a lasting influence on Thomas Duncombe II as the family owned a painting of Pope's villa n.d. by John Wootton (1682 1764).

47,48, 49

The Duncombe family owned another painting by Wootton depicting Rievaulx Abbey which demonstrates an affinity for the place before the terrace was built, Rievaulx Abbey, Riders Pausing by the Ruins 1728 50 (fig. 4). The painting shows a hunting party with a young man and woman in the foreground observing the abbey, with another figure, possibly an agent, directing building repairs.

The painting appears to represent the family connection with the estate and signified a powerful dynastic message to the viewer. Wootton is described by Meyer as being 'the first native artist to adapt the pastoral mode to the representation of English rural scenery' ... in the early 1720s he recast the landscape idiom of Caspar Dughet (1615-1675) And Claude Lorrain, making it

Young, A (1770) A Six Months Tour through the North of England V 2 p. 82 Thacker (1994) The Genius of Gardening p. 185 47Pope's Villa by Wootton later listed in sale catalogue of 1836 as belonging to the late Thomas Sivright. Location now unknown. 48 The date of the villa is not clear but the villa was also painted by Peter Tillemans in 1725. Roussea G.S. (1988) The Enduring Legacy: Alexander Pope Tercentenary Essays p.140 49 see also reference in Langdale 1822 A Topographical Dictionary of Yorkshire pp. 30,31 Drake's poem to Thomas Duncombe 50 Yale Centre for British Art: Paul Mellon Collection B1981.25.700 date this painting as c.1745 (EH website dates the painting 1728) see also Sotheby's Auction catalogue for painting of hunting party at Snitterfield Warwickshire late 1730s early 40s when Wootton was at the height of his powers. 04.07.2012 L12033 45 46

relevant to the moral and aesthetic values of Englishmen in the Augustan age.51,52 Meyer continues, Works which bear the didactic and ironic imprint of his literary landscape sensibility, include Classical Landscape with a Temple (early 1730s Mapledurham House, Oxfordshire) for Alexander Pope. By 1741 Wootton was said to have commanded '...the greatest price of any man in England' and was shown among figures in Gawen Hamilton's A Club of Artists (1735). 5354

Fig. 4

Riders pausing by the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. John Wootton Paul Mellon Collection University of

Yale

51Augustan

age - Early 18th century culture Meyer, Arline, J. (2008) Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online 53 Tate.org.uk/art/artists Meyer (1984) John Wootton 1682-1764 Landscape and Sporting Art in Early Georgian Englandp.7 54Grove Art Online 52

2.10

Thomas Duncombe II's Rievaulx Terrace

Shortly after Thomas Duncombe II married Lady Diana Howard (d.1770) in 1749 he embarked on a scheme to build Rievaulx Terrace. The impetus for his plans is not recorded but there were probably a number of contributory factors. Thomas Duncombe II was making his mark on the estate having recently inherited, but was also possibly paying respect to his father who died in 1746. The incentive is also likely to be connected to a heightened sensitivity to the arts following his Grand Tour, perhaps with advice from Charles Howard, the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, who was described in a poem Castle Howard by his daughter Lady Irwin in 1733 as having '... so early form'd the Great Design'. 55

Another family connection to landscaped gardens was through Thomas Duncombe senior's brother in law, Sir Henry Slingsby (1693 - 1763), who married Mary (d.1736) daughter of John Aislabie the creator of the Studley Royal water gardens. . When his son William inherited, it is notable that his response was to respect and preserve his father's work at Studley Royal. Instead he chose to put his own stamp on adjoining land at Hackfall, a detached park some 6 miles away from Studley Royal, between 1749 and 1767. William also created the significantly less well known Laver Banks on a terraced slope between the two sites, and a third magnificent terrace at Kirkby Fleetham in the early 1740s. 56

Hussey (1967) p.115 Wonder of the North, 2015

56Newman

3.0

The Rievaulx Terrace

3.1

The origins

The compulsion in England to make improvements to house and garden caused Addison (1672-1719) to remark in 1739, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Every Man now, be his Fortune what it will, is to be doing something at his Place ,as the fashionable Phrase is; and you hardly meet with anybody, who, after the first Compliments, does not inform you, that he is in Mortar and moving of earth; the modest terms for Building and Gardening. One large Room, a Serpentine River, and a Wood, are become the most absolute Necessaries of Life, without which a Gentleman of the smallest Fortune thinks he makes no Figure in his Country. 57

Unlike Duncombe Park, there is less potential for known leading landscape designers to have been associated with Rievaulx Terrace. Bridgeman died in 1738 and Vanbrugh in 1726. Knowlton lived until 1781 but although he advised on the gardens at Duncombe during the 1730s, he did not mention Rievaulx in his letters. It is perhaps more likely that Thomas Duncombe II, having grown up with Duncombe Terrace and having been well primed by his Grand Tour, art collection and connections with other dilettantes, was principal designer.

Like his kinsman William Aislabie at Studley, Thomas Duncombe, may have overseen the design and construction himself. The Aislabies may even have advised on the conception of Rievaulx Terrace having made use of the elevated view at Anne Boleyn's Hill to Fountains Abbey in the 1730s and in the context of William's experience of creating landscapes at Kirkby Fleetham, Hackfall and Laver Banks58, 59,60. However, it seems most likely that the genesis of the design for Rievaulx Terrace arose from collaboration between Thomas DuncombeII, William Aislabie and quite possibly Sir Thomas Robinson who was also involved at Studley Royal and Rievaulx Terrace.

Richardson The Arcadian Friends p.155 Addison cited from Spectator N (2015) The Wonder of the North Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal pp. 228, 229 59 ibid. p. 173 60 Letter regarding citrus trees to Samuel Brewer, Knowlton wrote 'I have 60 od Large ones yett to Dispose of tho I expect Mr Aislaby will buy a parsell he having orderd his gardener to wright to me' Henry p. 136 57

58Newman,

3.2

The structure of Rievaulx Terrace

Rievaulx Terrace was cut into an escarpment at the top of a steep bank known as 'Terrace Bank Wood' which overlooked the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, also in the ownership of the Duncombe family. The cutting, levelling and retaining of the terrace took eight years to complete and the work was described as finished in 1757. 61 Later between 1780-86, the agents’ accounts for Duncombe Park estate referred to labourers at the ‘Bank Top’ most weeks, these accounts were separate from garden labourers’ and appear to refer to the terrace, which is puzzling as it was said to be complete by 1757. Does it indicate that the terrace was remodelled after the initial work during the 1750s?

The terrace is articulated by a pair of temples at either end of a lawn, as with Duncombe Terrace. However, the route is more sinuous and the buildings are not inter-visible today (2015). Although Young, visiting the Terrace in 1768 remarks that the final view before entering the Ionic Temple was to the Tuscan Temple; ‘The view from the ionic temple is a noble one, equal to any of the foregoing, and different from all. A strong wave in the line of the terrace presents a view of its own woody steep bank, rising in a beautiful manner to the tuscan temple, which crowns its top.’

The date of the temples is not known but they are believed to have been designed by Sir Thomas Robinson of Rokeby Park. The Tuscan Temple (Grade I) is thought to be based on the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli and while the Ionic Temple (Grade I) reflects the Maison Carée at Nîmes Temple and the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in the Roman Forum. 63,64,65,66 The location of the buildings at each end and on the edge of the terrace enabled the visitor to them to take in wider views of the estate, and over the Rye Valley stretching to moorland on the horizon. The Rievaulx planting was also in contrast to Duncombe as the formal, clipped, yew hedge backing the woodland at the latter garden was replaced with shrubberies.

Parker, Thomas List of Remarkable Occurrences cited NT Guide Book p. 7 North Yorkshire Record Office ZEW IV 6/3. 63Tuscan Temple Historic England List Entry no. 1001072. 64 NT Guide Book p. 10,11 65Ionic Temple Historic England List Entry no. 1315950 66 NT Guide Book p. 14 67 Young (1770) 61

3.3

The shrubberies at Rievaulx Terrace

Shrubberies were a popular feature of eighteenth century pleasure grounds. They formed part of a plantation which incorporated trees, shrubs and flowers that were planted in a graduated order of heights. In 1999 Mark Laird published a monograph The Flowering of the Landscape Garden ... on the subject of planting methodologies employed in English Pleasure Grounds between 1720 and 1800. Many descriptions of Rievaulx Terrace mention curving shrubberies and in the absence of documentation the manner of their planting might be surmised with the assistance of Laird’s book.

Before the development of the English Landscape Style ‘shrubbery’ was planted in association with a house. Charles Hamilton at Painshill and Philip Southcote at Woburn Farm were among those who began to employ the shrubbery in the wider landscape using the colour and form to provide depth to the landscape gardens they had devised. The introduction of many new plants to Britain was particularly stimulating, providing a range of colour to articulate the landscape in the manner of paintings by Claude and Poussin, with tonal nuances and the effect of light and shade.

This arrangement was a progression from the popular seventeenth and early eighteenth century system for planting graduated rows of flowers in plat-bandes which edged parterres. Plat-bandes were planted in strict ranks of height and colour. During the course of development of the shrubbery the combined displays of trees, shrubs and flowers became increasingly naturalistic and liberated colour, form and texture.

Richard Woods is one of the best known exponents of the shrubbery and worked at Cusworth, Doncaster, in 1761, Cannon Hall, Barnsley, in 1760 and Goldsborough, Knaresborough, in 1763. His directions for the shrubbery at Cusworth in 1765 were as follows; The 10 foot between the railings and the wall is to be chiefly opin grove composed of beech elm chestnut and larch with some tulip trees and the thick wood on the other side ye walk of firrs& pinesfill’d up with all kinds of low evergreens … plant each sort of firrs or pines {by themselves}in Large groups, you may intersperse some Roses honeysuckles & and jessamines towards the front among the evergreens, & let there be here and there a honeysuckle planted up some of those trees wch

are to stand upon the turff,& you may plant some few groups of evergreens and the sweets among the opin grove wch will have a fine affect from the Lybrary windoor. 68 Woods worked at Hare Hall, Essex, in 1770 and a description published in 1791 by William Angus mentions : â&#x20AC;Śa Serpentine Terrace, near a mile in Length, whose Sides are planted with a variety of flowering Shrubs and Forest Trees, and extends to the Lodge by the side of the great Road '. 69

Thomas Knowlton is not credited with creating shrubberies at Rievaulx Terrace but he would certainly have been in a position to provide exclusive material for them. He was an authority on new plant introductions and corresponded with Sir Hans Sloane, Samuel Brewer, Dr Richard Richardson and many other distinguished gardening experts. He also had nurseries in Hull and Beverley and it is hard to imagine that he did not advise on shrubberies as part of his repertoire.

William Mason (1727-1797) poet and garden designer, and associated with the development of shrubbery design, was mentioned as a frequent visitor at Rokeby but this was long after the shrubberies are shown on Foudrinier's plan of c.1740. 71,72,73 His poem The English Garden: A poem in four books was first published in 1772, after the shrubberies at Rievaulx were mentioned by Young in 1770. There is no evidence that Mason visited Rievaulx, however, the English Garden included the verse; Ah then most happy, if thy vale below Wash, with the crystal coolness of its rills, Some mould'ring abbey's ivy-vested wall

cited Cowell Richard Woods (1715-1793) Master of the Pleasure Garden p. 110 cited Cowell Richard Woods (1715-1793) Master of the Pleasure Garden p. 201 from Angus Seats of the Nobility 70 Neave, D & Turnbull, D (1992) Landscaped Parks and Gardens of East Yorkshire p. 77 71 Sir Thomas Robinson had sold Rokeby by this time in order to pursue his interests in London. John Sawrey Morritt purchased Rokeby in 1779. Rudd, M (2007) The Discovery of Teesdale p. 12 68 69

Mason was responsible for the gardens at Nuneham Courtney, laid out during the 1770s for Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt which incorporated an assortment of small buildings and memorials, disposed in a setting of flowering and scented shrubs and informal flower beds.

73Anon.

A tour in Teesdale 1804 p.16

3.4

Changing perceptions of the landscape garden during the mid-eighteenth century ideas which may have influenced the design of Rievaulx Terrace

The experience of the Duncombe and Rievaulx Terraces was, and remains today, an enigma. Both gardens were a departure from established landscape principles at the time when they were constructed. Thomas Duncombe senior's intentions for Duncombe Terrace are easier to interpret than his son's were for Rievaulx. Understanding the evolution of the concept for Rievaulx Terrace is made all the more challenging by the lack of documentary evidence.

3.5

Comparisons between Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace

There are strong similarities between Rievaulx and Duncombe Terraces. They are both exceptional ventures in landscape design and in Hussey's words perhaps the most spectacularly beautiful among English Landscape conceptions of the 18th century.

Duncombe

Rievaulx

The approach is across a lawn, a short walk from the house.

The approach is an accumulative experience which includes a carriage drive from Duncombe Park. There is a reveal as one emerges onto the Terrace Curved Terrace- half a mile long. One entity. There was a modus operandi, which seems to be implicit in early descriptions. It appears there was no choice - the final view from the Ionic Temple was towards the Tuscan Temple. The central point of entry to the Terrace is discreet, and therefore easy to overlook by visitor when they pass en route from Tuscan Temple to Ionic Temple? Perhaps the entrance located there in order to avoid the working part of the estate at Abbot Hagg. Tuscan and Ionic Temple exceptional interiors Views of the open country and recurring views to Rievaulx Abbey

There is a reveal as one emerges onto the Terrace Curved Terrace - half a mile long. Two distinct sections.

Ionic and Tuscan Temple decorated interiors 'the distant country laid open to view' (Switzer 1718) including views over adjacent parkland Notable views to cascade also Helmsley Castle and Church Ha-ha and sloped bank Formal clipped yew hedges backed by 'wilderness' Figure : Father of Time on axis Evidence from contemporary descriptions that visits to Duncombe Terrace were encouraged - first evidence is Arthur Young's Visit of 1768

Notable views to bridge, cottage, dominant view to Rievaulx Abbey Sloping retaining banks Serpentine shrubberies backed by shelter belt woodland No sculpture Evidence from contemporary descriptions that visits to Rievaulx Terrace were encouraged- first evidence is Edward Knight's visit of 1759

Although Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace appear similar in concept, the Rievaulx model differs from Duncombe most particularly when detachment from the mansion is considered. Like Hackfall and Rokeby the garden is in the landscape. Hackfall is some miles from the location of the Studley Royal house and gardens, and the Rokeby landscape

garden is at a considerable distance from the hall. It may be helpful to explore the differences between the evolution of the two terraces.

Both terraces appear to respond to Switzerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice published in Iconographia or, The Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Gardener's Recreation (1715); '...the Pleasures of a Country Life can't possibly be contained within the narrow Limits of the greatest Garden; woods, Fields, and distant Inclosures should have the care of the industrious and laborious Planter ... where-ever Liberty will allow, would throw my Garden open to all View of the unbounded Felicities of distant Prospect, and the expansive volumes of Nature herself ... when, for the enlargement of their view , all the neighbouring Fields, Paddocks, etc, shall make an additional beauty to the Garden, and by an easy , unaffected manner of Fencing, shall appear to be part of it, and looks as if adjacent Country were all a Garden'.74 Brogden's assessment of Switzer's 'motif' as woodterrace-landscape is a useful grasp of his approach to landscape garden design.75 Switzer aimed to combine beauty and utility a concept that must have held enormous appeal to the majority of landowners.

Both terraces were entered from the side rather than at either end. The modus operandi for both Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace seems to be implicit in early descriptions, turning to the left first, although the order of the Temples was different with the Ionic Temple at Duncombe located at the east end. The point of entry to Rievaulx Terrace is discreet, and therefore easy to overlook by a visitor when they pass en route from Tuscan Temple to Ionic Temple. The entrance at Rievaulx may have been located in the centre in order to avoid working part of estate at Abbot Hagg.

3.6

The value of ruins in the landscape garden

Kent, Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor's belief that a ruin gave value to the landscape garden, was also assimilated by Batty Langley in Gothick Architecture Restored and Improved (1747). 76One

way or another, Thomas Duncombe is likely to have been aware of this by the time

Rievaulx Terrace was built. The nearest example of a landscape garden incorporating views

Switzer, S (1715) Iconographia or, The Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Gardener's Recreation Prefacexxxvi Switzer DoNB Brogden W. A. 76 Milani, R (2009) Art of the Landscape pp 19,20. 74

75Stephen

to a ruin is at Studley Royal where views to the Abbey from Anne Boleyn's Hill were embraced from the mid-1730s at the latest.

Influence may also have come from family connections. Perhaps Sir Thomas Robinson, Thomas Knowlton or William Aislabie provided the prompt for Thomas Duncombe II's concept for Rievaulx but it is important not to identify solely with garden theorists of the time and to give Thomas Duncombe credit for the idea. The family investment in the Wootton painting of Rievaulx Abbey (1728 or post 1749) implies an empathy with the ruin and an appreciation of its cultural value. 78

During a period of immense wealth, greater access to the arts and better opportunity for discourse it is highly likely that, like many other landowners of the period, Duncombe assimilated ideas for landscape design to create this extraordinary, beautiful and very English naturalistic landscape.

3.7

The move towards 'expressive' landscape

Thomas Duncombe II's concept for Rievaulx changed direction from what Hunt terms as 'emblematic' gardening to 'expressive'. 79 Duncombe Terrace is emblematic and functioned, by guiding the garden visitor through the experience with classical and literary references provided by buildings and sculpture. At Rievaulx the visitor had few prompts and could be immediately transported by their personal emotional response, this was paralleled by Hunt as a movement in literary history at the same time.

Rievaulx Terrace was described as completed by 1757 and yet Thomas Whately and Sir William Chambers did not publish their observations until 1765 and 1772 respectively.

80,81

Whately's observations subscribed to the force of metaphor, free from the detail of an allegory allowing the spectator to use their imagination rather than unravel the landscape through allegory.

Chambers discusses a change in landscape design set in motion by Bridgeman,

Newman p. 229 EH references for Rievaulx Abbey date the painting as 1728. The painting is in the Paul Mellon collection University of Yale and dated c.1745 79 Hunt (1997)Gardens and the Picturesque p.94 80Whately, T Observations on Modern Gardening (1770) 81 Chambers, W A Dissertation on Oriental Gardening (1772) 82 Dixon Hunt p. 93,4 78

Pope, Kent and Brown to become what could be construed as 'purer', 'simpler', 'less and less cluttered'.83 Unlike Duncombe Terrace, Rievaulx was clear of statuary and cultural references were restricted the temples and their contents.

In 1756 Edmund Burke (1729-1797) published An Inquiry Into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful. Burke's ideas on the 'Sublime' predated Gilpin and the 'Picturesque' but he had a strong intimation of the aesthetic . His notion of sublime was an emotion activated by pain or danger which he describes as 'that state of the soul in which all its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror' precipitated for example by a vast, rugged, landscape where there has to be a safe area from which to view the phenomenon with 'astonishment'. Beauty on the other hand is pleasurable, refined and has human scale.

Although Burke's inquiry was a little late to have influenced Thomas Duncombe II, it resonates with the experience of Rievaulx Terrace, overlooking sublime, tremulous depths of the valley and 'horrific' Gothic architecture while strolling on the safety of a beautiful smooth lawn edged with human scale shrubberies and backed by woodland.

Thacker p.225

4.0

The experience of Rievaulx Terrace over time

4.1

The role of Rievaulx Terrace

Rievaulx Terrace provided a contrasting place of interest that was detached from Duncombe Park. The Terrace was reached by a carriage drive of about three miles through an agrarian landscape. This Arcadian journey was an important contrast to the experience of the terrace and also exhibited Duncombe's expertise as an 'improver' of his estate.

There is a local tradition that large sections of dressed stone located in the quarry at Ingdale Howl were prepared for the construction of a viaduct to link the terraces, which would have been a considerable structure. This notion is hard to credit as the route of the contemporary drive from Duncombe Park to Rievaulx Terrace, clearly recorded in documentary sources, is directly across the fields to the central gate and made for easy access. Normally in the eighteenth century, a stone viaduct was built for industrial purposes only. There are many quarries in the area and it is quite possible the dressed stone was just not despatched to its intended destination. There is no documentary evidence supporting this suggestion either. The notion of the viaduct might stem from Hussey, who gives it to T. Gill 'the local historian, in 1758'84. Gill actually published Vallis Eboracensis in 1852 and there does not appear to be any reference to a viaduct or mention of the section above the abbey which Hussey refers to.85This route would also have delivered users at Abbot Hagg Farm, which was never incorporated â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but rather excluded from, the terraceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designed landscape.

The drive and entrance point to the terrace is clearly shown on a plan by Hornby of 1806.

Interestingly as the drive turns to approach the entrance it takes a wide sweep, possibly in order to gain a little height for better view of the scenic landscape to the west.

The carriage drive approached a band of woodland, which runs along the back of the terrace, concealing it from the approach. Visitors entered the terrace through a pair of stone pillars, where the woodland was planted in a splay against the lawn, forming a viewpoint. 87 The contrast between the open fields on the approach and entry to dark woodland leading 84

Hussey (1967). p.145 Ibid. 86North Yorkshire Record Office Hornby County Map 1806. See also Tuke 1808 ZEW M20 87 By the nineteenth century many visitors ascended the steep path from Rievaulx Abbey. 85

to the gate, then a burst of illuminated landscape across the smooth carpet of lawn must have been a highly dramatic revelation to the spectator.

The visitor commenced the terrace promenade in a southerly direction past serpentine shrubberies bordering the woodland and towards the Tuscan Temple. The Temple has an exterior walkway round the building which allowed views across the landscape.

Having strolled to the Doric Temple and then north to the Ionic Temple, the Duncombe's guests, which included the artist John Sell Cotman in 1803 88, were able to dine as a culmination of the visit from Duncombe Park.89 This was devised after the banqueting house at Studley Royal was built (1728 - 32), and after the small kitchen building adjacent to Fisher Hall at Hackfall (1749/50). However, this was before Mowbray Point, the banqueting house at Hackfall, was built in 1767.

The windows on the west side of the

building allowed views down to the abbey and on a fine evening, the sunset might have added greatly to the atmosphere. The lavish interior of the temple provided further surprises for the visitor with a fresco ceiling by Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis (1701-61)91, a marble chimney piece in the style of Henry Cheere, gilded panelling and a table laid with ample plate and glass. 92

The terrace was also open to excursionists such as Edward Knight. 93 Lambert and Batey testify with their immense bibliography of tourists' descriptions that 'polite' visitors were actively encouraged to enter private arcadias in The English Garden Tour. 94

4.2

The visitor experience at the end of the 18th century

4.2.1

Edward Knight

The first known description published after the completion of Rievaulx Terrace was by Edward Knight who visited in 1759;

John Sell Cotman (1782-1842) 5th September 1803 Hill, D (2005) Cotman in the North p.58 90 Newman, M (2015) The Wonder of the North p.177 91 Borgnis also made ceiling frescos for the Temple of Minerva Hardwick Park, Sedgefield. Whether his companion at Hardwick, the stuccoist Giuseppe Cortese was at Rievaulx is not known. They both worked with the architect James Paine. 92 NYRO list of plate and glass at Rievaulx 93Edward Knight's Pocket Book 1759. cited Country Life (1991) Vol. 185 p.81 94Batey, M &Lambert, D (1990) The English Garden Tour: A view into the past. 89

At the ends of a Terras near Helmsley is a Square Temple with an Ionic portico Tetrastyle and a round Temple with 12 pillars ... in a valley beneath is an abby in ruins. 95 This was not a very propitious start, there is no question of discussing aesthetic values; the sublime and the beautiful were ignored.

4.2.2

Arthur Young and 'picturesque elegance'

The next known description, by Arthur Young, was published in 1770 (after visiting in 1768) which has been discussed above. This was published just as the word 'picturesque' was coming into use to describe landscape which was wild, romantic, apparently untouched by man and therefore not composed. Batey explains that Alexander Pope was the first to use the expression 'picturesque' in English when he spoke of 'imaging and picturesque parts of Homer' and the word was clearly synonymous with 'scenes painted to the mind' when reading epic or pastoral poetry.

The natural style of gardening was developed in Pope's time by Stephen Switzer, Charles Bridgeman, William Kent and William Aislabie well before the 'picturesque' became part of the gardening lexicon. Pope is also said to have proclaimed 'All gardening is a painting - just like a landscape hung up' when viewing Oxford Physic Garden in 1734.97 This appreciation of landscape developed from the idealised vision of landscape painters such as Claude Lorraine (1600-1682) and George Dughet (1615-1675) whose images of Italian landscapes included a foreground, mid-ground and distant view. This philosophy of beauty was used with great effect in devising the terraces at Duncombe and Rievaulx.

The Rev. William Gilpin (1724 -1804) first used the term picturesque in his Essay on Prints (1768) before Richard Payne Knight (1750-1824) and Uvedale Price (1747-1829) developed their picturesque theories.

The notion of picturesque circuit walks seems to have filtered

through to Arthur Young who embraced 'picturesque elegance' and wrote in terms of walks with views into the countryside at Hackfall and Rievaulx. 98,99

Knight, Edward Notes of various gardens, houses, bridges, market crosses etc. 1759 - 61 Percy, Joan (2001) In Pursuit of the Picturesque 97 Spence, J (1820) reprint Anecdotes, Observations and Characters of Books and Men ...pp. 144,145 98 Hunt, J D & Willis P The Genius of the Place p. 337 99 Young ibid. 96

Gilpin's peephole scenes were illustrated in the Tour Through Cumberland and Westmorland (1772) (fig. 6). Discussing Hackfall he mentions a scenes opened in a very natural and easy manner100and a view through a hole in a wood.101 The 'peephole' framed a foreground, midground and distant view. This approach to describing the picturesque qualities of landscape as viewed from 'peepholes' was published the same year that Young visited Rievaulx Terrace. Like Young, Gilpinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s' views' into the open scenery, although recommended by him as stations, were defined to some extent by the movement of the viewer gazing into the landscape and not necessarily towards an object, as would be the case with a vista.

Fig. 6 'Landscape', by William (Rev.) Gilpin (1724-1804), Victoria and Albert Museum, London Museum no. DYCE.736

In contrast to the separated viewpoints implied by Young's description, Skrineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s description during One of his Three Successive Tours of the North of England provides an overall picture; At the distance of about two miles, the second terrace extends itself in a bold curve of near a mile, from a circular Tuscan temple to a noble banqueting-house, fronted by a portico on Ionic pillars. The 100 101

Gilpin, W (1772) Tour to the Lakes p.222 ibid. p. 223

perpetual variation of the view, as we passed from one of these building to the other, can hardly be described; suffice it therefore to say, that a high range of hills, projecting in the boldest forms, and covered with the richest wood, encircle a beautiful valley, where a picturesque river winds round the three entire ailes of Rivaulx abbey, a ruin inferior only to that of Fountains in magnificence, and boasting some peculiar traits of beauty.

102

By 1798 when Dorothy Wordsworth visited Rievaulx, there is an inkling of a change in sensitivity to the terrace. We walked upon Mr. Duncombe's terrace and looked down upon the Abbey. It stands in a larger valley among a brotherhood of valleys of different length and breadth, all woody, and running up into the hills in all directions. 103 As with the Knight description this challenges the existence of formals vistas which Young has been suggested to allude to. William Wordsworth does not appear to have visited the terrace which is regrettable as he held strong opinions on the role of ruins in the landscape 'Historical subjects shd. never be introduced into Landscape but when the landscape was intended principally to be subservient to them - Where the landscape was intended principally to impress the mind , figures, other than such as are general ... are injurious to the effect'. 104

There is a distinct lack of visitor accounts for Rievaulx Terrace, in contrast to other designed landscapes in the region, such as Hackfall. Pennant published a description of Studley Park and Hackfall in 1804 and merely mentions Rievaulx Abbey in passing and does not mention Rievaulx Terrace at all. 105, 106 A reason for this could be a change in attitude to the manner in which viewpoints were chosen for appreciating the Picturesque. (This is discussed more fully in 4.7 Artists at Rievaulx Abbey)

102Skrine

(1795) Three successive Tours in the North of England p. xvi Journal of Dorothy Wordsworth 20 Jan - 22nd May 1798 - Dorothy Wordsworth Diaries VI 104cited Hunt (1997) p. 136 (1982) The Diary of Joseph Farrington April 28th 1807. 105 Pennant T (1804) A Tour from Alston Moor to Harrogate ... p. 55 106 Other tourists accounts consulted do not include descriptions of Rievaulx Terrace, John Bray Sketch of a Tour into Derbyshire and Yorkshire 1788. Rev. William Gilpin Observations, relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the year 1772, Richard Pococke The Travels Through England of Dr Richard Pococke. Jemima Grey (1722-1797) of Wrest Park Journal of a Northern Tour MS/LO/9A/7. Bedfordshire and Luton Archives. John Swete (1752-1851) A Tour through England and Scotland. Thomas Pennant (1801) A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor. 103

4.3

Arthur Young's description of his visit to Rievaulx Terrace in 1768

113

Arthur Youngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to Rievaulx Terrace in 1768d was recounted two years later for his book A Six Month Tour through the North of England. A transcription is included below. But those ornamented grounds are not the only ones boasted of by Duncombe Park; at the distance of about two miles, is another called River's Abbey, from the ruins of an ancient one. It is a most bewitching spot worthy the pencil of the greatest of landscape painters; so far short of the original, therefore, must any attempts to describe it prove; but relying on your candour, I aim at descriptions with a temerity equal to my ambition. This ground consists of a noble winding terrace, upon the edge of an extended hill; along one side at a striking depth is a valley; on the other a thick plantation, bordered by shrubs: At one end is a circular temple with a Tuscan colonade; at the other end another temple, with an ionic portico. This is the outline; the following particulars must serve instead of colouring. From the Tuscan temple, the end view is exceeding fine; at your feet winds an irriguous valley, almost lost in scattered trees: In front vast hanging woods are spread over the opposite hills, and form a noble variety of steeps, dells, and hollows. Here and there the range of wood is broken by cultivated inclosures; at the bottom of these hanging forests, upon the edge of the valley, an humble cottage is seen in a situation elegant in itself, and truly picturesque in the whole view. The distant hills which are seen above, are waste grounds, with fern, whins etc. which seem to bound the little paradise in view, and add to the enjoyment of beholding it, that which results from contrast and unexpected pleasure. Inclining a little to the right, you look down upon a prodigious fine winding valley; on one side project boldly, noble hanging woods, which fringe a continued hill from its very summit, to the bottom. Nothing can be more elegant than this valley, which consists of a vast number of beautiful grass inclosures, intersected with thorn hedges; the scattered trees that rise in them give different shades of green, and the light being seen through their branches, has the real effect of a brilliant clear obscure, so difficult to be imitated in painting: This beautiful valley is lost among projecting hills, some covered with pendent woods, others waste, and some cultivated. More to the right towards the terrace, the view is exquisite: The waving plantation of trees and shrubs bound the terrace on one side; leading to the Ionic temple, which is beautifully situated, on the other side, the valley winds in a lower region, and presents a scene elegantly romantic: It consists of grass

113Extract

from A Six Months Tour Through The North of England by Arthur Young. First Edition Volume II 1770.Pages 87 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 93.

inclosures, finely scattered with trees; a village of straggling houses, keeping their heads above natural clumps, each a landscape of itself; This sweet valley, is bounded by sweep of hills. Following the terrace, the views vary in a most picuresque manner. Nothing can be finer than the valley waving to the right and left, a river winding through it, almost: overshadowed with pendent trees, which rise from the very shore into hanging woods,that spread forth a fine extent of hills, beautifully cut with grass inclosures. A most bewitching view. Pursuing the course, the landscape opens and presents its beauties full to the eye. The valley is here broad, the inclosures numerous, the verdure of the meadows beautiful, the scattered trees truly elegant ;and rapid stream highly picturesque: The hanging woods have a noble appearance; and in front the termination of an extensive down so different from the other objects, has a noble effect: A neat farmhouse under a clump of trees, adds to the beauty of this part of the scene. Advancing further on the terrace, a scene more exquisite than any of the preceding, is next viewed. You look through a waving break in the shrubby wood, which grows upon the edge of a precipice, down immediately upon a large ruined abbey, in the midst, to appearance, of a small but beautiful valley; scattered trees appearing among the ruins in a style too elegantly picturesque to admit description: It is a birds-eye landscape; a casual glance at a little paradise, which seems as it were in another region.

From hence, moving forwards around a curve of the terrace, the objects are seen in new directions; a variety, not a little pleasing. The ruins of the abbey appear scattered, and almost in full view; the valley in front is broad and highly beautiful: Behind, it is half lost among the projecting hills, but a new branch of it appears like a creek running up among hills, nobly spread with wood: The hanging woods in front are seen to great advantage; and the abbey with some scattered houses are most picturesquely situated. The inclosures of which the valley is formed, appear at this point of view extremely beautiful; the scattered trees, hay stacks, houses and hedges, all together form a most pleasing landscape. Two distant hills give a proper termination to the whole view. Further on from this spot, you look down a steep precipice almost on the tops of the abbey's ruins; the situation quite picturesque: Beyond it, the valley appears with some variations in its usual beauty; and turning your head to the scenes you have left, a bridge of three arches thrown over the river, catches your sight in a spot which adds greatly to the beauties of the view. The opposite banks are finely spread with hanging woods, and above them the uncultivated hills appear boldly in irregular projections.

Before you arrive at the portico, the scene is much varied; hitherto an edging of shrub wood along the brink of the precipice hides its immediate steepness from your eye, but here it is broken away, and you look down on the abbey in a bolder manner than before; the trees are picturesquely scattered, and all the other objects seen in great beauty. The view from the ionic temple is a noble one, equal to any of the foregoing, and different from all. A strong wave in the line of the terrace presents a view of its own woody steep bank, rising in a beautiful manner to the tuscan temple, which crowns its top. The abbey is seen in a new but full view; the bridge finely encompassed with hanging trees: The range of pendant woods that fringe the opposite hills appear almost in full front, and the valley at your feet presents her profusion of beauties: It is a noble scene.

4.3.1

Pleasant prospects from Rievaulx Terrace

In recent years there has been discussion regarding the suggestion that 'vistas' were cut through the trees to allow views from Rievaulx Terrace to Rievaulx Abbey and the surrounding landscape.

The concept of there being defined views appears to have been solidified by Jackson- Stops who referred to thirteen views, when he wrote the National Trust guide book to Rievaulx Terrace in 1979. He discussed Young's description of moving variation and indicated that this 'can still be appreciated as one moves gradually along the thirteen distinct viewpoints of the Terrace'. It appears that this pronouncement alone, has percolated into various works on garden history from Ross, Plumptre; The Coach Operators Handbook to the Historic England register description which states The slope is covered with trees (largely replanted, late C20) and thirteen vistas have been cut through them recreating vistas described in the C18. 114

The interpretation of whether 'vistas' were cut through the woodland or whether natural breaks allowed various prospects is a challenge as there is no archival information and only speculation as to whether any deliberate 'openings' existed, were cut, or trees were replanted with gaps. There is no mapping evidence or indication on the ground to substantiate that 'vistas' were laid out between separate plantations, cut through or achieved by pruning the tops of the trees in the original layout of the site or its early management. 114Ross, S (2001) What Gardens Mean p.122 Plumptre, G (1993) The Garden Makers p. 40.The Coach Operators Handbook (2010) p. 369

The English Arboricultural Society visited the terrace in 1895 and commented that 'Much of the natural beauty of the scene is directly attributable to the skill and taste displayed in the formation of the woodland, and the care which has been exercised in so pruning the woods which the terrace overlooks as to form avenues of vision into the valley below'. This may be the first misattribution of the concept there were 'vistas'.

The description in Waddington's Guide to Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey of 1913 notes Fourteen openings in the tops of trees, flowering bushes and evergreens planted on the steep declining declivity to afford glimpses of the ruined Abbey lying hundreds of feet below. Were these descriptions also hackneyed versions of Young's or comments on management of the woodland to retain the views? As identified by Newman there is a fundamental difference between Young's descriptions of Rievaulx and Hackfall. 115 At Rievaulx, he wrote, You look through a waving break in the shrubby wood, which grows upon the edge of a precipice, down immediately upon a large ruined abbey. 116 In contrast to Rievaulx Terrace, Young mentioned 'openings' at Hackfall An opening in the front of this spot lets in a view of a scar of rock, in the middle of a fine bank of woodand. Walking around a circular lawn, an opening to the left displays a most glorious hollow of hanging groves. 117

The difference between Young's descriptions of Rievaulx and Hackfall is also accentuated by Nicholas Dall who painted a view of an opening in woodland Hackfall which allowed views of the landscape and Masham Church (fig. 5). 118 This shows distinct 'openings' in the woodland which raises the question, why did Young specifically not mention openings? This leads one to conclude that he would have done, had they existed.

115Pers.

comm. (1770) 117 Young (1770) Description of Hackfall p.332 118Nicholas Thomas Dall View of Hackfall, Yorkshire, (Cocklington Church) [sic] 1766. Tate T08891 116Young

Fig. 5 Nicholas Thomas Dall View of Hackfall, Yorkshire, (Masham Church) 1766. Tate T08891

4.4

Changing perceptions of Rievaulx Terrace

From discussions in the mid eighteenth century regarding Beauty and the Sublime, appreciation of landscape moved swiftly towards the Picturesque as discussed above. There came a point at the beginning of the nineteenth century when the majority of visitors approached Rievaulx Abbey from the village and few ventured to the terrace. Thomas Duncombe II died in 1779 and the family were possibly less inclined to encourage tourists to experience the terrace via the private carriage drive approach.

4.5

The visitor experience during the 19th century

Descriptions below indicate that the parameters of experiencing Rievaulx Terrace appear to have changed considerably in the nineteenth century. Instead of arriving by carriage, horseback or foot at the east entrance, and progressing to the Tuscan Temple then Ionic Temple, visitors who wrote about their visits generally approached the terrace on foot, uphill, from the abbey and started the promenade at the Ionic Temple. These changes no doubt relate to the loss of the original carriage route to Duncombe by the time of the OS first edition in 1854, replaced by an inferior foot route from the gate to a nearby public lane. Rievaulx Abbey takes precedence in descriptions at this time. This coincides with the lower viewpoint painted by Thomas Girtin, John Sell Cotman, Paul Sandby Munn and JWM Turner on Picturesque tours at the end of the eighteenth century and beginning of 19th century. These artists developed a modified approach to landscape painting which involved engagement with the landscape from ground level rather than a commanding height (see 4.7). 131

In 1804 the terrace is described as a 'bowling green' in the Gentleman's Magazine; This magnificent remains of antiquity, which is situated in the North-riding of the county of York, stands on the estate of Mr Duncombe, whose large domains in this part have acquired him the title of rich; and, indeed, the prodigious expense the predecessor of the present possessor was at, to make a bowling green on the brow of the hill that overlooks these ruins, evinces that he has a superabundance of wealth; but at the same time, fully demonstrates that he knew the best way of doing good with it, was to provide employment for the industrious. At one end of this green is an elegant pavilion; and, at the other, a beautiful circular temple, which is seen in the annexed view, both which edifices are adorned with paintings. Beneath the pavilion, are apartments for the gardener, who has generally a store of excellent ale for the refreshment of such as will be at the pains and labour of ascending the steep and intricate path which leads to this truly delightful spot; from whence on three sides are most beautiful prospects; on the fourth a thick plantation of firs and shrubs breaks the Northern blasts, which on so elevated a spot, must otherwise be very severe. Hence, Mr Duncombe sometimes liberally entertains his friends, the pavilion being furnished with every conveniency for that purpose. Duncombe Park, his residence, is about seven miles from this place. The ruins prove this Abbey to have been of great extent: the situation of which is not to be surpassed for picturesque beauty.

131

JMW Turner Watercolour Rievaulx Abbey Yorkshire 1824

Edward Dayes commences his description of a visit in 1805 with the Abbey which possesses a peculiar beauty, arising from its situation, distinct from all others: well wooded hills tower on all points majestically above its venerable walls, affording the finest background scenery imaginable.

Dayes' analysis of the view does not include views channelled into the woodland on the slopes above the abbey. My approach to the Abbey was by the valley: on leaving it, I ascended the Bank, as it is called, by an intricate path to one of the Temples; here is one of the finest terraces in England, from which the eye embraces a view of the whole dale. The traveller looks down with delight on the noble remains of the Abbey, surrounded by compact masses of trees, among which, the playful river is occasionally seen, with here and there a cottage to give variety; the view is terminated by bold hills, most of which have their summits crowned with wood. This noble terrace, and its ornamental buildings, were the work of the late Slingsby Duncombe, Esq. and do equal honor to his taste and liberality;132

The earliest known guidebook, of 1812, does start the tour from the eastern carriage drive entrance and exclaims '... his feelings must be blunted indeed, who can be insensible to all the beauties which at once burst upon the view! Although a footnote adds '...The hanging woods of Rievaulx and its vicinity are viewed to still greater advantage from below.' 133

Various descriptions of the 1820s draw heavily from the text of the 1812 guidebook. In 1838 Dibdin reached the terrace by chaise '... A mile, or some little more, brought us to a sweep of lawn, or greensward - upon an eminence - upon which, alighting from the chaise we walked to the extremity ... entranced with what seemed to be about three hundred feet below us. It was Rievaulx Abbey ... The terrace was visible from below at this time 'As you look upward, the rich greensward terrace is discernible, from which you made your precipitous descent... 134

A description of Duncombe Park published in 1829 includes a footnote of interest; The hanging woods of Rivalx and its vicinity are viewed to still greater advantage from below, where (especially in pursuing the line down the Rye) they appear incomparably fine. In admitting this, and pointing out, as the editor wishes to do, the site of the abbey is the only spot where its beauties can be seen to perfection, he begs leave to enter his protest against a sweeping censure of the Terrace and its Prospects, which appears in the work entitled "Ruins in Yorkshire" already alluded; an 132Slingsby

Duncombe died in 1803 anon (1812) A description of Duncombe Park and Rivalx Abbey & c. Attempted p. 22 134Dibdin T F (1838) A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour ... p.252 133

animadversion, which he is persuaded the respectable writer of that article (the late Rev. Whitaker) has been betrayed unto, from his considering the Terrace as formed merely for the purpose of displaying the Abbey and its scenery; a conclusion by no means warranted.

135

Lord Feversham's model farm on the road to Duncombe was viewed during a visit made by members of the Cheltenham College in 1866. 136 A description of 1867 mentions an alternative entrance to the Terrace, possibly today's entrance although the visitor probably continued to enter the terrace at the east gate, 'off the high road â&#x20AC;Ś the visitor passes through a screen of evergreens, and suddenly finds himself on a broad level of greensward with a temple at either end...' 137 The English Arboricultural Society recorded an excursion to Rievaulx in 1895. Much of the natural beauty of the scene is directly attributable to the skill and taste displayed in the formation of the woodlands, and the care which has been exercised in so pruning the woods which the terrace overlooks as to form avenues of vision into the valley below.

4.6

138

The visitor experience during the 20th century

Waddington's guide of 1925 provides surprising information 'We should not hesitate to say that Rievaulx Terrace is the finest in England on taking into consideration the views it affords. It is sheltered at the rear by a plantation and shrubbery; it is carpeted with closely shorn and rolled greensward like velvet pile; it is adorned with a classical temple at each end. Fourteen openings are made in the tops of the trees , flowering bushes and evergreens planted on the steep declivity to afford glimpses of the ruined Abbey lying hundreds of feet below ...'139 This curious description raises queries about how the trees were managed, does this literally mean trees were pollarded? Also the comment suggests that shrubs had been planted on the slopes to allow for views to the Abbey.

The estate records at North Yorkshire Record office do not include details for management of this tract of woodland. Some parts of the Rievaulx Priory estate were coppiced for smelting and this would have required rotational management this activity is likely to have

Hargrove (1843) A Brief description of public interest in the County of York ...p.145 The Cheltonian (1866) V.1 p.198 137 (1867) Handbook for Travellers in Yorkshire p. 224 138 (1895-96) Transactions of the English Arboricultural Society Vol. II 139 Waddington's Guide to Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey (1925) pp. 38-40 135 136

ceased after the civil war. 140 However, coppicing may have continued in production for other purposes such as fencing. This might explain early 20th century photographs which show gaps between sections of woodland on Rievaulx Bank. (figs. 7a and 7b).

Fig. 7a - c.1955

Fig. 7b - c.1920s 140

http://archmetals.org.uk/

4.7

Artists at Rievaulx Abbey

Numerous painters visited Rievaulx Abbey but very few visited the terrace. Andrews explains the reason for this as an apparent aversion of picturesque painters to viewing from a height and experiencing a feeling of literal and philosophical superiority. Previously, Joshua Reynold, (1723-1792),a neoclassical painter, advised in his third Discourse (1770) ... the whole beauty and grandeur of nature of the art consists, in my opinion, in being able to get above all singular forms, local customs, particularities, and details of every kind .141

The influence of picturesque writers such as Thomas Grey influenced appreciation of landscape from a different level, where the position of the artist was dominated by the landscape which gave a feeling of awe. Gray (1716-1771) toured the Lake District in 1769 and wrote 'all viewpoints are much elevated, spoil the beauty of the valley, and make its parts, which are not large, look poor and diminutive'. However, William Mason (1724-1797) edited Gray's descriptions of the lakes and added a footnote... The Picturesque Point is always ... low in all prospects: A truth, which the Landscape Painter knows, he cannot always observe; since the patron who employs him to take a view of his place, usually carries him to some elevation for that purpose, in order, I suppose, that he may have more of him for his money. 142Furthermore, Andrews comments that once the Picturesque painters embarked on their own tours, rather than being beholden to patrons, they were able to take the lowest viewpoint.

Hunt's discussion regarding 'Ruskin, Turnerian Topography and Genius Loci' charts Ruskin's inquiry into Turner's lack of topographical precision. In 1845 he pronounced that 'He was now convinced, that nothing could be done without continual alteration and adaption'. A notion that the majority of landscape painters today would consider their prerogative.

Although landscape was undoubtedly manipulated in paintings prior to the work of English Romanticists, Turner provided 'the far higher and deeper truthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offering an image 'totally useless to engineers or geographers, and, when tried by rule and measure, totally unlike the place'. Turner's 'visual modification of ... topography'143is highly apparent in his view of Rievaulx where he narrows the valley, enlarges the stream, heightens the surrounding hills, and gives the valley head

Andrews, M (1989) In search of the Picturesque, Landscape Aesthetics and Tourism in Britain p. 61 ibid 143 Russell, J (1976) Turner in Switzerland survey notes by Andrew Wilton p. 122 cited by Hunt 141 142

more character than it in fact possesses'. 144 Turner was able to transport the somewhat turgid principles of the Picturesque landscape into his odyssey of light, colour, texture, form and movement (fig. 8).

The emphasis on the transient nature of landscape was developed by many watercolourists including Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) (fig. 9), John Sell Cotman (1782-1842) ) (fig. 10) and Paul Sandby Munn (1725- 1809) (fig. 11). They all painted Rievaulx and were among many who contributed to what is believed to be the most important art movement in Britain.

Fig. 8 JMW Turner Rievaulx Abbey 1826 Tate

144

Hunt (1997) p. 216

Fig. 9 Thomas Girtin Rievaulx Abbey Yorkshire, 1798 V&A Mus. no FA 499

In the 20th century Warwick Goble painted a series of evocative views around Rievaulx Abbey for a guidebook. In the 1940s the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime commissioned topographical watercolours, drawings and photographs to record the home front in Britain.

Some of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest artists were commissioned to record a sense of national identity including John Piper, Sir William Russell Flint and Rowland Hilder. The subjects included market towns and villages, churches and country estates, rural landscapes and industries, rivers and wild places, monuments and ruins. John Copper and Kenneth Rowntree also produced works inspired by Rievaulx Abbey and Rievaulx Terrace.

Fig. 10 John Sell Cotman Doorway of the Refectory Rievaulx Abbey 1803 Tate TO 8248

Fig. 11 Paul Sandby Munn Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire 1806 V&A Mus. no 779 -1870

5.0

Assessment of Cultural Significance

5.1

Introduction

The following Assessment of Cultural Significance is written in accordance with the introduction to the Assessment of Cultural Significance provided in the main report

The value of Rievaulx Terrace is recognised by Historic England as being of exceptional importance in the Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England (Grade I). The Rievaulx Terrace is one of only 9, Grade I , historic parks and gardens registered by Historic England in Yorkshire. Others include Duncombe Park, Castle Howard, Studley Royal, Hackfall and Bramham Park. The site is therefore of national and international importance. The exceptional significance of Rievaulx Terrace is discussed below.

5.2

Evidential Value

Archaeological significance - Simpson & Brown with Tom Addyman

5.3

Historical Value

5.3.1

Illustrative

There is illustrative historical value in the landscape. Rievaulx Terrace illustrates the transition in the design of the English Landscape Gardens to softened landscape which allowed the viewer to provide their own emotional response to the scene rather than relying on symbolism in garden buildings and sculpture. The terrace illustrates the softening and or concealment of artificial boundaries between the garden and natural landscape, an aspect of design which restricted engagement with the natural landscape in previous English landscape gardens.

The terrace itself has changed little since it was laid out. Although changes in the woodland on Terrace Bank, the relict shrubberies and beech shelter belt have altered the illustrative value, the structure of the terrace has survived as a prototype of an important change in concept of design and the appreciation of the sublime and the beautiful.

The illustrative value of Rievaulx Terrace is recognised by Historic England as being of exceptional importance in the Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England (Grade I). The Rievaulx Terrace is one of only 9, Grade I , historic parks and gardens registered by Historic England in Yorkshire. Others include Duncombe Park, Castle Howard, Studley Royal, Hackfall and Bramham Park. The site is therefore of national and international importance

The Tuscan Temple (Grade I) and Ionic Temple (Grade I) are listed by Historic England as being of exceptional importance. The temples provide illustrative value as examples of purpose built Georgian garden buildings with the role of ornament, function, and depicting the culture and prestige of the Duncombe family. The Ionic Temple illustrates the association between carriage excursions from the mansion, visiting a designed landscape and the consumption of food in a singular building which reflects the taste of the landowner.

The illustrative value of Rievaulx Terrace is reinforced by views to Rievaulx Abbey (Grade I) and Rievaulx Bridge (Grade II).

5.3.2

Associative value

There are a number of connections which are of associative value at Rievaulx Terrace. The Duncombe family have owned the Rievaulx estate since 1695 and it remains in the family through familial descent today. The family were well connected through marriage and there were significant bonds with families associated with developing similar gardens during the same period. Thomas Duncombe I's sister in law, Mary Slingsby, was the daughter of John Aislabie, creator of Studley Royal gardens and whose son William created Hackfall and may well have advised on Rievaulx Terrace. Thomas Duncombe II married Lady Diana Howard, daughter of Henry Howard, the 4th Earl of Carlisle and granddaughter of the 3rd Earl of Carlisle whose gardens at Castle Howard were stylistically important. Lady Diana Howard's aunt Elizabeth was married to Sir Thomas Robinson of Rokeby who is believed to have designed the temples at Rievaulx Terrace.

The suggestion that Sir Thomas Robinson was responsible for the design of the Rievaulx temples is also important in view of his innovative landscape garden at Rokeby, his connections with elite landscape designers of the period including William Aislabie.

The gardens of Thomas Duncombe II's associates are also representative of a transitional period in English Landscape design.

Numerous artists have included the terrace in illustrations made from the lower reaches of the abbey including Samuel Hieronymous Grimm, William Turner, John Chessel Buckler, John Sell Cotman and Paul Sandby Munn. Fewer have illustrated the terrace itself, or views from it but these include William Westall, Warwick Goble and latterly John Cooper and Kenneth Rowntree in the Recording Britain series of the 1940s.

5.4

Aesthetic value

5.4.1

Designed Value

Rievaulx Terrace has considerable designed aesthetic value. Hussey described it as 'unique, and perhaps the most spectacularly beautiful among English Landscape conceptions of the 18th century'.

The design, like Duncombe Terrace, incorporated and then modified the natural topography of the garden and views to the agrarian and moorland landscape is a progression in the development of 'expressive' landscape.

Part of the aesthetic experience involved the novelty and conscious contrast of travelling to Rievaulx Terrace through agrarian landscape with views to wild moorland then joining the contrasting manicured landscape which literally flowed into the wild natural landscape. The spatial qualities of the terrace are of high aesthetic value.

The flowing serpentine journey accentuated the suspense of the visitor, who was exposed to the elements of nature without the 'safety' of clipped hedges or ha-has, and heightened the drama of each plunging view into the wilderness and down to the 'Gothic' abbey.

There is also design value in the use of shrubberies which not only provided fashionable aesthetic interest but offered a feeling of security by adding an interface, in human scale, to the backdrop of tall trees.

The sensation of movement when experiencing the terrace is of design value. Arthur Young described it as 'moving variation'... 'bewitching ... a noble winding terrace, the valley waving to right and left of a large ruined abbey, an edging of shrubbey wood, a strong wave in the line of the Terrace... The process of appreciating a changing view in the landscape garden was a novel experience.

5.4.2

Architects and designers

There is no documentary evidence regarding the design of Rievaulx terrace owing to fires at Duncombe Park. Fortunately the precedent for Rievaulx Terrace is at Duncombe Park and was laid out possibly with the influence of Vanbrugh and Stephen Switzer and with the advice of Thomas Knowlton. The Duncombe terrace is described as contributing to the development of the 'English Landscape Style'.

There is no named designer associated with Rievaulx Terrace. William Asilabie may well have been consulted given his family relationship with Duncombe and his exceptional work at Studley Royal. Lord Burlington's gardener, Thomas Knowlton, advised at Duncombe, and may have been an influence. He was alive when the design was constructed in the 1750s and advised on terraces and grass walks elsewhere, such as Aldbury Hall. The collection of his correspondence does not include references to Rievaulx Terrace but his involvement at Duncombe is of value to the design culture of the family.

5.4.3

Fortuitous value

Currently there is fortuitous value in the statuesque nature of the mature beech trees which form the backdrop to the terrace. The trees will reach the end of their life expectancy during the next hundred years or so and their value to the design will be lost. This is the unavoidable aspect of the finite lives of trees but the loss of their contribution to the design will be detrimental to the aesthetic value of Rievaulx Terrace.

There is fortuitous value in the landform, of the valley of Rye which retains the pastoral qualities appreciated by Young, and subsequent visitors to Rievaulx Terrace, as being central to the experience of moving along the terrace.

5.5

Communal Value

5.5.1

Social Value

There are numerous aspects of Rievaulx Terrace which offer social value. The environment presents tranquillity and a place for reflection, natural beauty combined with manmade beauty, architectural interest in the temples and Rievaulx Abbey, historic interest in the landscape design, Duncombe family and abbey, horticultural interest, natural history and the opportunity to volunteer.

The National Trust purchase of Rievaulx Terrace in 1972 has been consolidated by their commitment to enhancing the historical and aesthetic importance of the designed landscape for the education and enjoyment of visitors.

5.5.2

Commemorative and symbolic value

Rievaulx Terrace has a spiritual value to many visitors and some arrange for their ashes to be scattered there. This is of commemorative and symbolic value to families who have established a connection to the place through this process.

Table showing summary for cultural significance of elements of designed landscape at Rievaulx Terrace Element

Statutory designation

Rievaulx Terrace

Historic England Register of Historic Parks and Gardens

Significance

Outstanding

Grade I (1001072) Rievaulx Abbey

Listed Building Grade I

Outstanding

(1175724) Approach

Historic England Register of

Currently Moderate

Historic Parks and Gardens Grade I (1001072) Early Shelter Belt on East

Historic England Register of

Side of Terrace

Historic Parks and Gardens

Outstanding

Grade I (1001072) Shrubberies

Historic England Register of

Currently Moderate

Historic Parks and Gardens Grade I (1001072) Lawn

Historic England Register of

Outstanding

Historic Parks and Gardens Grade I (1001072) Vistas

Historic England Register of

Considerable

Historic Parks and Gardens Grade I (1001072) Terrace Bank

Historic England Register of

Considerable

Historic Parks and Gardens Grade I (1001072)

5.6

Summary statement of significance

There is historical value in the terrace carved into the natural topography of the Rievaulx estate during the mid-eighteenth century, and in the temples, gate piers and approach. There is historical value in the relationship of the terrace to the earlier 'home terrace' at Duncombe Park. Rievaulx Terrace has historical value in transcending the aesthetic 'constraints' of axis', bastions and ha-ha at Duncombe which curtailed the experience of the visitor allowing greater proximity to nature and freedom of thought to appreciate the contrast between the sublime and the beautiful. Making it perhaps the most spectacularly beautiful among English Landscape conceptions of the 18th century (Hussey 1967).

The high standard of maintenance has ensured that there is aesthetic value in the design of the terrace which is highly legible in conjunction with the temples as part of the ensemble.

This assessment of cultural heritage indicates that in the context of regional and national examples Rievaulx Terrace is of outstanding cultural heritage significance.

6.0

Summary

Thomas Duncombe I set a precedent when he commissioned the terrace at Duncombe Park. The lack of archive material for DuncombePark is continually frustrating, particularly regarding the conception, implementation and management of Duncombe Terrace and Rievaulx Terrace. The Duncombe Park design is placed after Stephen Switzerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s formal zigzag walk, which included a viewing bastion called The Duchess's Bastion Walk, at Grimsthorpe Castle c.1711, and before the terrace at Bramham Park of 1727, which could only be fully appreciated in pedestrian mode.

Without the example of Duncombe Terrace would Thomas Duncombe II have created Rievaulx Terrace? Conceivably in a similar vein to his father's naming Duncombe Park after Charles Duncombe, Thomas Duncombe II respected his father's scheme by not altering the 'home' terrace and reinterpreted the design at a distance, enthused by contemporary landscape innovations at nearby Studley Royal, with the advice of William Aislabie and gardener and nurseryman, Thomas Knowlton.

Excursions to detached parks such as Hackfall, gained in popularity during the eighteenth century. Views of improved agricultural land juxtaposed against the wild moorland, contrasted with a landscape garden closer to nature than Duncombe Terrace. There are no bastions or retained walls; the terrace slopes into the natural landscape. The hunger of the visitor for hidden delights and thrills, the temples, plunging views to Rievaulx Abbey, a picturesque cottage, an ancient bridge, tempered by the safety of smooth lawns and intricate shrubberies was heightened as they walked along the Rievaulx Terrace landscape, alone with their thoughts and unencumbered by allegorical reference. Did the greater subtlety of Rievaulx Terrace add a greater tension between smooth landscape and wildness does it relieve it or accentuate it?

Views identified by Young have altered over the last 250 years owing to the natural evolution of the landscape. There does not appear to be any indication that trees were deliberately planted to form vistas to Rievaulx Abbey or views into the countryside. There are only one or two trees over 200 years old on the bank and generally they are less than 100 years old. Only a few trees date back to when the terrace was laid out and it seems highly unlikely any vistas were included in the original design. The first mention of 'avenues of

vision' was in 1895 by the English Arboricultural Society. Closely followed by Waddington's guide in 1925 which mentions fourteen openings although 'in the tops of the trees'. It was not until 1979 that Jackson Stops reignited the theory that Rievaulx Terrace was designed with 'vistas'.

The Rievaulx Terrace landscape has barely changed over 250 years. A testament to Thomas Duncombe II's patronage of the landscape and asserting his ownership of the estate. Hussey described the terraces of Duncombe and Rievaulx as unique, and perhaps the most spectacularly beautiful among English Landscape conceptions of the 18th century.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire National Trust Conservation plan - buildings, structures, interiors, collections October 2016 - finalised March 2017

Simpson & Brown

The Old Printworks, 77a Brunswick Street, Edinburgh, EH7 5HS | 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ Tel: 0131 555 4678 | admin@simpsonandbrown.co.uk www.simpsonandbrown.co.uk

1.0

INTRODUCTION

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

Heritage designations Guidance documents followed in this conservation plan Other studies and limitations Project team, images and acknowledgements

4 5 6 6

2.0

UNDERSTANDING THE PAST: BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

Introductory description Original construction of the temples and gate piers Garden buildings in the mid-eighteenth century 1810s addition of tiled floor The middle and late nineteenth century Mid twentieth-century works Works by the National Trust

7 7 13 17 19 23 23

3.0

COLLECTIONS

3.1 3.2

Inventory evidence Individual objects and interiors

27 29

4.0

BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES SURVEY

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8

Gate piers Tuscan Temple: exteriors Tuscan Temple: interiors Ionic Temple: ground floor interior Ionic Temple: exteriors Ionic Temple: first floor interior Ruinous structure to north of Ionic Temple (AA survey feature 004) WC building to west of Ionic Temple

35 36 40 42 44 46 48 49

5.0

ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7

Introduction Evidential Value Historical Value Aesthetic value Communal Value Grading of significance of individual elements Summary statement of significance

51 51 52 54 56 57 58

6.0

ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES & RISKS TO SIGNIFCANCE

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4

Introduction Current ownership and management Active obstacles, issues and threats Potential threats

61 61 61 63

7.0

RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICIES

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5

Introduction Fundamental guiding policies Significance Staffing & professional advice Fire protection & security

64 64 65 67 67

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10

Statutory and non-statutory constraints Collections Enabling visitor access Buildings and structures – retaining significance Further research

68 69 70 71 76

8.0

APPENDIX: BIBLIOGRAPHY

9.0

APPENDIX: HISTORIC ENGLAND LIST ENTRIES

10.0

APPENDIX: DRAWINGS AT A3

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 1 View of the Ionic Temple looking north west. The portico was almost entirely rebuilt in the 1970s with new stone.

Figure 2 The one-room first floor has a very high-quality surviving 1750s interior with ceiling paintings, and a fine collection.

Figure 3 One of the key aspects of cultural significance is the way the temples are seen in the context of the terrace designed landscape.

Figure 4 Around half way along the terrace are a pair of 1750s gate piers. They are critical to understanding the site.

Figure 5 View of the Tuscan Temple looking west. Similarly in the 1970s, there was extensive replacement of columns and entablature.

Figure 6 One of the aspects of significance of the interior of the temple is its medieval tiled floor, removed from the abbey and laid in the 1810s.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

1.0

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Heritage designations

All designated elements are listed in the following table (Table 1). The National Heritage List entries are included in the appendix. 1 1.1.1

Listed buildings

The most important designations within the study areas are the statutory designations of the two temples listed at grade I. These buildings are of national importance. Historic England states: Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I (Historic England) 2 1.1.2

Registered Historic Park and Garden

The buildings and structures lie within the limits of a Registered Historic Park and Garden (Registered Grade I). The designation means that the area has been identified as being of national importance. Registration is a 'material consideration' in the planning process, meaning that planning authorities must consider the impact of any proposed development on the landscapes' special character. (Historic England) 3 1.1.3

Rievaulx Conservation Area

The Rievaulx Conservation Area was designated by the local authority in 1977. It is one of 42 in the LPA jurisdiction. This means that there are additional planning controls applicable in this area. North York Moors Park authority state that Conservation Areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest 4 There is no conservation area appraisal at time of writing. It is unusual for a designed landscape to be included in a conservation area.

The North York Moors National Park Authority HER was not consulted concerning the historic buildings and structures 2http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/listed-buildings/ (accessed November 2015) 3http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/registered-parks-and-gardens/ (accessed November 2015) 4http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/planning/planning-advice/buildingconservation/conservation-areas (accessed November 2015) 1

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Table 1 Table of heritage assets (below).

Designated element or structure

ID number

Date first designated

Designation

Ionic Temple

1315950

1955

Listed Grade I

Tuscan [Doric] Temple

1149251

1955

Listed Grade I

Rievaulx Terrace

1001072

Registered 1984

Registered Grade I

Rievaulx Conservation Area

1977

Conservation Area

It should be noted that the buildings and structures are within the setting of the Scheduled Monument Rievaulx Abbey. 1.2

Guidance documents followed in this conservation plan

This conservation plan follows the guidelines set out in the following documents: •

National Trust’s Conservation principles (2008)

•

Historic England’s Conservation principles, policies and guidance…(2008)

•

Historic England’s The setting of heritage assets: historic environment good practice advice in planning 3 (2015)

•

Historic England’s Seeing History in the View (2011)

•

The Conservation management plan 7th ed. (The National Trust of Australia, 2013) by James Semple Kerr

•

The Illustrated Burra Charter: good practice for heritage places (Australia ICOMOS, 2004) by M Walker and P Marquis-Kyle

•

Heritage Lottery Fund’s Conservation Management Planning (April 2008) 5

•

Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation management plans: A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation management plans (2000)

•

Terms are used from the British Standard BS7913: 1998 – Guide to the principles of the conservation of historic buildings (1998) and British Standard BS7913: 2013 – Guide to the conservation of historic buildings (2013)

Supersedes the Heritage Lottery Fund Conservation Management Plans Checklist, Conservation Management Plans Model Brief and Conservation Management Plans: Helping your application (2004)

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

1.3

Other studies and limitations

There are various other reports that have examined the buildings and structures, including technical reports like quinquennial inspections and structural surveys. There are also elements of the interiors that have been examined in previous work, including for example the Kent settees in the collections and the medieval floor of the Tuscan Temple. There have also been several guidebooks produced by the National Trust with sections specifically focusing on the temples. Nonetheless, there has been no single report that has previously drawn all of these threads together to assess the significance and make policies for their long-term conservation. This report has drawn together existing secondary sources with limited archival research, due to limitations on time and resources. For example, it has been accepted from previous research that the architect of the temples is unknown, yet it is possible that archive papers somewhere in the UK will establish one. 1.4

Project team, images and acknowledgements

This conservation plan was commissioned as part of a conservation management plan encompassing the whole site at Rievaulx Terrace, led by Southern Green landscape architects. This conservation plan was researched and written by Nicholas Uglow, architectural historian (Simpson & Brown). Support and section 4.0 was provided by John Sanders, conservation (partner at Simpson & Brown). Archaeological input was from Tom Addyman, archaeologist (partner at Simpson & Brown). The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Jake Duncombe of Duncombe Park, Theodora Burrell (Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers) and Dr Tamsin Bapty, Curator of Library and Archives (The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust). The National Trust property staff and consultants provided essential knowledge and understanding in the preparation of this report. Led by Mark Newman, they are Roger Carr-Whitworth, Nick Fraser, Sandra Howe, and John Moorey. Nigel Dunn, volunteer researcher at Rievaulx Terrace, also made valuable contributions. All photographs and drawings are copyright to the authors unless stated. All other images are reproduced with permissions as noted. Other images owned by a third party have been licensed for reproduction as noted, or due diligence searches have been carried out as far as was reasonable.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

2.0

UNDERSTANDING THE PAST: BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

2.1

Introductory description

In the mid-eighteenth century, two garden buildings were constructed at the north and south ends of the terrace, created at the same time. There was also a pair of masonry gate piers built at the half-way point of the terrace giving access to it from the track to the Duncombe Park home estate. The Ionic Temple is the larger building, of one storey over a semi-sunken basement. It is in the form of an ionic temple derived from Roman Antiquity, with a pro tetrastyle portico approached from the south by a full-width flight of steps. The timber roof structure is covered in lead. There is one room on the principal level, with richly ornamented and gilded 1750s fixtures and a remarkable painted ceiling. The basement is a plain interior of several small rooms, those under the steps groin vaulted. The Tuscan Temple is the smaller building at the south end of the terrace. It is in the form of a circular, peripteral-plan temple, again derived from Roman Antiquity with Tuscan Doric columns and an elaborately-carved entablature frieze. The stylobate is approached from a single flight of steps from the north. The dome is stepped and covered in lead. There is a single, domed room within, with an enriched-plaster dome and painted central roundel. There is no accessible underbuilding, though it is vaulted and accessible for service. 2.2

Original construction of the temples and gate piers

The earliest date for the construction of the temples is found in the Monasticon Eboracense. This notes that Thomas Duncombe, esquire, member of parliament for Morpeth, now (A.D. 1758)… has lately made one of the finest terrasses [sic.] in England, just upon the brink of the hill that over-looks the ruins of the abbey, and a temple at each end of the walk 6 The account of the traveller Edward Knight in 1759 corroborates Burton: At the ends of a Terras [sic.] near Helmsley is a Square Temple with an Ionic portico Tetrastyle and a round Temple with 12 pillars. 7 There seems to be no further evidence of the buildings on the terrace until the published account by Young dated 1770. Young’s autobiography states that he visited the terrace in the summer and autumn of 1768. 8 There must have been papers concerning their building, but many archive papers were destroyed by the fire that

Burton, J. Monasticon Eboracense: and the ecclesiastical history of Yorkshire… (York: 1758). The authors are indebted to Dunn, N. (Pers. comm.) for this reference and sight of a digitised page from the publication, referred to as p.364, but numbered in error as p.560. 7 Knight, Edward ‘Notes of various gardens, houses, bridges, market crosses etc.’ MSS, 1759 61. The authors are grateful to Green, F. for this reference (see main conservation plan for Rievaulx Terrace). 8 Dunn, N. Pers. comm. 6

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

destroyed much of Duncombe Park itself in 1879. 9 More archive papers were destroyed, ‘burnt at Helmsley Gas Works in 1919’, though this burning is not explained. 10 In the timescale and available resources of this conservation plan, there were no obvious references found in the Feversham (Duncombe) archive papers (ref: ZEW) in the North Yorkshire Record Office of any early information that has not already been used in secondary sources. However, it is possible that more information will emerge regarding the buildings on the terrace in the future. Young’s account is therefore an invaluable source concerning the two temples: The ionic porticoed [sic.] temple, is a very beautiful room of a most pleasing proportion, 27 by 18, and elegantly ornamented. The ceiling is coved, an oblong in the center [sic.] containing a copy of Guido’s Aurora, done in a very agreeable manner, the graceful attitudes of the hours finely preserved, and the glowing brilliancy of the colouring pleasingly imitated. The cove part of the ceiling is painted in compartments… The whole performance of Burnice, who came from Italy to execute it. The cornice and frieze, and the chimney-piece which is of white marble, are very elegant. The former with the panels of window-cases, &c. and room, ornamented with gilt carving on a brown ground. Upon the whole, this elegant little room in respect of proportion and ornament, is the most pleasing one I remember to have seen in any temple. 11 His reference to ‘Guido’s Aurora’ is to Guido Reni’s canvas for the ceiling of the Palazzo Rospigliosi, Rome, c.1614, of Aurora, Apollo and the Muses. 12 Young’s comment that the elements are ‘finely preserved… and… pleasingly imitated’ is presumably intended to suggest that he had seen the original, whether he had or not; it is possible he had only seen an engraved reproduction. ‘Burnice’ is a reference to the artist who copied Guido Reni’s Aurora, Giuseppe Borgnis (1701-1761). He came to England around 1751 with two of his sons, Giovanni and Pietro Maria, at the invitation of Sir Francis Dashwood, to decorate his country seat West Wycombe Park. 13 The Tuscan Temple ceiling roundel is noted by Jackson-Stops as by Andrea Casali (1705-1784). It is not clear where this intelligence is derived from and the attribution may be incorrect. Current thinking also attributes the roundel to Casali and describes the image as either an unknown goddess or an allegorical figure, perhaps Fame without her usual trumpet. 14 It is possible that the roundel was purchased and not painted in situ. Michel in Grove Art notes that Casali came to England at the

Pevsner, N. The buildings of England: Yorkshire and the North Riding (first ed. 1966. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2002). p.140 10 North Yorkshire Archives Services ‘Introduction to the Feversham (Duncombe) Collection – ZEW’ 11 Young, A. A six months tour through the north of England… (vol. ii, London: Strahan, 1770). pp.92-93 12 Jackson-Stops et al. The Rievaulx Terrace (guidebook, National Trust, rev. 1999: 2011). p.14 13 “Borgnis, Giuseppe Mattia.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. (Oxford University Press), accessed October 12, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T010142 14 Carr-Whitworth, R. Pers. comm. 9

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

invitation of 4th Earl of Carlisle, Charles Duncombe IInd’s father-in-law in 1742/43. Interestingly, he notes that Casali produced a copy of Guido Reni’s Aurora, the same ceiling painting as that copied by Borgnis in the Ionic Temple, for Hovingham Hall, North Yorkshire c.1760. 15 It is possible that there is another connection between the Worsleys of Hovingham, and the Duncombes, which may explain this re-use of the same original painting. However is it also interesting to note that Casali was not asked to paint the Aurora copy at Rievaulx, and that Borgnis was commissioned instead. However, any connections are predicated on an attribution which remains unsubstantiated. In a similar way, the plasterwork is attributed by Jackson-Stops to Giuseppe Cortese (fl 1725–78). 16 Proudfoot in Grove Art notes that Cortese ‘lived and worked in Yorkshire, notably at Studley Royal and Gilling Castle (both N. Yorks)’. 17 In the second paragraph of Young’s account, he mentions the interior fixtures, including that they are ‘gilt carving on a brown ground’. It is notable that though he heaps praise on the ‘elegant little room’, he does not mention the architect or designer. There are myriad reasons why he did not include the name – he may have not been told the name if he was shown the buildings or forgotten it – however it is important that he considers the design of the interior to be of the highest quality. It is also notable that Young does not mention the Tuscan Temple, except in passing, and does not comment on the exteriors of either building. It was clearly understood in the eighteenth century that the temples would be seen by visitors not invited by Duncombe; a hand-written guide to the subjects of the paintings exists in the Feversham (Duncombe) archive papers, which though undated, looks to be late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. 18 Though the temples were listed in 1955, English Heritage updated the National Heritage List entry certainly after both Hussey’s 1957 article in Country Life and Pevsner’s entry in the Buildings of England in 1966. Jackson-Stops’ guidebook for the National Trust was written in 1978, and notes research undertaken by Hussey. He states: The late Christopher Hussey tentatively put forward the name of Sir Thomas Robinson [c.1702-1777] 19 Robinson has a reasonable architectural pedigree in Colvin’s dictionary of architects, and it is entirely possible that he could have designed the Rievaulx temples. Though Robinson’s personal papers appear to have been destroyed after his death, Colvin

Michel, O. "Casali, Andrea." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 14, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T014534 16 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.6 17 Proudfoot, T. et al. "Stucco and plasterwork." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 14, 2015,http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T081969pg3. See also Beard G. Craftsmen and Interior Decoration in England 1660-1820. (Edinburgh 1981), part III, Dictionary of Craftsmen, pp.253-4. 18 ZEW MIC 1418, inventories ref. 1762 no. 12, undated 19 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.5 15

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

lists several buildings of various types that Robinson is known to have built. He had been on an extensive Grand Tour, and was ‘on friendly terms with Lord Burlington, whose Palladian principles he did his best to follow’. 20 He also emphasises that Robinson was essentially a man of fashion, ‘but in the eighteenth century, building was a fashionable occupation, and Sir Thomas was active as an amateur architect’.21 Robinson was also uncle of Lady Diana Howard, daughter of the 4th Earl of Carlisle, and wife of Thomas Duncombe IInd; this family connection may suggest his involvement at Rievaulx. 22 The family network is also reflected at Studley Royal, where Robinson designed a covered seat and was responsible perhaps for remodelling Studley Royal House c.1758. 23 In the late 1720s, Robinson rejected a design commissioned from William Wakefield for rebuilding his County Durham mansion, Rokeby Park, after it had been published in Vitruvius Britannicus (vol. iii) in 1725. 24 Robinson produced new designs, and built the house in the late 1720s. It is interesting to note that Duncombe Park was also designed by Wakefield in 1713. In the late 1750s, when Rievaulx Terrace was being built, Robinson was completing Castle Howard for his former brother-in-law, the 4th Earl of Carlisle. He completed the western court, work described by Colvin as being of ‘orthodox Palladian style… excellent of its kind’. This is the character of the two temples at Rievaulx, orthodox and excellent Palladian designs with nothing about them that is particularly unusual. Regarding the interiors, Jackson-Stops notes the ‘exceptional quality’ of the fitted joinery, without noting that it excels from high-quality Palladian interior joinery elsewhere. Giles Worsley’s comments on the development of a Palladian interior style are interesting in relation to the interiors of the temples. 25 The style came increasingly to rely on correctly proportioned architectural elements to articulate walls, doors and chimney pieces (for example incorporating architraves, columns and pediments), but on fairly simple beamed compartment ceilings with figurative paintings derived from Inigo Jones. 26 This was based on elements derived from Antiquity, Palladio, Jones and John Webb. This architectural emphasis in Palladian interiors was in marked contrast to the contemporary Italianate baroque and French rococo interiors; both relied on nonarchitectural elaborate plasterwork and decorative carving. This combination of architectural as opposed to decorative elements, clearly displayed in the design of the Rievaulx temple interiors, created very architectural

Colvin, H. A biographical dictionary of British architects: 1600-1840 (4th ed. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2008). p.883 21 Colvin A biographical dictionary of British architects. p.883 22 Jackson-Stops traces the family marriages, but there are several errors in the 1978 original guide book, corrected in the present edition (2011). 23 Newman, M. Pers. comm. 24 Colvin A biographical dictionary of British architects. p.883 25 Worsley, G. Classical architecture in Britain: the Heroic Age (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1995). p.197 26 Worsley Classical architecture in Britain. p.198 20

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

interior spaces. For example, all three of the doorways in the temple interiors are articulated with architraves and support full entablatures above. The Ionic Temple’s timber overmantel is a textbook architectural composition of an aedicule. The ceiling is compartmented with painted figurative decoration, derived from Jones. In the Tuscan Temple, the ceiling is architectural and derived from Antiquity and Palladian precedent, the coffered dome resting on a full entablature; the diamond coffers were derived from the Temple of Venus & Rome, but used in other Palladian buildings, for example the semi-domes in the Sculpture Gallery of Burlington’s Chiswick Villa. It is clear from the quality of the design of both temples and the gate piers, that whoever the architect, he was experienced and very able in the Palladian style. The designs externally and internally of both buildings are of very high design quality, with many of the refinements of the best examples of the style. Hussey also notes that ‘the local historian Thomas Gill’ stated the 1758 completion date for the terrace and presumably its temples and gate piers. 27 Gill’s account of 1852 reproduces some of Young’s phrases and ‘Burnici’, the corruption of the name of the artist of the interiors of the Ionic Temple, Borgnis. 28 The addition of date to material otherwise partly derived from Young suggests some new research was incorporated by Gill. In either case, Jackson-Stops points out that as Borgnis arrived in England in 1751, and died at West Wycombe in 1761, the work at the Ionic Temple must have been carried out in that decade. 29 He goes on to substantiate the similarity of the Borgnis work at West Wycombe for Dashwood and the Ionic Temple. 30 A retrospective source quoted in the English Heritage conservation plan for Rievaulx Abbey states that the terrace was completed in 1757 and had been under construction for about eight years. 31 There is a theory that a stone viaduct was intended over the small valley to the south east of the Tuscan Temple, for the access to the Terrace from Duncombe Park. This is most recently expressed in present guidebook, which mentions ‘Large piles of dressed masonry’ in the valley bottom. 32 This might lead to the suggestion that the circular peripteral Tuscan Temple was intended to be seen in the round on this approach road. However, it is thought that the evidence of the dressed stones in the valley floor has been misinterpreted; they are near to a disused quarry and are most likely to be discarded stones. 33

Hussey, C. ‘Duncombe Park, Yorkshire’ Country Life (5th December 1957). p.1200 Gill, T. Vallis Eboracensis… (London: Simpkin Marshall, 1852). p.318 29 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.5 30 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.11. This reference is presumably derived from CroftMurray, E. Decorative painting in England 1537-1837 (London: 1970) 31 Caroe & Partners Conservation plan: Rievaulx Abbey (1999). p.20. The authors are grateful to Nigel Dunn for pointing this out. 32 Jackson-Stops et al. Rievaulx Terrace (2011). p.7 33 Newman, M. Pers. comm. 27 28

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Figure 7 ‘A plan of the township of Rivaulx [sic.]…’ by Thomas Hornby, 1806. Detail showing the Ionic Temple and the building to the north.

Hornby’s map of 1806, the earliest cartographical evidence, shows a building and enclosure to the north of the Ionic Temple, which is the ruined structure, identified in the archaeological survey by Addyman Archaeology as feature 004 (Figure 7). This building is built of rubble, previously bonded in mortar, now largely degraded with turf topping on the consolidated wall heads. Most recently, it may have been roofed in red clay tiles, some of which are visible in the undergrowth by the walls (it is shown as roofed in the OS surveyed in 1910 at six inch to one mile scale). It is situated in the woodland belt to the north of the Ionic Temple, and was clearly situated to be concealed from its view. It is possible that this building was built at the same time as the temples in the 1760s and was an ancillary building, either as a cottage or bothy for a custodian or gardener, or as a store etc. Anecdotally, it is thought to be a donkey stable, for beasts used on the terrace in its maintenance. 34 It certainly was built no later than 1806. The Ionic Temple c.1800 The 1804 Gentlemans’ magazine description of the Terrace includes two interesting comments: Beneath the pavilion, are apartments for the gardener, who has generally a store of excellent ale, for the refreshment of such as will be at the pains and labour of ascending the steep and intricate path which leads to this truly delightful spot 35 This suggests that by this date, the basement of the Ionic Temple was being used as accommodation. The second comment is the earliest that alludes to one of the practical functions of the Ionic Temple for dining: Hence, Mr Duncombe sometimes liberally entertains his friends, the pavilion being furnished with every conveniency [sic.] for that purpose 36

Fraser, N. Pers. comm. The gentleman’s magazine and historical chronicle for the year MDCCCIV (vol. lxxiv second part, London: 1804). p.613

34 35

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This comment suggests that Mr Duncombe’s friends would be entertained with wine and perhaps food. However, if the basement was accommodation for the gardener at this time, this might question whether it was possible to serve hot food. An inventory of 1783 lists items for preparing, serving and eating food in the basement, a ‘Press’ cupboard, and a bed in the ‘Parlour’ (see section 3.1). There is however no specific mention of a kitchen, but it suggests that the space was shared as accommodation and food preparation as needed. It might be assumed that the vaulted rooms under the portico and steps were used for cold storage as needed and may have been used for occasional storage wines. The comment that the pavilion was furnished with every convenience for entertainment, suggests that there was appropriate furniture in the room when the author visited. This may have included the type of furniture listed in the 1783 inventory, including chairs, stools, a tea table, dining table (in the basement) and a dumb waiter - a tiered circular table for service in the absence of a servant (for full transcription see section 3.1). The Ionic Temple itself was improved in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century with the replacing of the windows in the dining room. The earlier style of windows remains in the basement and at the Tuscan Temple; the earlier windows have wide glazing bars, typical of the mid-eighteenth century. In the dining room, the glazing bars are narrower and elegantly profiled, though this could indicate a date between the last quarter of the eighteenth and the mid-nineteenth centuries. This shows continued investment in the fabric of the temple after it was first built. 2.3

Garden buildings in the mid-eighteenth century

2.3.1

Buildings in designed landscapes

Ornamental buildings in designed landscapes in Britain were not common before the early-eighteenth century. Designed landscapes in the seventeenth-century contained buildings, but they were usually primarily functional, and made to look good, rather than being in essence decorative and part of the landscape design. For example, orangeries, stables, kennels and dovecots were types of building commonly found in the landscape of mansions, but had specific functions. The use of small buildings as ornaments in the designed landscape seems to have only begun in the early eighteenth century. They were partly influenced by the buildings young men and occasionally women saw on the Grand Tour in Italy, from the late seventeenth-century onwards. They were also inspired by the paintings of Claude Lorraine, Nicolas Poussin and Salvator Rosa, which evocatively depict Greek and Roman semi-mythological antiquity and Arcadia. Several wealthy men set the fashion in train from around the 1720s, including Lord Burlington, with his landscape garden at Chiswick House, Lord Cobham, at Stowe and John Aislabie at Studley Royal. Giles Worsley argues that ‘there was an explosion of interest’ in garden buildings between 1720 and 1740. 37 He argues that

36 37

The gentleman’s magazine (1804). p.613 Worsley Classical architecture in Britain. p.212

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By the end of the 1720s garden buildings were no longer incidents in a garden, they were among its most important features 38 He points out the large number of gardens and garden buildings illustrated in the 1739 supplement of Vitruvius Brittannicus (sic.) by Badeslade and Rocque, including buildings at landscape gardens in Kew Gardens, Claremont Park, Esher Place, Wrest Park, Chiswick House and Dalton Park. The illustrations include plans of some of these gardens with views of the multiple buildings on the same composite plate. These publications were in common circulation and these kinds of illustrations fuelled the imaginations of wealthy men to create their own landscapes. There are many surviving examples of this type of building from this period. The style in which they were built differs. They are all ultimately based on the precedent of Classical Antiquity, but the extent to which different architects were influenced by the sixteenth-century designs of Palladio, the early seventeenth-century response to Palladio of Inigo Jones, or the many eighteenth-century source books illustrating the buildings of Classical Antiquity varies. The designs of the two buildings at Rievaulx are derived from Classical Antiquity, interpreted through the lens of Palladio, Jones, the Grand Tour and published illustrations of the garden buildings of other English men. The obvious sources have been well laid-out in the existing National Trust permanent interpretation in the Ionic Temple. The external form of the Ionic Temple is derived from that of the Temple of Fortuna Virilis or Portunus in Rome; the Tuscan Temple from the Temple of Vesta, also in Rome. These Antique buildings were copied fairly closely, and have very similar proportions and forms to their cousins at Rievaulx. Another copy of the Temple of Fortuna Virilis was illustrated by Colen Campbell in Vitruvius Britannicus, vol. iii in 1725, at Narford, Norfolk (Plate 95). It is interesting to note that Plates 87 and 88 in Vitruvius Britannicus depict Duncombe Park; this close proximity between the plates of Narford and Duncombe Park temptingly suggests inspiration from the former. The Antique originals were buildings that every Grand Tourist had to see; though it is not known whether Duncombe had been on a grand tour, its influence on men of his class was inescapable by the mid-century. The key buildings were in any case illustrated in Palladio’s I quattro Libri, newly translated into English and illustrated by Leoni and Dubois in 1715. It was re-issued in 1735, presumably responding to public demand, which revitalised its impact. By the 1750s, Antique architecture had already been used as a design source in other landscape gardens in England. Many of these designs were published. For example, Burlington’s buildings and gardens at Chiswick House were illustrated several times in sets of engravings including those by Rocque in 1736, Rigaud in 1733-34 and Donowell in 1753, suggesting their enduring popularity. 39 In the first half of the eighteenth century, there was a general shift from seventeenthcentury formally-arranged designed landscapes to more informal layouts, where the

Worsley Classical architecture in Britain. p.215 See Harris, J. The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, his villa and garden at Chiswick (Yale University Press: New Haven & London, 1994) p.218 onwards

38 39

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landscape was intended to be experienced in progression, either by walking, riding or driving. 40 Girouard emphasises that this was to some extent enabled by the development of more lightweight and open carriages. 41 Vehicles were cheaper and more reliable, which made driving more affordable for the less wealthy and day-trips to estates possible. To access Rievaulx Terrace, the visitor to the landscape was expected to drive or ride from the mansion at Duncombe. However whether the terrace itself was intended only for walking, or whether horses or carriages were driven onto the terrace itself is a matter of speculation. This may be important because if a different viewpoint had been envisaged, from a moving vehicle, this might have affected the design of the landscape and changed its perception for contemporary visitors. Girouard also argues that the shift from axial, formal design to the informality of a circuit was in response to changes in social customs. He argues that driving, riding and walking around a designed landscape became part of the customs of a society becoming increasingly informal in the mid-eighteenth century. He states that there were more people in ‘polite society’ who had increased leisure time to spend, one way being visiting the houses and landscapes of the wealthy. 42 This leisure activity was based on the assumption that these places were open to members of the public, and not kept private. There is excellent graphic evidence of this intention of visiting country house landscapes in the plates of Badeslade and Rocque’s Vitruvius Brittannicus (sic.) of 1739, where the views of buildings and features in the famous landscapes depicted on the composite plates, teem with tourists. 2.3.2

Design with a purpose: socio-political power

There was an understanding that designed landscapes, such as Rievaulx Terrace, were intended by their owners to be visited not just by their invited guests, but by members of the public. Girouard argues that this was because the country mansion and the designed landscape served a function in the contemporary social and political context. The country estate was the source of power for many men: the estate generated income which financed a way of life. However, the Duncombe family had little need of money: the purchase of the Helmsley estates by Sir Charles Duncombe (1648-1711) in 1695 is described by his biographer as ‘one of the most dramatic steps in his career’. 43 The purchase price was £86,000 pounds, around £6.5 million pounds in today’s money, 44 funds which he raised by sale of stock and other accumulated wealth. He already owned property in the City of London, Teddington (Middlesex), and an estate at Barford (Wiltshire). 45 He was therefore a very wealthy

Girouard, M. Life in the English country house (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1978). p. 210 41 Girouard Life in the English country house. p. 210 42 Girouard Life in the English country house. p. 210 43 G. E. Aylmer, ‘Duncombe, Sir Charles (bap. 1648, d. 1711)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8236, accessed 28 Sept 2015] 44 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/ 45 Aylmer ‘Duncombe, Sir Charles’ 40

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man before the purchase of the estate, which was intended for his nephew, on condition of his assuming the Duncombe name. One of Sir Charlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aims in purchasing the estates was parliamentary power. His intention was that by owning land which came with tenants, he and his descendants would be able either to stand for parliament or support parliamentary candidates, in their own interest. There was an increasing primacy of parliament in the early eighteenth century after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and Anyone who had sufficient resources and followers and displayed them with enough prominence, was likely to be offered jobs and perquisites by the central government in return for his support [in parliament]. 46 There were many government jobs in the early eighteenth century that were sinecures, jobs without any work. This kind of socio political advancement also led to honours and titles, which provided incomes in exchange for political loyalty. One element in the armory of the successful landowner in securing parliamentary influence was a magnificent mansion, and another was a designed landscape. These were components of the conspicuous consumption that indicated security of wealth and, in the words of Girouard, displaying it with prominence. Politically and socially active landowners like the Duncombes were not permanently resident in their estate. Sir Charles Duncombe, his nephew Thomas Ist and son Thomas IInd were all MPs at some point in their lives. People in society followed a similar annual calendar in the eighteenth-century: residence in London or nearby for the parliamentary season in the winter and spring, and the rest of the year divided between owned estates and visiting those of others. Sir Robert Walpole for example, though an exceptionally political man, typically spent only around one month a year at Houghton, his lavish estate in Norfolk. 47 As previously mentioned, many private estates were essentially open to members of the public, or rather those members of the public that the servants chose to admit and typically charged for the privilege. Therefore buildings and designed landscapes remained as monuments to their ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; social, political and economic power even when they were absent. Apart from being demonstrations of economic power, they were also coded cultural metaphors that alluded to the intelligence, learning, and taste of the owner. There is therefore an important link between the displaying wealth and art. As an example, Sir Andrew Fountain, the creator of the Narford landscape, which included a pavilion based on the Temple of Fortuna Virilis, very similar to the Tuscan Temple at Rievaulx, is praised by Campbell thus: This learned and ingenious gentleman, as he is distinguished by his universal knowledge of all the polite arts, has given marks of his good taste and affections for architecture, in several pieces lately erected [at Narford] 48 This quote shows how important design of house or garden could be for the public image of the men of power who commissioned them. It goes some way to explaining why it was important for Charles Duncombe IInd to build a second terrace at

Girouard Life in the English country house. p.2 Girouard Life in the English country house. p.7 48 Campbell, C. Vitruvius Britannicus (vol iii, 1725: facsimile by Dover: Mineola, 2007). p.11 46 47

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Rievaulx Bank Top. By the 1750s, he may have become dissatisfied with the terrace at Duncombe, as taste had changed since his father had constructed it c.1720. It was important for maintaining the established influence of the family that Charles Duncombe IInd was seen to be educated and culturally discerning. He may have hoped to have it illustrated in other architectural and landscape books of the time, and be referred to in glowing terms like Fountain. It is interesting however and perhaps rarer, that Charles Duncombe IInd did not erase his father’s garden, but chose to expand to another site, preserving the earlier landscape, perhaps as a monument in itself. 2.4

1810s addition of tiled floor

The most important change to the Tuscan Temple after it was built was the installation of sections of tiled pavement taken from Rievaulx Abbey. This occurred between 1812 and 1821, dated from a reference in the second edition of A Description of Duncombe Park in 1821, which, commenting on the works to present the abbey ruins, states in a footnote that Since the first edition of this work [in 1812], Mr Duncombe has added much to the graceful appearance of the Choir [of the abbey ruin]… Part of a handsome tessellated floor was also found, the fragments of which, in order to their preservation [sic.], have been removed to the South Temple on the Terrace above. 49 It is possible that the author of the Description was the Duncombe Park estate steward, William Gray (1751-1845) and therefore may be relied upon as an authority. 50 Thomas Gill’s 1852 account notes the same, and adds that it was found ‘with the letters Ave Maria gr’ and goes on The tessellæ were removed to the temple at the south end of the terrace where they are arranged, in great part, as when discovered. The stone with the Ave Maria gr is preserved in the Ionic Temple, and is shewn by the gardener to the numerous visitors. 51 It seems that there is no trace of the ‘stone with the Ave Maria gr’ today.

Anon. A Description of Duncombe Park, Rivalx Abbey… &c. (Taken chiefly from Mr. Young's Northern Tour.) Second edition, enlarged and corrected; with two engravings (Kirbymoorside: Harrison & Cooper, 1821). p.21 50 Dunn, N. Pers. comm. citing evidence from The gentleman’s magazine of 1821. 51 Gill Vallis Eboracensis. p.315 49

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Figure 8 Drawing of the medieval tiles flooring the Tuscan Temple, by George Maw dated October 1863. (355mm x 506mm). Courtesy of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Library & Archives

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2.5

The middle and late nineteenth century

In 1863, the floor of the Tuscan Temple was drawn by George Maw, as noted by Jenny Stopford in her contribution to Fergusson & Harrison’s Rievaulx Abbey (Figure 8). 52 It should be noted that the physical fabric of the Tuscan Temple suggests that the steps were changed at some point in their history. It appears that there were originally fewer steps with taller risers than those existing today. There is no evidence that suggests when this was change was made, but it may have been around the same time as the installation of the tiled pavement. Stopford adds that in the 1920s, when the abbey was being excavated, the Finds Book records 5cwt of floor tiles (approx. 250kg) found on the Rievaulx Terrace, ‘in the gardens to the west of the Ionic Temple’. 57 She speculates that the deposit of tiles was ‘probably the surplus discarded after the completion of the flooring’ of the Tuscan Temple; this would seem to be a large remainder and does not readily explain why the tiles were dumped near the Ionic Temple, at the opposite end of the terrace. It therefore seems possible that they were intended for flooring the Ionic Temple but that the plans were abandoned and the tiles were dumped. This conclusion is also reached in the main text of Fergusson & Harrison. 58 It is interesting to note that the 1920s Finds Book refers to a ‘garden’. It should be noted that Stopford includes a rectified photo mosaic of the tiled floor, in black and white, credited to English Heritage Photogrammetric Unit. 2.5.1

Nineteenth-century photographs and evidence of continuing use

There are several photographs from the third quarter of the century onwards showing the Ionic Temple. One of the earliest photographic images are three cartes de visite which show the Ionic Temple. The vogue for the carte de visite was largely confined to the 1860s and early 1870s. The photographs are not reliable as evidence of the condition of the building as the tinting of the albumen prints is confusing and the images are small. It however notable that the window joinery seems to be painted a darker colour than the dining room door. The images are more interesting as they seem to provide evidence of commercial activity. All three cartes show potted plants or shrubs ranged on the steps of the temple, and on a stand by the steps to the basement. One carte shows two people, a gardener and probably his wife (Figure 9). The style of the woman’s dress, allowing for some time delay for high fashion to be adopted by the working class of Helmsley, suggests that it is from the late 1860s. It is possible that the woman was a domestic servant, suggested by her square apron, or was the caretaker of the temples. It is possible that the names of these people would appear on the 1861 or

Stopford, J. ‘Tiled pavements …’ quoting the 1920s Finds Book in appendix B of Fergusson P. & Harrison S. Rievaulx Abbey: community, architecture, memory (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1999). p.222 57 Stopford, J. ‘Tiled pavements …’ quoting the 1920s Finds Book in appendix B of Fergusson P. & Harrison S. Rievaulx Abbey: community, architecture, memory (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1999). p.222 58 Fergusson & Harrison Rievaulx Abbey. p.191 52

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1871 census records. The next carte is virtually identical, though taken from slightly closer to the temple, and without the figures (Figure 10). The third carte seems to be of a slightly later date, perhaps later in the 1860s. This image shows the same display of plants, a notice by the door to the basement, and an awning or glass-house lean-to structure over the door and plant display. There is also a path and area around the basement door, perhaps of gravel; this is shown for the first time on the Ordnance Survey surveyed in 1891, but this evidence shows it was laid in the 1860s. The time of year seems similar to Figure 9 and Figure 10, and the lady seems the same. The three men are clearly tourists, but the standing man may be the same gardener shown in Figure 9. The images show that the basement of the Ionic Temple continued to be used as accommodation, possibly that plants were on sale to visitors, and it is possible that visitors were changed entry to the terrace. There is a question as to the purpose of the images as it is very clearly posed; however, carte de visite technology had become very popular in the 1860s and it is possible that there was no particular purposed to the image, other than as keepsake.

Figure 9 Undated photograph carte de visite, late 1860s showing the Ionic Temple. Plants are for sale, ranged on the steps of the temple and by the door to the basement. There is a sign next to the basement door. Courtesy of Mark Newman

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Figure 10 Undated carte de visite, virtually identical to Figure 9 though taken closer to the building; it must have been taken minutes before or after the other image. Courtesy of Mark Newman

Figure 11 Undated carte de visite, late 1860s. Note the dark-painted window joinery, plants display, signage, path and the lean-to structure by the basement door. Courtesy of Mark Newman

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Figure 12 First Edition Ordnance Survey map at six inch to one mile scale, surveyed 1853, published 1856. It shows the Ionic Temple and other buildings to the north and west, one of which is the WC which remains today. NLS The basement was certainly being lived in by 1901, when the census records William Richardson and his wife Mary, with various daughters and grandchildren, living at â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rievaulx Terraceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Richardson is noted as the Park Terrace Keeper. The family appears again in 1911. More research into census records might establish whether the same family lived in the temple from the first census onwards. There is an interesting undated photograph c.1910 of a large group of people posing for a group photograph on the steps of the Ionic Temple in the Helmsley Archives (HA08721). It is thought that the group is estate staff 59 or might be a day-trip tour group from a local town. If the latter is the case, it may suggest that the Terrace was open for visitors in the early twentieth century. The photographs from the 1930s are interesting partly because of the stone decay, but more so because of the path to the door of the basement and the potted plants and benches (Figure 13). Again, it is possible that this image shows plants for sale to visitors, or that visitors were ticketed. The continuing use of certainly the Ionic Temple in the mid nineteenth-century is suggested by the appearance of other buildings to the north and east on historic maps. The WC building is not shown on the Hornby map of 1806, the earliest cartographical evidence of the site (Figure 7). It is identified in the archaeological survey as feature 005, and dated to the nineteenth century. It certainly appears on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey, surveyed in 1853, with two other small structures and a path (). This WC may have been constructed in response to a demand for improved sanitary arrangements for guests of the Duncombes or the residents in the basement of the temple. It is also possible that it was not constructed as a WC, but for such a small building it is difficult to imagine another use. Traces of the other buildings are noted in the archaeological survey; though it is impossible to

Duncombe, J. Pers. comm.

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do more than speculate as to their function, they were clearly new buildings built between 1806 and 1853 for the management of the terrace site. The other two buildings appear on the OS surveyed in 1952. 2.6

Mid twentieth-century works

There do not appear to have been any changes made to the temples before the midcentury redecoration works by the last Earl of Feversham. The interior of the Ionic Temple was redecorated during this period. Jackson-Stops notes that the paint colour and gilding were renewed ‘soon after the [Second World] war’, based on an interpretation of Young’s 1770 description of ‘gilt carving on a brown ground’. 60 Jackson-Stops notes intelligence on the redecoration of the Tuscan Temple: The walls and ceiling of the Temple, with the plasterwork decoration picked out in white against two shades of pale blue, were redecorated under the direction of Mr. John Fowler, about 1960. The colours were taken, at the last Earl of Feversham’s request, from a pair of Sèvres vases at Sledmere. 61 The detail of this comment suggests that Jackson-Stops had a secure source, possibly John Fowler himself. Blues are signature colours in Sèvres porcelain, and it is no surprise that there are Sèvres vases in the Sledmere collection. In any case, however, this suggests that, unlike the redecoration of the Ionic Temple, the colours were based on taste rather than research. 2.7

Works by the National Trust

Pevsner notes in 1966, just before the National Trust became the owners of the Terrace in 1972, that the columns of the Ionic Temple were ‘beautifully decayed’. 62 The decay is notable in the 1930s Goodhart-Rendel photographs (Figure 13), those taken for the 1957(a) Country Life article and an undated postcard of the Ionic Temple from the mid-twentieth century (Figure 14). The Country Life photo of the Tuscan Temple shows significant stone decay on the columns on that building as well. 63 In 1976 Martin Stancliffe Architects replaced much of the decayed stonework on both temples. 64 Jackson-Stops notes at the Ionic Temple that the portico was entirely rebuilt, with ‘a French stone’, including a new ‘restored’ plasterwork ceiling 65

Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.13 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.7 62 Pevsner, N. The buildings of England: Yorkshire and the North Riding. p.307 63 It has not been possible to reproduce these images in this conservation plan, as neither Country Life nor Historic England Archives have negatives or prints. The images only survive in the printed copies of the magazines. 64 Date from National Trust interpretation panel at Rievaulx Terrace 65 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.10 60 61

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 13 Two photos of the Ionic temple from the Goodhart-Rendel collection (dated to between 1910-40). Judging from the ladies’ clothing, these photos were taken in the 1930s. The stone decay in the portico columns, particularly the western-most fore columns, is visible; the two bosses from Rievaulx Abbey are in situ. There appears to be a path leading to the north east from the basement door. AA007680 and AA007681: © Historic England

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 14 Undated postcard image of Ionic Temple from mid-twentieth century. The stone decay is notable, but there is also structural cracking in the right hand side (east) of the pediment, and possibly some movement in the copes on the left. Courtesy of Mark Newman

In the Tuscan Temple, it is clear from visual analysis that all of the columns were replaced, and large sections of the entablature, including many of the triglyphs and other stones. The bull-skull metopes were also consolidated. The interiors of both temples have been worked on during the ownership of the National Trust. In May 1987, the National Trust accepted a quotation for redecoration. 67 Most of the work was in the Tuscan Temple, where it was specified that external paint was to be ‘burned off’, meaning that there is unlikely to be historic paint colours remaining on this joinery today. In the interior, the dome and cornice were dusted down and touched up, with four coffers re-painted. The paint used in repainting the coffers seems to have degraded and the colours are now different, unless this element of the work was not completed. The walls and dado were all repainted with ‘stipple in a water colour as before’ specified as the finish. The work in the Ionic Temple was confined to repainting the basement and minor touching up on the first floor interior. More recently, the door to the room from the portico was upgraded for security, with a metal plate inserted in its core and additional discrete locks. Oil-filled electric heaters were hard wired into the room to control humidity, operated automatically by humidistats.

Quotation and acceptance dated 22 May 1972 in National Trust papers provided to the author by Carr-Whitworth, R.

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After a contractor or architect slipped and put his foot through the centre panel of the Borgnisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aurora, there were works c.2000 in the roofspace to improve safe access over the painted ceilings. 68

Figure 15 Plans of the Ionic and Tuscan Temples, showing indicative historical phasing.

Moorey, J. Pers. comm.

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3.0

COLLECTIONS

3.1

Inventory evidence

Before the twentieth century, there are three archive inventories so far noted, the earliest and longest was compiled in 1783. It refers to items ‘At the Bank Top’, and the Duncombe Park parkland plan states that this is the term used in the estate agent’s weekly accounts to refer to the Rievaulx Terrace, whose gardeners were financially accounted for separately. 69 Apart from items for preparing, serving and eating food in the basement and ‘Press’ cupboard, there is a bed in the ‘Parlour’, which is, by elimination, in the basement and used by a servant. In the ‘Chamber’, the objects are as follows: A pier and chimney glass [a single mirror over the chimney] One marble brush A mahogany dumb waiter A mahogany tea table [a ‘mahogany table for dining’ is listed in the basement and would have been set up as required] 8 mahogany leather bottomed chairs [possibly not the present twelve?] 8 mahogany stools A grate, shovel tongs poker and tender 70 It also lists furniture ‘In the Temple’, which may refer to the Tuscan Temple, or the Ionic Temple on the Duncombe Park terrace (the inventory goes on to list items on the Duncombe Park terrace): 71 1 round mahogany table 8 ditto stools 72 None of these descriptions are detailed enough to work out whether any of the items survives, but the list of furniture does give an impression of the contents of the interiors of both rooms at the end of the eighteenth century. The two other inventories from 1833 and 1839 do not include any domestic items and it is assumed that the contents of the rooms had been removed by this date. 73 The chattels that form the collection at Rievaulx Terrace today were almost all purchased by the 3rd and last Earl of Feversham, sometime between his assuming the title aged 10, in 1916, and his death in 1963. However, most items seem to have been collected from the 1950s onwards. The collections items are listed in a 1972 inventory, detailing items transferred to the National Trust (Figure 16).

Landscape Agency Duncombe Park, Helmsley, Helmsley Estates, parkland plan (2014 draft). p.57 ZEW MIC 1418, inventories ref. 1528 transcribed by Mark Newman, National Trust 71 The latter suggestion is made in Landscape Agency Duncombe Park, parkland plan (2014 draft). p.57 72 ZEW MIC 1418, inventories ref. 1528 transcribed by Mark Newman, National Trust 73 Suggested by Mark Newman, National Trust. The inventories are ZEW MIC 1418, inventories ref.1517 and ref. 1602-3 69 70

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 16 The 1972 inventory of the chattels, transferred from the Treasury to the care of the National Trust and later its ownership in the 1980s. NT

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Figure 17 Watercolour of the interior of the Ionic Temple c.1940, by Kenneth Rowntree, looking north from the door. It should be noted that the only furniture is a turn-top tea table, but that the bust in the pediment of the overmantel is also present in the Country Life photograph of 1957a.

Figure 18 Interior photo of the Ionic Temple, taken and used in 1957a Country Life article. Elements of note: there is a bust on the chimney entablature no longer present; the cove appears to be lit, from lights concealed on the cornice; north-south floor boards are visible; two of the chairs and one of the pier glasses are visible (the latter in reflection). Copyright Country Life

These items had been previously accepted by H.M. Treasury in lieu of estate duty, when the Terrace had been purchased by the National Trust in 1972. 74 Jackson-Stops’ 1978 guide notes the provenance of some of the items. His sources are not noted, but, like the reference to the colours of the Tuscan Temple being derived from Sèvres vases, it was presumably reliably sourced at the time of writing. There are several additional sources noted in the text that follows. It is most interesting to note that most of the items had a Duncombe family connection. 3.2

Individual objects and interiors

3.2.1

Pair of settees designed by William Kent

Jackson-Stops notes that the gilt-wood Kent settees were designed for Wilton House; however, research for the exhibition William Kent: designing Georgian Britain in 2014,75 establishes that they were designed for one of the most important Palladian

‘List of chattels accepted by the Treasury…Rievaulx Temples’ 8th February 1972 in National Trust papers provided to the author by Carr-Whitworth, R. 75 Victoria & Albert Museum, 74

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mansions, Wanstead, and auctioned in 1822, before it was demolished. 76 The catalogue states that the settees at Rievaulx are copies, but in research completed too late for inclusion, the editor, Weber, states that there were eight settees in the Wanstead ballroom, purchased at the sale by agents. Six ended up at Wilton House, but the remaining two, those in the Ionic Temple, disappear from the record. Weber concludes that they were purchased by Lord Feversham ‘between the two world wars… they were placed in the Temple around 1957.’ 77 This last comment seems unlikely as the settees do not appear on the north wall in the 1957 Country Life article and it does not seem likely that could have been standing anywhere else in the room, though they might have been at Nawton Tower, the 3rd Earl’s house (Figure 18). 78 However, they must have been placed in the temple in the early 1960s before the National Trust ownership. The RCHME photo shows that they were in the room in 1979. These settees are internationally important pieces of furniture. 3.2.2

Set of twelve dining chairs

Jackson-Stops notes that the set of twelve mahogany-framed splat-back dining chairs upholstered in black leather, in the Chippendale style, were ‘probably’ made for the room by ‘a leading York Cabinetmaker’. 79 Two are shown in a Country Life photo from 1957, the earliest photos of the interiors found to date (Figure 18).

Figure 19 Interior photo taken by RCHME in 1979. This confirms that the cove was lit from lights on the cornice. The rush matting listed on the 1972 inventory is shown, otherwise the Kent settees and the sconces are as they appear today. BB77/10834 © Crown copyright.

In 1946, the 3rd Earl of Feversham auctioned furniture, carpets, pictures, ceramics etc. from Duncombe Park, which had been let since 1926 to a girls’ school. 80 The twelve chairs were included as lot 54; fig. iii is a photograph showing two of them. The chairs are noted as being ‘from the temple’, providing the earliest evidence that the chairs have been regarded as associated with the Ionic Temple for some time.

Weber, S. ed. William Kent: designing Georgian Britain (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2014). p.474 77 Weber, S. ‘Settee for Wanstead House’ for Bard Graduate Centre Object of the month feature: http://www.objectofthemonth.com/items/show/19, accessed 14/10/2105 78 Worsley, G. ‘Duncombe Park, Yorkshire II’ Country Life (31st May 1990). p.138 79 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p.12 80 Sale catalogue ‘Antique furnishings at Duncombe Park…’ (Hollis & Webb auctioneers, Leeds: sale dates 5th and 6th September 1946). Courtesy of Jake Duncombe 76

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Figure 20 Undated photograph, first half of twentieth century pre-1954, of saloon of Manor Stoke d'Abernon, before sale of contents. The Rievaulx Terrace pier tables are on left (see Figure 21). Reproduced with permission of Parkside School from A History of The Manor (2008)

In the margin of the copy of the 1946 catalogue at Duncombe Park, there is an annotation: ’70 gns each’. 81 This probably indicates the reserve sale price for the chairs, and the fact that they are in the temple today may reflect the fact that they did not meet this reserve. It seems clear that Lord Feversham was not considering restoring or redisplaying the temple interior in the 1940s, as he was prepared to sell off what is now considered the only furniture with long association to the building. 82 3.2.3

Pair of console tables

The console tables are noted by Jackson-Stops as George IInd, with Sienna marble tops supported on gilded frames in the form of eagles. He states that they were ‘from Lady d’Abernon’s sale’. 83 Helen Venetia Vincent, Viscountess D'Abernon (1866-1954) was a daughter of the 1st Earl of Feversham (1829-1915). 84 The sale of her property after her death was by Christies on the 18th March 1955; the sale included her property from several of the d’Abernon houses, including Manor House, Stoke

Sale catalogue ‘Antique furnishings at Duncombe Park…’. p.8 Carr-Whitworth R. Pers. comm. 83 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p. 12 84http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp84691/helen-venetia-needuncombe-viscountess-dabernon accessed 14/10/2015 81 82

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

D’Abernon. 85 The tables are shown in a pre-sale photograph of the saloon, reproduced in the history of the building, which is now a school (Figure 20). 86 3.2.4

Pair of pier glasses and thirty-five piece dinner service

The pier glasses noted by Jackson-Stops also as George IInd, and ‘came from Sir Martyn Beckett’s former house, Kirkdale Manor’. 87 The National Trust Collections database states that the glasses were gifts of Sir Martyn. Sir Martyn Beckett (19182001) was the son of Sir Gervase Beckett (1866-1937) and his second wife, Lady Greville. She was the widow of Charles Duncombe, the 2nd Earl of Feversham, 88 meaning that Sir Martyn and the 3rd Earl of Feversham were half-brothers. Sir Martyn also had close links with the National Trust, at one point being Chairman of the NT Yorkshire Regional Committee. 89 Kirkdale Manor became a school in 1947, and these pier glasses and the dinner service may have come to Duncombe and to Rievaulx after that date. They do not appear in the c.1940 watercolour of the interior, reflected in the pier glass, though this may be an error of depiction (Figure 17). They were however certainly in the temple by the time of the 1957a Country Life photo, as this shows the pier glasses in situ (Figure 18). The ceramic are noted as ‘Chamberlain Worcester’ by Jackson-Stops. 90 The National Trust Collections database states that The service was made for Sir Martyn Beckett's father, Sir William Gervase Beckett 91 However as the date range is noted as between 1788-1852, and Sir William was born in 1866, the reference may be meant for Sir Martyn’s grandfather. It may be that both the glasses and the table ceramics were gifts from Sir Martyn, to his half-brother, the 3rd Earl of Feversham. 3.2.5

Two pairs of torchères and pair of sconces

The two pairs of torchères in the form of termes are noted by Jackson-Stops as being ‘attributable to the famous Georgian cabinet-maker Matthias Locke’, but he provides no further detail, suggesting that this was his assessment rather than based on information. The same is true for the sconces, which he notes merely as ‘Other items

Other items sold at the sale confirm this provenance: see Lot 100: Gerard ter Borch II (Zwolle 1617-1681 Deventer) Portrait of Hermanna van der Cruysse, Old Masters and 19th Century Art sale, Christies, 1st November 2011, Amsterdam. The authors are grateful for the assistance of Theodora Burrell (Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers) (see http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/gerard-te-100-c-1691fab319 accessed December 2015) 86 Hodgson c. ‘A history of The Manor’ (Parkside School: 2008). p.23. See http://www.parkside-school.co.uk/about-parkside-school/history-of-parkside 87 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p. 12 88 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gervase_Beckett accessed 14/10/2015 89 Carr-Whitworth R. Pers. comm. 90 Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p. 12 91 http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/202002.1.1 accessed 14/10/2015 85

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of interest’. 92 Like the settees, it is not possible to see the torchères in the 1957s County Life photograph, and the sconces are certainly not present (Figure 18). AS speculation, it is possible that these were also purchased at Lady d’Abernon’s sale in 1955. 3.2.6

Octagonal table

The octagonal table in the Tuscan Temple was another purchase by the 3rd Earl of Feversham. It is pietra dura, inlaid work, probably all marble. It is recorded in a letter in 1975 from the Secretary of the Georgian Society for East Yorkshire to the National Trust administrator at Rievaulx Terrace that Lord Feversham bought the table from Mann Flemming in Mount Street, London, during the early sixties. He purchased initially, just the plain marble top as at that time, there was no base. Mr. Ronald Fleming then designed the base and had it specially made for Lord Feversham, for the Temple. 93 It is in the style of Italian pieces from the seventeenth to eighteenth century, but the date is unknown. 3.2.7

Other items

Other items listed on the 1972 inventory are almost impossible to provenance. They include the fire grate and related metal fire equipment, which, on visual assessment are typical late nineteenth or early twentieth-century examples. The pair of Canton vases with imitation miniature pomegranate trees is noted, though the date is unknown. The ‘Refectory type table’ covered in green velvet is referred to as ‘modern’, as the ‘red rope for barrier’ and the ‘specially made’ rush matting, which is visible in the 1979 RCHME photographs of the interior (Figure 19 and Figure 21). It is interesting to note that this was present in the Tuscan Temple as well, and remains today in the circular-plan Ionic Temple on the Duncombe Terrace. One item noted on the 1972 inventory is missing, described as ‘A George II mahogany circular table with tripod supports’. This is annotated ‘Temporarily stored in regional office (Sept, 1972)’. In 1998, the National Trust purchased the famille rose five-piece garniture de cheminée in the Ionic Temple. It was purchased as a single lot (567) at Christie’s sale of Oriental ceramics etc. on the 2nd April that year. The catalogue describes the lot as of Yongzheng/Qianlong period (eighteenth century), and notes that there are areas of restoration and damage. They were purchased for a hammer price of £2500. 94

Jackson-Stops Rievaulx Terrace. p. 12 Letter from A.J.C. Hildyard, secretary of the Georgian Society for East Yorkshire, 12th August 1975 in National Trust papers provided to the author by Carr-Whitworth, R. 94 Sale catalogue, Oriental ceramics and works of art (Thursday 2 April 1998 at 10:30am and 2:00pm, Christies South Kensington). p.88. This catalogue was in National Trust papers provided to the author by Carr-Whitworth, R. 92 93

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 21 Interior photo looking south taken by RCHME in 1979. There appears to be an emergency electric light over the doorcase, though the lights on the cornice lighting the ceiling appear to be switched off. BB77/1083: ÂŠ Crown copyright.

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4.0

BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES SURVEY

4.1

Gate piers

Figure 22 South gate pier.

Figure 23 South gate pier showing indents, ironwork and gate. Possible cement pointing.

Figure 24 North gate pier upper crook and stone damage.

Figure 25 North gate pier re-pointing below the cornice.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

About midway along the access path from the north is the gateway with two Palladian-style gate piers. They are over-scaled for the size of the gate to give them a greater status. The two piers are built of local, very dark faun-coloured limestone. The gates have no flanking walls or fences so it is likely that they were intended to be within thick vegetation which is still the case on the western side. In 2009 the National Trust commissioned rectified photography as a record of the gate piers. There have been some repairs where the former hinges and the former keeper for the gate have damaged the stone but, impressively, it seems that the hinge crooks have not been replaced. The stones around the crooks have been fractured by ferrous jacking and pieces fallen off historically. Nonetheless, the crooks seem to be secure. The rust could be inhibited by applying rust inhibitor and regular painting to reduce further damage to the stonework. The stone surfaces are heavily eroded but this does not detract aesthetically from its design values. Some repointing is needed and some parts of the stones are loose. It is possible that some further stone indents are needed where the stone surface is very friable or where there are cracks. The standard of conservation has been high on the piers, and this has retained them for some time, but further maintenance in the form of stone repair, repointing and some stone indenting is needed. The current gate is as tall as the projecting course, the third course in the piers down from the cornice. This looks right but the gate itself is not the original design. It is clear that it was a single leaf gate because there is no indication of a keeper on the west of the two piers. The gate is in fair condition but will need some overall repair. The design of the gate should be researched; it is likely that it would have been painted. A possible improvement would be to fit metal plates over the tops of the stiles to protect the end grain. On the shutting stile of the gate there is a lock with an escutcheon which is now redundant. However the slot for the lock bar with its lead filling is still evident. The stone decay faces south towards the Terrace with the stone surface on the north sides in much better condition. This is quite surprising because the south side of the piers is not particularly exposed to the weather as it is protected by trees and vegetation. It is possible that part of the decay on the south side has been caused much earlier in the life of the piers or, alternatively the north sides were decayed but have been repaired some time ago, possibly around a century ago. Despite the evident good-quality repairs to the piers, the conservation thinking about the selection of stones and avoiding stone indents, the mortar that has been used looks to be cementitious. It is certainly harder than the stone and where it is falling away it is bringing some of the stone with it. In other places it is standing proud on the eroded stones and seems to be contributing to the speed of erosion. 4.2

Tuscan Temple: exteriors

The Tuscan Temple is a circular, peripteral plan, with a domed single room. There was significant replacement of stone in the 1970s. In 2010, there was a photographic condition report on the temple and quinquennial inspection report. The general comments are as follows: 36

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Generally the structure and building fabric is in good order. Stonework is suffering from erosion and friable. Heavy graffiti remains a problem and there is discoloration of stonework by algae/lichens. Internal and external decorations are good. 95 There were no urgent recommendations; however items listed for completion within five years and within ten have not been completed. The masonry below each of the three windows has been renewed. Each window sill has a vertical cut, in line with the architrave. This is an odd detail, but it is not possible that these openings were ever doors because of the untouched eighteenthcentury dado rail inside.

Figure 26 East flanking wall to steps showing cope multiple repairs.

Figure 27 Steps and west flanking wall showing disjuncture of treads and wall.

On other parts of the masonry of the central drum, there is a fair amount of surface erosion. This erosion does not detract from the aesthetic value of the masonry. The quality of the finish is evident elsewhere, though there are some places, like over the window opposite the door and slightly to the north where there might be traces of a coating of either lime slurry or lime wash on the stones.

Parker, D. ‘Quinquennial Survey, Tuscan Temple, Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley’ (NT: 2010). p.3 95

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Figure 28 View looking south east showing multiple replacement of stones and water staining to plinth.

Figure 29 External wall showing indents, graffiti, and previous unsuccessful graffiti remedial work.

Facing south west is an area of more heavy lichen build-up. This could be seen to have fortuitous aesthetic value or ecological value. The south window architraves have been replaced with the exception of the upper stone on the east side. This stone is possibly slightly loose and a crack has opened up between the sash box of the window. There is a further crack between this architrave and the stone to the east of it, and a lot of fractures within the stone. Some action is needed on this stone. Replacement should be avoided, but some conservation work is needed. There is a more minor crack system round the window to the east rising from the west side of the south window, west architrave. Again, this is not visible below the window and it passes up through four courses above the lintel. On the north window only one stone has been replaced leaving the others heavily fractured and needing conservation work. Over each lintel there is an odd arrangement of joints rising through one course, with the joints aligned with the outer edge of the lintel. This might be due to the lintel rising above the extent of the architrave and so spanning across two courses. Some of the cutting of the new stones around the door and the window to the west is not of the highest standard, with aligns not running through. This is noted in the 2010 condition report and quinquennial inspection report. It looks as if the stones have been fitted and then buffed in so that the stones align at the joints. This is a pity on a building in a style where the precision of masonry was important. The window and door joinery looks to be original mid-eighteenth century. It is painted an off-white stony shade. This shade is a sympathetic colour to the stone and well chosen. No scientific examination of the paint layers on this building has been 38

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carried out. However, the late 1980s specification for repainting includes an instruction to burn off the existing paint, and therefore it is likely that original shades will have been lost. There is therefore little point in analysing the joinery for this evidence by microscopic section analysis. There is a lot of graffiti carved on the building, particularly towards the side facing away from the Terrace. There is at least one pane of glass with graffiti from the nineteenth century, in one of the doors (in the 2010 condition survey this is referred to as scratching on the glass). Most of the graffiti is historic, but some is alarmingly recent, including some dated 2013 on the pillar to the south of the east window. Some action to prevent further graffiti might be needed in the future. Some of the graffiti appears to have been filled perhaps in the nineteenth century. The colour of the filler is much browner than the original stone, and now highlights them. The outer colonnade has had also had substantial repairs in the 1970s. On the entablature, there are also clear replacements where the new stone is evident for not having the patina of lichen on it. Over the two eastern most columns, slightly to the north of the east window there are elements of the frieze which should be further repointed and repaired. The plinth has three main courses between the base course and the cornice course which runs around the base of the columns. There is quite a lot of erosion on this stone, particularly to the east. Repairs have been made by repointing and possibly by the insertion of vents. Masonry is in fair condition for the moment. It will need to be checked quinquennially for decay. The extent and speed of decay should be monitored by record photographs in the quinquennial inspection report. The roof has a stepped form rising to a relatively shallow dome. There is a flat roof around the head of the colonnade. The masonry wall around the dome is not covered with lead but the steps for the central dome and the flat roof over the colonnade is. Rainwater is allowed to run off wherever it can, and is not conducted to down pipes which would disfigure the structure. There are no internal down pipes running down through columns for instance. This means that there are some points where water is more likely to gather during rain. One of these is on the south side where a persistent drip is causing a wet area in the grass by the plinth and also some water splashing out makes a dark stain on the lowest course of the plinth. This could be considered to be appropriate character and it does not detract from the appearance of the building or its role as an eye-catcher at the eastern end of the Terrace. The flanking walls either side of the steps have some courses of stones slightly out of position and the cope stones are in poorer condition. There have been previous early repairs. One of the copes is concrete. There are open joints in many places where water can pond on the upper surface of the flanking walls. This is noted in the 2010 condition report and quinquennial inspection report. The joints should be kept well pointed. In the medium term however, these walls should be rebuilt and straightened. It might be worth including a DPM underneath the cope. The archaeology of the steps should be considered. They look to have been inserted after the construction of the flanking walls. It looks like there were originally fewer steps with significantly taller risers than the existing steps, possibly in the nineteenth century. The steps need to be rebuilt. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Around the inner face of the entablature, a strip of timber (?) has been fitted. It is not clear if this was the original position of the colonnade soffit or ceiling. The current lime-plaster soffit is one course of masonry above this line. There are some cracks at the outer edge of the plasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outer cornice which should be checked periodically. To the north-east there is an area of damp staining which might relate to a current leak in the lead roof. This decay is not disfiguring and to some extent a small amount of decay in this ceiling does not negatively affect its aesthetic value. One bat roost was visible at time of survey, though it is not known whether it is in active use. 4.3

Tuscan Temple: interiors

There is a spectacular dome above, painted a blue wash with white ribs. At the head of the dome is a painted panel depicting a winged female figure, in a wreathed oakleaf pattern surround. The ribs of the dome intersect creating diamond-shaped coffers. The ribs are enriched with guilloche mouldings, with rosettes at the intersections. There is a further band of guilloche moulding at the springing line of the dome above the cornice.

Figure 30 Floor showing the re-used medieval tiles installed c.1820

Figure 31 Interior showing plasterwork and paint colours.

The richly-moulded modillion cornice itself is essentially of the Corinthian order â&#x20AC;&#x201C; contrasting to the Tuscan exterior. Dentils alternate with rosettes, above a line of egg and dart. Interleaved oak leaves form the pulvinated frieze, above the bipartite architrave. There is a similar entablature above the door. The walls above the carved dado are plain, enriched with symmetrical motifs of swags with a central mask over each window. The walls are plastered and painted a different blue from the coffers of the dome. There is minor bleaching and also possible condensation damage above the dado rail. There are also very minor cracks in the paint finish, particularly around the eastern window, and a minor crack above 40

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the centre of the north window. There is loss of bonding between the surface and the substrate in various places. There is a further crack above the south window at its western end, which might also relate to a slight easing and a crack in the joinery in the west inner architrave of the south window. There is a crack running centrally above the east window as well. The dado appears to be painted in a slightly different blue. It has been bleached and affected by loss of pigment. More paint is missing at this level and the cracked areas expose a yellow brown substrate behind which may be the base coat of the plaster. The condition of the interior appears fair with no signs of water damage. The interior was certainly repainted, following the personal taste of the last Earl of Feversham (see historical narrative), in the 1950s or early 1960s, but probably not redecorated in its entirety since, being only partially redecorated in 1987. Approximately five of the coffers have been repainted in a blue colour that does not match the original blue wash. This is noted in the 2010 quinquennial inspection report. No scientific investigation of the interior paint scheme has been carried out. On the dado and some other joinery there are some marks from nails rusting. The skirting is distorted and leaning inwards towards the centre at the south-western corner but is vertical for most of the remainder of the perimeter, more so than the north-western corner. The floor is a complex mosaic of tiles reused from Rievaulx Abbey ruin. There are chevron motifs and other glazed pieces. There are points of individual damage, probably caused before they were installed in this building. The damage is more pronounced towards the centre of the floor. The condition of the floor was surveyed in 1984 and in again in 1991 by Sandra Davidson and Trevor Proudfoot (Cliveden Conservation). These surveys were prompted because of salt efflorescence on the surface of the tiles, loss of glaze and general deterioration. It was considered that the salts might be ‘water borne ground salts from sources within the Temple itself i.e. from rising damp’. 96 In September 1991, three bore holes were drilled under tiles that had been lifted for conservation. There are a series of photographs documenting this process, but no report came to light during the time allowed for the preparation of this conservation plan (Figure 32 and Figure 33). It was ascertained that the tiles were bedded in lime mortar, sitting on packed rubble, supported on a stone vault. Testing showed that a high concentration of salts was present in the bedding mortar of the tiles. Though some conservation was made of a few tiles at the time, lifting and conservation was recommended for the whole floor; for the substrate, removal of decayed mortar, insertion of a damp-proof course and laying a new mortar bed was recommended. RH monitoring for one year was also recommended. 97 The ‘special relationship of the 18th century temple with its acquired 13th century monastic floor’ is noted and:

96 97

Davidson S, ‘Project report’ for tiled floor (Clivden Conservation: 1991). p.2 Davidson S, ‘Project report’ for tiled floor. p.3

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

It was agreed that, whatever the final choice of conservation treatment, the tiles could never again function as a floor to be walked upon. 98 It is not known at present to what extent the recommendations were carried out, though some conservation work was carried out. If a report was written concerning the conservation it is at present mislaid.

Figure 32 September 1991 photograph of Tuscan Temple floor, labelled ‘Relationship of bore holes 1, 2 & 3 to each other’. The removed tiles and bore holes are all at the bottom of the image, centre and right.

4.4

Figure 33 September 1991 photograph, labelled ‘Core samples removed from bore holes 1, 2 & 3’.

Ionic Temple: ground floor interior

In the basement, it is not clear if the finishes are particularly old, but the shutters and architraves suggest that they may be. These might have layers of paint which would help to understand the decorative history of the interior. In the ceiling the original timbers are visible with a principal timber spanning east-west. There are secondary timbers running north-south. The ones to the north are the framing timbers for a fireplace hearth. The interior is in reasonable decorative condition and contains an exhibition. The floor has fine flagstones which have been painted in the past. These flagstones continue to the children’s area: they are smaller and less finely finished and have been less recently treated. There are electric heaters in the children’s area, and some cabling to the north-west. At the access to the children’s area the corner is badly damaged with plaster falling away.

Davidson S, ‘Project report’ for tiled floor. p.3

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Figure 34 Ground floor showing general loss of paint to vaults.

Figure 35 Detail showing loss of loss of paint to vaults by external moisture penetration.

Under the portico there is vaulting, which is presumably brick covered in plaster. The kitchen is to the north, with a concrete floor and quite a lot of blistered paint. There is some water staining and efflorescence around sockets on the east wall. There are individual points of damp throughout this area. The internal doors look to be more recent than the eighteenth century. There is a WC and this has ventilation in it which may be improving the amount of water showing up on this interior considerably. There are some cracks on the south wall and more notably on the west wall. There is also some cracking in the partition between this toilet and the corridor to the south. There are air vents in the east wall which should be run constantly. There are some surface-mounted electric heaters. They are not centrally controlled and are not sufficient to drive off the moisture in the fabric. A heating system is needed in conjunction with improved ventilation to dry these interiors and prevent deterioration of the fabric.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Figure 36 South and east elevations showing replaced portico and multiple stone indents to east elevation.

4.5

Ionic Temple: exteriors

The roof is lead, and looks like it was replaced in the twentieth century, perhaps in the 1970s. Rainwater discharges to cornice gutters which on both east and west are discharged to the north which is the back of the building. There are two cast-iron down pipes running down the north wall, which discharge to a lead gutter or lead flashing, which in turn discharges into a cast-iron gutter on brackets. This has one outlet towards the north east corner. Running along the east and west elevations, below the position of the dining room floor is a further lead flashing and a gutter. It is possible that the gutter is not needed in this area but the lead flashing is certainly needed since the plinth course extends out some distance beyond the plane of the wall above. It is all in fair condition, although some of the lead is a little bit dented towards the east side of the north elevation. The arrangement is not likely to have been original, and any downpipes on the north elevation would have been made of lead, probably replaced in the nineteenth century with cast iron. The plinth-course gutters are late twentieth century additions, possibly in response to the basement being damp. The masonry of many elements of the portico was renewed in the 1970s. Work on the portico has been carried out to a high standard. Some decayed masonry has been left at the cornice level. Apart from some pointing at the lowest part of the entablature (vertical joints in the architrave), there is little further repair required here. Around about the windowsill level there are some eroded stones but these should be left in place for as long as possible before indenting in perhaps ten to fifteen years. Below 44

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

the central window there is some obvious cement mortar which would be better removed since it seems to be associated with an area of decay. The plinth course is far more heavily eroded, but has been subject of conservation work. Some points of previous repair where holes have been filled with cement are now standing proud.

Figure 37 West elevation showing stone damage, multiple indents and rainwater goods.

On the north side there have been stone repairs near to the head of the chimney, but there are further eroded stones in this area. Some further surface erosion has taken place in the lowest two courses above the base course, along with a similar amount of heavier erosion in the base course. The external ironwork needs to be repainted. On the east side there is a similar pattern of decay to the west side, with a greater amount of repairs previously completed. The lowest course above the base course has a different character to the rest of the masonry which may indicate where previous repairs have been made. Around the flight of four stairs down to the basement there are low retaining walls. There is significant displacement in these retaining walls which might, eventually, have to be rebuilt. The steps are out of positon and need to be reset. The main flight of steps to the portico are full width, an in the manner of Roman Antique precedent. Much of the mortar between the stones is now missing and many of the steps are out of position. There may be a health and safety issue for visitors because of the uneven steps. The steps were the subject of a report in 2011 and it is intended to re-bed them.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Within the portico soffit is a plaster ceiling with an oval moulding, again with guilloche and rosette pattern enrichment. In the entablature, on the top moulding of the architrave, there are spikes to deter birds. The plasterwork was entirely replaced in the rebuilding in the 1970s. There is an area of damage apparently from a leak near to the north-east corner. This may be historical. The front wall with the entrance to the interior within the portico is in fair condition. There is some damage to masonry at the base of the wall, presumably where it has been splashed by water standing on the surface of the paving. The paved area has been kept reasonably well pointed and it is possible that it was rebuilt with a dampproof membrane in the last twenty-five years or so. Near the front of the door is a drain which looks like a 1970s insertion. It is not clear where this drain runs to. Unlike the Tuscan Temple, the external window joinery looks like it was replaced in the late eighteenth or early to mid-nineteenth century. This assumption is based on the narrow glazing bars, contrasting to the wider glazing bars, typical of the mideighteenth century in the Tuscan Temple. The joinery is painted an off-white, stony shade. This shade is a sympathetic colour to the stone and well chosen. There has been no scientific examination of the paint layers on this building, though it is possible that no evidence remains, if previous layers were removed as at the Tuscan Temple. The joinery should be analysed by microscopic section analysis and the original colours should form the basis of choosing a colour the next time the joinery is repainted. The door looks to be original because the inner leaf is carved to match the rest of the interior fitted joinery. The door handle and escutcheon may be original. The door and frame are painted on the exterior. It is possible that the door was painted a different colour to the window joinery and this should be considered in specifying repainting. As the designed appearance of the portico was entirely restored in the 1970s and it remains today crisp and pale coloured, the patina of age on the door draws the eye and appears out of place. 4.6

Ionic Temple: first floor interior

The ceiling is divided into two areas; a smooth plaster cove and a flat central panel. It retains its 1750s fresco work painted by Giuseppe Borgnis, in the Italian baroque style. There is figurative painting with illusory architectural elements creating wall planes etc. in the cove. There is then a plaster beam enriched with mouldings, framing the flat centre field, which has a large, single, figurative painting. The mouldings are painted with details picked out in gilding. The paintings on the ceilings and cove have been restored. There is a report by Tobit Curteis Associates (2007) on the frescos though most of the recommendations have not yet been actioned. A previous report was undertaken by Katy Lithgow in 1998 and 2002. A more detailed and holistic study might examine the fabric and structure of the roof, its void, lack of insulation, ventilation etc, in relation to the conservation of the ceiling frescos. There is a very rich Corinthian entablature, with repeating foliate scrolling in the frieze. The entablature is painted with details picked out in gilding. There are electric lights mounted invisibly on the cornice to illuminate the painted ceiling. 46

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

The walls are plastered down to the dado. The walls are fielded into large panels defined by egg and dart (leaf) mouldings; there is a larger-scale and egg and dart (different leaf) moulding which frames the window ingos. All mouldings are painted with gilded details. The dado rail and dado are made of horizontal timbers. There is a rich overmantel consisting of a pair of bracketed terms supporting an entablature. The entablature was designed in a five-part rhythm, with the ends and a central panel breaking forward. Above is a broken-scrolled pediment. All elements are painted and picked out in gilding. This creates a frame for a fairly square overmantel mirror, which is of old glass, possibly the original.

Figure 38 View from door into room showing interior walls, ceiling cove, collections items, heaters and carpeting.

The painting and gilding of the walls was renewed around the second quarter of the twentieth century, judging from the 1770 descriptive account of Arthur Young. No scientific paint analysis has been carried out. The chimneypiece is carved white marble, with a pair of herms supporting a cornice, in the same five-part rhythm as the cornice in the overmantel. There are garlands and drops of fruit, and an egg and dart moulding frames the hearth opening. It is in the style of Henry Cheere. One piece of fruit appears to have been replaced in a creamcoloured marble. There is minor cracking in the marble and in the plaster immediately to the east. There is also cracking visible above the lintels of the east wall. On the south wall, there is minor cracking. On the east wall, there is cracking in the over-door and also an easing opening between the west architrave and the architrave that passes across the lintel of the door. On the west side, there is minor cracking around the northern Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

part of the south window, to the north of the central window and over the southern architrave of the north window. Some of this is historical cracking. Some of the joints in the dado are opening up and some of the skirting appears loose. The skirting has been removed at some point and refitted with screws in washers. The room was carpeted in natural fibre-woven matting (sisal?) at the time of inspection, and the floor could not be inspected. There is a rubber mat in the portico outside the door, which is causing discolouration to the stone pavement. This should be removed. There are oil-filled heaters which are visually intrusive. The heating is needed to provide climate control for the collections items and for the fabric of the building itself. It may prove more efficient to heat the fabric to a low level at all times, with a separate system that could respond to smaller changes in RH etc. for the collections. 4.7

Ruinous structure to north of Ionic Temple (AA survey feature 004)

Figure 39 Photograph of structure looking east, showing former door opening and turf topping of exposed wall heads.

This structure is a stone rubble constructed rectangular building. It measures 2.75m by 4.30m internally, with walls 0.55m thick; clay bonding with possible lime inclusions and is heavily degraded. Walls survive up to 2m high. There is an entrance located at the north-east corner, but it appears that this was a later insertion, and that the present window at the south-west corner, approximately 1m wide, was the original entrance. No window openings can be seen; there are some internal wall features. 48

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

The wall heads have been turf topped to prevent deterioration of the fabric. However, most joints between the rubble masonry have no mortar. The joints are wide suggesting that that they would have been pinned and perhaps the building harled or at least lime washed. There are red clay pantiles visible on the ground and in the undergrowth around the walls, and it is possible that these are part of the last roof of the building shown on the 1910 OS. There is a considerable buildup of earth against the external face of the south wall; this partly natural, as the building is built into the slope, but around half may be the result of erosion. 4.8

WC building to west of Ionic Temple

Figure 40 Photograph showing WC block entrance north elevation.

Figure 41 Photograph showing WC block west and south elevations.

A small rectangular plan building, of squared rubble-faced blocks, bonded with lime mortar. The building has a slate roof, laid directly on the north and south wall head with no wall-head cope stones, in the vernacular manner. There are cast concrete Vprofile ridge tiles. The west wall contains a small window that measures 46 by 58m. There is a segmental-headed door opening with raised margins in the north wall. The door is late twentieth century, of vertically-boarded tongue-and-groove with crossbracing. There is red discolouration to the masonry of the north elevation only. The building measures 1.27m by 1.62m with walls 0.45m thick. Height to wall head 2m and 2.70m to ridge.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Externally, the building is in good condition with limited areas where repointing is needed. Joinery and rainwater goods appear well painted and in good condition. Downpipe/gutters not checked. Interior of walls plastered on the hard (i.e. applied to masonry) and lime washed white with some light blue visible. Evidence for removed toilet and foul pipe can be seen on the floor flagged sandstone floor, with an overflow pipe at high level. The internal plaster is in poor condition, much of it fallen away, and exposing the masonry wall substrate.

Figure 42 Photograph showing east and south wall of WC.

Figure 43 Photograph showing south wall of WC. Soil pipe visible in floor and redundant overflow pipe in wall.

Figure 44 Photograph showing south and west wall of WC showing window and redundant overflow pipe.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

5.0

ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

5.1

Introduction

Significance is a specific heritage term defined in the National Planning Policy Framework: The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset's physical presence, but also from its setting. 99 Historic England defines significance as: The sum of the cultural and natural heritage values of a place. 100 This assessment evaluates Rievaulx Terrace as a place that embodies culturalheritage significance. The assessment is based on the information contained in the previous sections of this conservation plan, and evaluates it following the guidance laid out by Historic England in Conservation principles. 101 This states that the value of different aspects of cultural heritage should be considered from different points of view, to reach as objective a conclusion of significance as possible. Cultural heritage is therefore considered and evaluated in a broad context. 5.2

Evidential Value Evidential value derives from the potential of the site to yield evidence about past human activity. Physical remains of past human activity are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them… Their evidential value is proportionate to their potential to contribute to people’s understanding of the past… The ability to understand and interpret the evidence tends to be diminished in proportion to the extent of its removal or replacement. 102

There is evidential value in the buildings and gate piers. This is somewhat limited because of the generally well-understood phasing of the two temple buildings. This breaks down to a primary period of construction in the 1750s, minor secondary changes, probably in the nineteenth century, and major replacement of stone in a tertiary phase in the 1970s. The gate piers are likely to be 1750s contemporary. There is evidential value in the ruinous structure to the north of the Ionic Temple (AA feature 004), likely to reveal some evidence concerning the function of the building in the context of the terrace. No other information has been found concerning this structure and the archaeological resource is considered to be the sole source of information.

National Planning Policy Framework, Annex 2: Glossary (Department of Communities and Local Government, 2012) 100 English Heritage Conservation principles: policies and guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment (2008). p.72 101 EH Conservation principles. p.72 102 EH Conservation principles. p. 28 99

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

There is strong evidential value derived from the medieval tiles from a pavement in the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, installed in the Tuscan Temple in the 1810s. These are an exceptional survival and re-use of a pavement from the abbey, with antiquarian interest, including Maw’s 1860s record drawing. There is evidential value in the elements of the fabric that retain evidence of previous decorative schemes. This includes internal elements in both temples, and possibly the external joinery of the Ionic Temple, though probably not the Tuscan. There is also some evidential value in the graffiti on the Tuscan Temple. There is evidential value in the collections items, but their primary values are historical and aesthetic. 5.3

Historical Value Historical value derives from the ways in which past people, events and aspects of life can be connected through a place to the present. It tends to be illustrative or associative… Illustration depends on visibility in a way that evidential value (for example, of buried remains) does not… The illustrative value of places tends to be greater if they incorporate the first, or only surviving, example of an innovation of consequence, whether related to design, technology or social organisation… Association with a notable family, person, event, or movement gives historical value a particular resonance. Being at the place where something momentous happened can increase and intensify understanding through linking historical accounts of events with the place where they happened – provided, of course, that the place still retains some semblance of its appearance at the time. 103

5.3.1

Illustrative

There is historical illustrative value in the buildings and structures, and this is perhaps their strongest value alongside design value. The buildings have been heavily restored, and they both bear a close resemblance to their original appearance. This means that they illustrate the Palladian architectural style very well, including all its refinements, for example fine stone detailing. More importantly however, taken together as a single unit, they show the typical integration of buildings into the designed landscape in the mid-eighteenth century. This was a relatively common element of designed landscapes in the period, but the restored condition of the temples in their original settings gives them particular illustrative value. They fall into the more expressive period in landscape design typical of the mid-century, and the general nature of the allusions to Classical Antiquity derived largely from seventeenth-century Arcadian landscape painting, remains legible and is a source of strong illustrative value. There is strong illustrative value in the interior of the Ionic Temple with its highquality and well-preserved ceiling paintings. The repainting of the interior walls etc.

103 EH

Conservation principles. p. 28 Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

in the twentieth century, though not based on scientific evidence, was based on the 1770 documentary comment by Young of ‘gilt carving on a brown ground’. Therefore, it looks very much like it would have done in the 1750s when completed. However, the display of furniture and plate is not based on evidence. Many of the pieces are anachronistic, particularly the nineteenth-century-style table and service of plate. The settees and arguably the pier tables also go against the current understanding of what mid eighteenth-century dining rooms contained. It therefore could be argued that these elements negatively affect that specific illustrative value in the interior, by substituting a lesser one, reflecting later periods of the site’s presentation. The collections items have strong historical illustrative value, as most of them are of high quality and in fine condition, and are typical examples of their type. The Kent settees are described as illustrating all that is typical in Kent furniture design and have strong value in this regard. There is illustrative value derived from the arrangement of the two floors of the Ionic Temple. The design of the building a basement with a large fireplace under the room above, shows that it was intended to be serviced, and supports documentary evidence that the pavilion was used for dining. This is in contrast to the Tuscan Temple, where it would have been difficult to serve any food or drink, which would have to have been brought ready to serve, cold, and with all tableware. There is some illustrative value in the WC building to the west of the Ionic Temple, as it shows how the landscape and its buildings continued to be used in the first half of the nineteenth century. 5.3.2

Associative

The associative historical value of the buildings and structures is derived from the Duncombe family, their seat at Duncombe Park and their archive papers in the North Yorkshire Record Office. Value is also derived from the fact that the buildings are owned, maintained and made open to the public by the National Trust, whose heroic efforts in the 1960s secured them for the enjoyment of future generations. These aspects of historical value is the same as that for the terrace as a whole. The two temples have further historical associative value derived from their genesis in the English architectural movement of Palladianism. The style has a rich language of architectural quotation and allusion, based on myriad and culturally-complex sources. Initially in the early decades of the eighteenth century, the ultimate source was Roman Antiquity, but understood through its interpreters including architects like Palladio and Jones, painters like Claude and Rosa, and the first-hand experience of architects and clients taking the Grand Tour. By the time that the temples at Rievaulx were designed in the 1750s, the sources had increased further to include English work of the 1720s and 1730s, published in engravings and widely circulated. The design of neither temple is exceptional and the architect unknown, however both are excellent examples of a type of garden building of which many were built in a wave of enthusiasm from the 1720s in the designed landscapes of the wealthy. Not many survive and few in this fine condition. The English designed landscape style of this period, of which garden buildings are an integral part, is argued to be one of the most original contributions of Britain to the visual arts. Therefore, the associative value of the temples is strong.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

There is additional associative value in the interiors and collections. Some items in the collection have their own historical associative value; the pair of gilt settees designed by William Kent is associated with him, one of the most important English designers, and Wanstead House, one of the most important mansions in the Palladian style. The associative value of some of the other pieces (the console tables, pier glasses and the dinner service) formerly property of other members of the Duncombe family is also notable, and they were clearly carefully assembled by the last Earl of Feversham. The interiors themselves contain frescos by two important Italian artists who were working in Britain in the mid eighteenth century, Borgnis and Casali. Both artists came to England expressly to work on contracts they had been promised, Casali at the invitation of Thomas Duncombe IInd’s father-in-law, the 4th Earl of Carlisle. There is historical associative value in the historic photographs of the Ionic Temple which show that the basement continued to be used as accommodation or working space for the gardener and his wife. It is possible that the latter was the caretaker for the temple, responsible for example for cleaning, fires, lighting and providing some service as required. It is clear that the couple also sold plants, perhaps to members of the public visiting the Terrace. The interiors of both temples were largely redecorated and the collection assembled by the last Earl of Feversham in the mid-twentieth century. They are along mid eighteenth-century lines, but reflect a mid-twentieth century understanding of eighteenth-century interiors and Lord Feversham’s personal taste more strongly than they represent an accurate historical re-creation. 5.4

Aesthetic value Aesthetic value derives from the ways in which people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation from a place. Aesthetic values can be the result of the conscious design of a place, including artistic endeavour. Equally, they can be the seemingly fortuitous outcome of the way in which a place has evolved and been used over time. Many places combine these two aspects… Design value relates primarily to the aesthetic qualities generated by the conscious design of a building, structure or landscape as a whole. It embraces composition (form, proportions, massing, silhouette, views and vistas, circulation and usually materials or planting, decoration or detailing, and craftsmanship…)… Strong indicators of importance are quality of design and execution, and innovation, particularly if influential... Some aesthetic values are not substantially the product of formal design, but develop more or less fortuitously over time, as the result of a succession of responses within a particular cultural framework...

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Aesthetic value resulting from the action of nature on human works, particularly the enhancement of the appearance of a place by the passage of time (“the patina of age”), may overlie the values of a conscious design. 104 5.4.1

Design value

The temples have very strong aesthetic design value. The interior and exterior of both temples was designed as a single conception in the Palladian style, both to a high standard, though the architect is unknown. The design values survive well, because both buildings have been well maintained and restored by the National Trust in the 1970s restoration of the exteriors. The exceptional painted interior of the Ionic Temple, both the ceiling paintings and the carved and gilded joinery, raise the design value if this interior above that of the exteriors. This level of richness in an English garden building of this period is rare and its state of preservation good. Similarly, the antiquarian use of the tesserae from Rievaulx Abbey in the flooring of the Tuscan Temple c.1821, combined with the preexisting Palladian joinery, plasterwork and figurative roundel, makes this interior of greater design value than its exterior. This is despite the present paint colours, based on taste. However, the re-painting of the Tuscan Temple in the mid-twentieth century could be argued to have negatively affected the design value of this interior. The plasterwork has a strong design value, as it is of high quality, with evidently few repaints and in good condition. However, the present paint colours, based on taste rather than evidence, and the mismatched blues in the dome vault negatively affect that illustrative value. Aesthetic design value continues to be affected by weathering on both buildings, and graffiti on one. The relationship between the two temples and the gate piers is also a designed and intended feature and a component in the designed landscape as a whole. The primary value of the piers themselves is considered therefore to be aesthetic design value, in the context of the terrace design, where they provided the original entrance. They were deliberately situated at the half-way point on the terrace and formed a liminal point on the drive from Duncombe Park; they formed the gateway between the productive agricultural estate land and the landscape designed for pleasure on the Terrace. Arguably, this value of the gate piers has been underestimated in the past. The collections items also have design value. Almost all of the items are of very high quality design, materials and craftsmanship. It is possible to separate the Kent settees out as of exceptional design quality, but the pier glasses, console tables, chairs, sconces, garniture de cheminée and dinner service are all in the same category with strong design value. 5.4.2

Fortuitous value

This heritage value is limited in the buildings and structures. Nature has aged the stone of the temples and gate piers, and some of this weathering has the patina of

104 EH

Conservation principles. pp. 30-31

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

graceful ageing, showing the great age of the structures. There were elements in the past which had aesthetic fortuitous value, for example the weathered columns on the Ionic Temple, but this value was a direct threat to all other values because they had become structurally unsound. The patina of wear on the floor tiles of the Ionic Temple reflects the great age and the story of the tiles taken from the abbey ruin in the 1810s. Most of the wear must have occurred when the tiles were in situ in the abbey and therefore before they were relaid in the temple. It is likely that one of the reasons that they were chosen was because of their pattern of wear. There continue to be some areas of the fabric which have weathered or aged badly which threaten other values; these include the flanking-wall copes of the steps and the steps themselves on the Tuscan Temple, and the steps of the Ionic. There are also areas of decoration where aesthetic fortuitous value has been considered to be a high priority in the past, but which arguably now negatively affects both the design and historical illustrative values. These include the interior decoration of the Tuscan Temple and the door of the Ionic Temple. It could be argued that there is some fortuitous aesthetic value in the furniture assembled by the 3rd Earl of Feversham. Though the individual pieces are of high quality, their assemblage in one eighteenth-century dining room reflects mid twentieth-century understanding of interiors. 5.5

Communal Value Communal value derives from the meanings of a place for the people who relate to it, or for whom it figures in their collective experience or memory… Commemorative and symbolic values reflect the meanings of a place for those who draw part of their identity from it, or have emotional links to it. …Such values tend to change over time, and are not always affirmative… Social value is associated with places that people perceive as a source of identity, distinctiveness, social interaction and coherence... They may relate to an activity that is associated with the place, rather than with its physical fabric... Compared with other heritage values, social values tend to be less dependent on the survival of historic fabric. Spiritual value [sic. emphasis] … includes the sense of inspiration and wonder that can arise from personal contact with places long revered, or newly revealed. Spiritual value is often associated with places sanctified by longstanding veneration or worship, or wild places with few obvious signs of modern life. 105

5.5.1

Commemorative and symbolic

There is very limited commemorative or symbolic value.

105 EH

Conservation principles. p.31 Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

5.5.2

Social value

There is social value in the thousands of visitors per year. These visitors are a vital component in the overall existence of the National Trust and one of the reasons that Rievaulx Terrace was acquired. There is potential for increasing this social value by attracting more visitors. However, there will be a finite annual number of visitors who can be accommodated in the Ionic Temple without a major effect on relative humidity for conservation of the collections. The National Trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aims and purposes have led to it being seen by government and major public grant-givers as a suitable and sympathetic holder of places for public benefit. This is implied in support for the NT through both financial and legal means. It can be argued that the responsibility for delivering that public benefit becomes imbued in a place and a notable part of its significance once it is taken on by the NT and opened to the public. 5.5.3

Spiritual value

There is very limited social spiritual value associated with Rievaulx Terrace. 5.6

Grading of significance of individual elements

Based on the assessment of heritage values above, the cultural heritage significance of the buildings and structures, their interiors and collections is indicated on the table and figures that follow. The following definitions are those used in this conservation plan only, but are based on best practice, outlined by Historic England. Table 2 (below) Table of cultural-heritage significance system used in this conservation plan.

Outstanding significance A building or element of international or national importance, or a fine, intact or little-altered example of a particular period, style or type that embodies the importance of the buildings or site overall or the element to which it is a part. Considerable significance A building or element of national or regional importance (the north east of England), or a good example of a particular period, style or type with a high degree of intact original fabric that contributes substantially to the importance of the buildings or site overall, or the element to which it is a part, that may have been altered. Moderate significance A building or element of local importance (Yorkshire), or an element that contributes to, but is not a key element to the importance of the buildings or site overall, or the element to which it is a part, that may have been altered. Neutral significance An element which neither contributes, nor detracts from the importance of the buildings or site overall. Negative significance A building or element which detracts from the overall significance of the buildings or site overall. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Table 3 (below) Table of elements and assessed levels of cultural-heritage significance

Element/units

Statutory designation

Significance

Listed Building at Grade I Considerable (1149251) Ionic Temple interior: basement Moderate Ionic Temple exterior

Ionic Temple interior: first floor Tuscan Temple exterior Tuscan Temple interior

Outstanding Listed Building at Grade I Considerable (1315950) Outstanding

Covered as element in Considerable Registered Historic Park and Ruinous structure to north of Garden, Grade I (1001072) Moderate Ionic Temple (AA feature 004) Gate piers

19thC WC to west of Ionic Temple Collections items: Kent settees

excepting None

Collections items: Kent settees

5.7

Moderate

None

Considerable Outstanding

Summary statement of significance

In this summary statement, the sections above are evaluated and compared, and a conclusion drawn on the overall cultural heritage significance of Rievaulx Terrace in national and international terms as a heritage asset. Rievaulx Terrace embodies important cultural heritage values for society today. It has evidential, historical, aesthetic and communal heritage values (as defined by Historic England). All the values have the potential to be sustained, revealed and enhanced if change is carefully considered, planned and managed. There is evidential value in the fabric and decorative surfaces of the mid-eighteenthcentury temples, including the medieval tiled floor installed in the 1810s, and in subsequent minor changes and the major restoration in the 1970s. There is historical value derived from the temples as fine examples of the Palladian architectural style, inside and out, and the integration of buildings and gate piers into the designed landscape is typical of this period. Value is also derived from their associations to the Duncombe family, archives and the history of the National Trust.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

Figure 45 Plans of the Ionic and Tuscan Temples, showing cultural-heritage significance.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

The collections items have historical value as fine-quality examples of fairly typical furniture of the early and mid-eighteenth century. This is with the exception of the pair of settees which surpass all the others in historical value, designed by William Kent for Wanstead House. They also have historical value derived from the fact that they were collected by the last Earl of Feversham. There is aesthetic value in the buildings and gate piers, and their interiors, as they were carefully designed, sited in relation to each other, constructed and latterly maintained to a high standard. This has meant that they remain legible as works of design. The same is the case with the collections, which were also carefully designed, made by good craftsmen and have been well cared for, especially in the case of the Kent settees. There is also value in the patina of wear of the medieval tiled floor of the Tuscan Temple. There is more limited communal value in the buildings and structures, derived from their ownership by the National Trust and being open to visitors. Though it can be problematic to attempt to place a structure in a category of significance relative to other sites and buildings, it is important to give these buildings structures a context, to allow its significance to be compared to others in the region, and the United Kingdom. Overall, based on the above assessment of heritage value, this conservation plan assesses the buildings and structures on Rievaulx Terrace to be collectively of considerable cultural-heritage significance. This categorisation of significance is the second level of five levels of cultural significance.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

6.0

ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES & RISKS TO SIGNIFCANCE

6.1

Introduction

This section outlines the particular issues and risks to the significance detailed in the previous section of this CMP, now and in the future. It also identifies opportunities to sustain, reveal and enhance that significance. 6.2

Current ownership and management

The buildings and structures were purchased in 1972 by the National Trust and, along with the designed landscape, are managed and maintained for the enjoyment of visitors. The buildings and structures, their fabric and collections, are conserved and managed in line with the National Trust’s policies set at national level. These include the eight objectives expressed in the ‘Conservation performance indicator’ (CPI). The National Trust intranet description of the CPI follows: The Conservation Performance Indicator (CPI) has been developed as a way of measuring how well we are doing by charting progress towards achieving our conservation objectives. It provides a numerical index that can sit alongside more easily countable measures, such as financial performance, visitor numbers and membership, and is now a critical part of the Trust’s national strategic KPIs. There are also systems of national budgeting control, designated funds for conservation of fabric and collections, and professional curatorial staff who follow industry standards and guidelines. 6.3

Active obstacles, issues and threats

6.3.1

Fabric

HIGHEST RISK Issue of condition of peristyle steps and flanking walls of both temples Issue of condition of basement interior of Ionic Temple including lack of good heating system Risk of damage to significance ceiling from roof void issues (insect problems, condensation/insulation etc) Issue of lack of understanding of condition and previous conservation of the tessellated floor in the Tuscan Temple MEDIUM RISK Risk of loss of fabric evidence in ancillary structures to the Ionic Temple Issue of condition of gate piers, and lack of appropriate gate Risk that recommendations of 2007 Tobit Curteis Associates on ceiling paintings in Ionic Temple have not been carried out Lack of understanding of original paint colours of both temples, internally and Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

externally Issue of graffiti on Tuscan Temple

LOWEST RISK Issue of rainwater disposal on Tuscan Temple Issue of rubber door mat causing discolouration in Ionic Temple portico 6.3.2

Collections in Ionic Temple

HIGHEST RISK Threat to collections of below-target humidity control MEDIUM RISK Issue of visual intrusion of radiators Issue of visually intrusive and poorly fitted sisal carpet in first floor interior Issue of muddled approach to presentation of first floor interior: ‘period’ room presentation not based on historical evidence; immersive presentation not followed through in completed details. 6.3.3

Visitors and access

The purchase of the buildings on Rievaulx Terrace presumed public access and the National Trust exists partly to enable public access to places of cultural-heritage significance. MEDIUM RISK Threat from increasing conservation costs and other costs or wear and tear associated with increased/sustained visitor access. LOWEST RISK Issue of lack of access for all to first floor Ionic Temple interior. Issue of need to balance visitor and access needs with conservation or immersive presentation needs.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

6.4

Potential threats

6.4.1

Fabric

HIGHEST RISK Risk of damage to significance ceiling by contractors working in roof void Risk of limited capability to spend freely on tackling conservation issues because of lack of endowment for Rievaulx Terrace. MEDIUM RISK Lack of understanding concerning ancillary structures to the Ionic Temple Risk that Quinquennial reports have not historically included all buildings and structures Risk of catastrophic damage by natural disaster, vandalism, terrorism etc. LOWEST RISK Lack of knowledge of original designer of the buildings and structures Lack of knowledge of residents of Ionic Temple basement and/or ancillary buildings Potential for poor-quality workmanship in repairs/alterations works if not managed. 6.4.2

Collections

HIGHEST RISK Threat from increasing conservation costs and other costs associated with increased/sustained access. Risk of limited capability to spend freely on tackling conservation issues because of lack of endowment for Rievaulx Terrace. MEDIUM RISK Lack of full provenance for all collections items LOWEST RISK Risk of damage to collections by excessive light exposure if not managed. Risk of catastrophic damage by natural disaster, vandalism, terrorism etc. Threat of poor-quality workmanship in repair/conservation of collections if not managed.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

7.0

RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICIES

7.1

Introduction

The buildings and structures at Rievaulx are of considerable cultural–heritage significance. The heritage values and significance of this site should be sustained, reveled and enhanced106 for future generations through the implementation of appropriate conservation policies based upon recognised good practice. 7.2

Fundamental guiding policies

The National Trust’s Conservation principles (2008) document defines conservation as the careful management of change. It is about revealing and sharing the significance of places and ensuring that their special qualities are protected, enhanced, enjoyed and understood by present and future generations. 107 Rievaulx is of considerable significance. The temples are Grade-I listed which indicates that they are recognised as being of exceptional interest, and internationally important; the gate piers are part of the designed landscape on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, registered at Grade II* and is therefore recognised as of particular significance. 108 The conservation of Rievaulx will depend ultimately on good, creative management. A resolution to act in a conservation-led way should be taken from the beginning to ensure that the principles of informed conservation are key elements of its future. This base policy should encourage the protection and enhancement of the significance of the site and the reduction of risk to fabric, character and setting. Policy 1 – Strategy It is important that a clear strategy for the use, conservation and management of the building and grounds is established and maintained. Appropriate balances must be considered as a framework for making individual decisions. Policy 2 – Resolution A conservation-led approach to future repair, conservation and management should be adopted by all interested parties, based on a sound understanding of the significance of the house, grounds and estate buildings. Policy 3 – Vision Through active and informed conservation, enhancement and interpretation, Rievaulx and estate should continue to be a valued part of the heritage of Britain. Adopting the conservation plan establishes a formal arrangement and allows policies within the plan to be actively used to help protect and enhance what is important. It places an onus on the owner, staff, and people responsible for the management of the site to use the plan as a basis for decision making.

Department for Communities and Local Government National planning policy framework (2012). pp.32-33 107 National Trust Conservation principles (2008). The definition is footnoted as made by the Conservation Directorate, September 2003. 108 http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/listed-buildings/ 106

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Policy 4 – Adoption and use of the conservation plan This conservation plan should be adopted by all interested parties and actively used to help guide the future use and development of Rievaulx. It is designed to provide a framework to inform the future management, use, protection and conservation of the estate. Its findings and advice should be fully adopted by the National Trust and the stakeholders in the Rievaulx estate. It is not expected that the conservation plan could ever be sufficient in detail to provide for every eventuality or answer every question that may arise. It should not be used as a substitute for professional conservation advice. Any professional conservation advice sought should use the conservation plan as a guide. A conservation plan is also a dynamic document that should be adapted and updated as required as further understanding develops. This conservation plan should be updated appropriately following significant conservation and repair work to the estate, and it may be necessary to re-write the whole document in the future to reflect changes in conservation priorities. It is normally expected that conservation plans are updated every ten years or so. 7.3

Significance

This section should be read in conjunction with the section concerning culturalheritage significance in this conservation plan, which includes definitions of the terms. Rating the overall significance of Rievaulx as considerable does not mean that changes cannot be made in the buildings for good reason. Indeed, since the terrace was designed to be visited, and because visitors are an important part of its current ownership and management, change for visitors is inevitable and should be welcomed. However, changes must be based on sound understanding and balancing of the heritage values expressed in the section concerning cultural-heritage significance in this conservation plan. Conservation is said to be the management of change, and changes must be made with proper consideration and care, which may include mitigation of the effects of certain decisions to retain significance. Policy 5 – Elements of outstanding significance Elements of the buildings or site identified as being of the highest significance should be retained, conserved and protected. These parts of Rievaulx should not be adversely affected by any future works, use or management. These elements include the interior of the Ionic Temple with its decorative paintings, Tuscan Temple with its floor and the pair of Kent settees. It is possible that elements of outstanding significance will be affected by future works. Some changes are desirable, like repair. Careful but creative management of change is crucial to the conservation of the site. Policy 6 – Elements of considerable significance Elements of the buildings as being of considerable significance should be retained and respected. These parts of the building may be changed, with care and in an appropriate manner, to make them suitable for a new use, providing this takes place without affecting their significance. These elements include, for example, the masonry exteriors of both temples. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Changes to these elements should be recorded in words and images, for example minutes, narrative descriptions, photographs or drawings and further physical investigation of the fabric undertaken, as appropriate. Policy 7 – Elements of moderate significance Elements of the building identified as being of moderate significance should be retained as evidence of original or early fabric where possible, but changes may be acceptable. The ruinous structure to the north of the Ionic Temple (Addyman Archaeology feature 004) and the WV are assessed to have moderate significance. Changes to these elements should be recorded in words and images, for example minutes, narrative descriptions, photographs or drawings and further physical investigation of the fabric undertaken, as appropriate. Policy 8 – Elements of neutral significance Elements of the building or site identified as being of neutral significance may be removed, altered or retained as required. The basement of the Ionic Temple is assessed to have neutral significance. Changes to these elements should be recorded in words and images, for example minutes, narrative descriptions, photographs or drawings and further physical investigation of the fabric undertaken, as appropriate. Some elements or previous alterations to the building are considered to have an intrusive, or negative, effect on its appearance, appreciation or integrity. Policy 9 – Elements of negative significance Negative elements should be removed from the site as part of any future works where the opportunity arises to restore original fabric or design, or to enhance elements of higher significance. There are relatively few items of negative significance within the buildings Rievaulx. There are elements of earlier works and repairs which are consider as being of negative significance. These inappropriate repairs and materials should be reversed providing doing so will not cause further irreversible harm to the significance of the site. Changes to these elements should be recorded in words and images, for example minutes, narrative descriptions, photographs or drawings and further physical investigation of the fabric undertaken, as appropriate. While the above policies, based on the assessment of significance, help to identify where change may be appropriate, there should nonetheless be a presumption against undue change and alteration. A careful balance needs to be struck between making changes or maintaining the status quo. The impact of all changes should be considered carefully (in heritage and ecological impact assessments), and these should include discussion of the element intended to change, using the cultural heritage value headings used in the assessment of significance section of this conservation plan.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

7.4

Staffing & professional advice

Rievaulx Terrace is managed by the National Trust. The General Manager is the manager for the overall site and is responsible to the National Trust for the conservation of the buildings and estate. The General Manager with the property team, is responsible for the care and management of the buildings and estate fabric, and collections, and is able to bring in suitable NT specialist consultants as required to inform their work. External consultants and advisors are commissioned from time to time. National Trust staff are highly trained and work to industry standards in their respective fields. However, it is essential that there is appropriate training in cultural heritage conservation principles, including staff, volunteers, contractors and advisors so that all decision-making is led by a conservation mentality. This conservation plan should be used as the basis for understanding the history and significance, issues and policies for conservation of the buildings and structures at Rievaulx Terrace. Policy 10 – Conservation-led decision making and training Clear management processes must be in place to ensure that a conservation approach is always prioritised. Staff and volunteers should be trained to ensure that all daily decision-making is conservation led. Policy 11 – Professional advice Employ experienced or suitably qualified professional conservation advisors where it is not possible to provide a full range of conservation or other expertise within the property team at Rievaulx, or the National Trust team. Where staff are not conservation specialists, they should be well trained, with skills and knowledge updated in regular CPD. 7.4.1

Skilled workmanship

Inexperienced workmanship can cause irreversible damage to historic fabric, no matter how well intentioned. Relevant skills include archaeologists, structural surveyors/engineers, architects, and specialists who work with collections. Policy 12 – Skilled Workmanship Appropriate professional or craft skills and experience is essential in all work including inspection, maintenance and repairs. All contractors and consultants should have relevant historic-environment qualifications and experience. 7.5

Fire protection & security

The National Trust has national guidance on security of its properties from fire and deliberate damage by vandalism, theft etc. These aspects are managed in line with these policies at Rievaulx. The Ionic Temple has a fire safety system in place and there is a fire plan. The Tuscan Temple is almost entirely built of stone, has no electrical or other servicing and is considered to be a low fire risk.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

There is a list of the most important collections items that would be prioritised in the event of emergency evacuation of the Ionic Temple, known as the Star Items List. However at present, it does not meet National Trust standards and is too long to be useful in an emergency. Policy 13 – Star items list Revise the Star items list to come in line with National Trust guidance on salvage of collections and emergency preparedness as per Rulebook instructions. 7.6

Statutory and non-statutory constraints

7.6.1

Local Planning Authority

Rievaulx Terrace lies within the area of the North York Moors National Park. As a designated National Park, the area has its own local planning authority (LPA) who should be consulted in relation to all proposals for change in the designated buildings and structures at Rievaulx. 7.6.2

National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. It was published in March 2012, and supersedes the previous Planning Policy Statements. It sets out the Government’s requirements for the planning system only to the extent that it is relevant, proportionate and necessary to do so. It provides a framework within which local people and their accountable councils can produce their own distinctive local and neighbourhood plans, which reflect the needs and priorities of their communities. This document (NPPF) emphasises the concept of ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’. Historic England has produced a very good summary and explanation of the how the NPPF impacts the management of heritage assets on their website. The paragraphs that are relevant to the conservation aspirations of Rievaulx are as follows: 3.

Supporting a prosperous rural economy (para 28)

11.

Conserving and enhancing the natural environment (paras 109-125)

12.

Conserving and enhancing the historic environment (paras 126-141)

There are also guidance notes. These documents are available on the internet and all proposals should checked against the policies in this document to ensure that they comply. 109 7.6.3

Listed Building Consent

The two temple buildings at Rievaulx are Grade I listed buildings. They are therefore recognised as having special national architectural or historic interest. Listing gives a

109

http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/ Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

building statutory protection against unauthorised demolition, alteration and extension. Listed Building Consent from North York Moors National Park Authority will normally be required prior to any programme of repair, conservation and alteration works. Proactive consultation with the local authority should be undertaken early, to determine any specific requirements of the council as part of attaining Listed Building Consent. Although it may not answer specific questions raised as part of Listed Building Consent applications, the conservation plan should be used as a tool to assist in this process. 7.6.4

Registered Historic Park and Garden

The estate owned by the National Trust is a Registered Park and Garden, listed at Grade I (see section on statutory designations in this CMP). The effect of registration is to make the effect of proposed development on the estate and its setting a material consideration in the planning process. No separate consent in addition to Planning or Listed Building Consent is required for work to the buildings or gate piers, but North York Moors National Park Authority will consult with Historic England for guidance on determining applications for change. 7.6.5

Conservation Area Consent

The buildings and structures are located within the Rievaulx Conservation area. There are a variety of restrictions on changes to buildings and landscape features, including the demolition of unlisted buildings in conservation areas. Many actions require consent and the LPA should be consulted in advance of any proposed works. Policy 14 – Statutory Authorities Maintain an open dialogue with Historic England and North York Moors National Park Authority in the process of change at Rievaulx Terrace and its immediate landscape setting. It is important to prevent misunderstanding and to maintain a good relationship so that change can be managed appropriately and efficiently. Appropriate notifications and statutory consents must be sought at every stage. 7.6.6

Non-statutory organisations

Policy 15 – Non-Statutory Organisations Maintain a working relationship with non-statutory bodies as required, to assist in the management of future change within the estate. Non-statutory organisations relevant to Rievaulx include the Georgian Group and The Gardens Trust (formerly the Garden History Society), which are also statutory consultees in local authority planning processes. 7.7

Collections

Rievaulx Terrace is an accredited museum and adheres to national standards of collections care and documentation. Policy 16 – Collections Management The collections should continue to be managed in line with National Trust policies including the Conservation Performance Indicator (CPI) and Collections Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Management System (CMS). The Preventive Conservation Audit (PCA) should be revised and timetabled to be reviewed in line with National Trust and Museum Accreditation standards. A full programme of conservation works should also be identified and remedial conservation undertaken with the aspiration of having no conservation backlog. Recommendations of specialist surveys should be followed and prioritised. 7.7.1

Collections management system (CMS)

There are gaps and limitations in many of the CMS entries, for example lack of detail on the known provenance of an object. Policy 17 – Collections management system The CMS should be kept up to date with current understanding of objects in the collections. More resourcing or restructuring may be required to address this. 7.7.2

Display of collections

The dining chairs are probably the only items with long-term associations to Rievaulx. Almost all of the other items were collected in the twentieth century. They are almost all of very high quality, and it is right that they should remain, as they are a key component of the significance of the property. Nonetheless, overall they do not present a convincing mid-eighteenth century immersive appearance for the outstanding significance of the Ionic Temple dining room. The main issue is the twentieth-century dining table, cloth and nineteenth-century dinner service. To enhance the mid-eighteenth century presentation of the interior, the table could be removed, allowing the chairs to be pushed to the walls of the room. 110 This would follow evidence of the appearance of eighteenth-century interiors used for dining more closely; servants in this period typically prepared rooms in advance of meals, by setting up temporary tables, typically small and demountable. There would be implications for the conservation heating and interpretation, and these would need to be addressed separately. Policy 18 – Display of collections Consider the options for display of collections in the Ionic Temple interior, emphasising the mid-eighteenth century as the key period for Rievaulx. 7.7.3

Further collections research

Primary documentary evidence should continue to be investigated for evidence of the use of the temples and their contents. 7.8

Enabling visitor access

7.8.1

Equality Act 2010

Enabling access for all is an aim of the National Trust, and enshrined in its ‘Conservation principles’. 111

110 111

Suggested by Carr-Whitworth, R. curator. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356394365704/ (accessed October 2015) Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

The temples do not comply with the terms of the Equality Act (2010) in terms of access for all. However, to make adjustments to the physical historic fabric is beyond ‘reasonable adjustment’, and is not considered possible. Mitigation of this limited access could be provided in the form of remote access, for example the existing pictures and narrative in the guidebook. Policy 19 – Enabling visitor access Public access to the buildings and structures at Rievaulx Terrace and immediate landscape should be maintained and enhanced. However this should not be at the expense of fabric of cultural-heritage significance. It is particularly important to balance visitor numbers with the consequent impact on cultural-heritage significance. 7.9

Buildings and structures – retaining significance

7.9.1

Specifying materials in repairs

The primary materials used in the construction of the temples are stone, timber and lead. Stone indents are required in very few places at present. However, the copes of the flanking walls of the steps to the Tuscan Temple should be replaced entirely, and complete rebuilding of the steps on both temples is needed (already planned for the Ionic Temple). Leadwork should be redressed on the Tuscan Temple at west edge of roof on the south; on the Ionic Temple, redress leadwork on north wall. Policy 20 – Specifying materials Materials appropriate to the significance of the buildings and structures should be specified in line with NT policies (stone, lime mortar, lead etc). Specifications should follow standard NT specifications. 7.9.2

Restoration of painted finishes

Decorative interior painting and fresco work The frescos in both temples are perhaps their most significant single elements. There is no conservator report on the Tuscan Temple ceiling roundel, and one should be commissioned. The conservator recommendations from the report on the paintings in the Ionic Temple (Tobit Curteis Associates: 2007) are scheduled to be actioned in 2016. However, a more detailed study may now be needed to examine the fabric and structure of the roof, the void, lack of insulation, ventilation etc, in relation to the conservation of the ceiling frescos. Actions need to be prioritised with greater urgency as this interior is of outstanding cultural-heritage significance. Policy 21 – Work to decorative finishes in interiors Conservation work to the decorative finishes of the principal interiors of both temples should be given higher priority, as these interiors are of outstanding cultural heritage-significance. External paintwork Repaint external joinery with colour guided by results of analysis the next time that these windows and doors need to be painted as part of normal maintenance.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

The colours on both temples should be established by microscopic-section analysis of the paint layers. It is possible that previous paint has been removed on the Tuscan Temple. Paint rainwater goods on Ionic Temple. Tuscan Temple internal paintwork The interior should be scientifically investigated by a specialist for evidence of previous schemes to assist in specification of colours and consider re-decoration based on this evidence. It is possible that there is no evidence of historic colours on walls, and comparanda should be used for the colour scheme. Ionic Temple interior paintwork Commission research into the historic paint colours/appearance of the interior of the dining room, and consider redecoration based on this evidence in the future. There may be evidence of historic colours in the painted joinery of the basement. Policy 22 – Choosing paint colours Choosing colours for repainting should be informed by physical evidence present in the fabric. Scientific investigation of colours should be commissioned where appropriate. There are some areas where it is unlikely that evidence survives. 7.9.3

Tuscan Temple

Graffiti and lichen It has been identified that there is some significance to the extensive graffiti on the Tuscan Temple walls. It is part of the history of the graffiti that some of it has been filled perhaps in the nineteenth century. Policy 23 – Graffiti Graffiti, including that on the glass of the Tuscan Temple should be surveyed by photograph and examined for significant names or dates. It should continue to be monitored and should not be filled or removed for the present. There is also significant lichen growth on the walls and pedestal which has led to discolouration of the stonework (see Figure 28). There is no evidence however that it is damaging the stone. Historic England guidance advises that only in cases where stone surface is being damaged, should lichen be removed. 112 It should be surveyed by an ecologist to determine its rarity and whether there are recommendations. The stone condition should then be monitored as part of regular inspections to ensure that it is not being damaged by the lichen growth. If it is found to be being damaged, it may be necessary to remove it. Policy 24 – Lichen Lichen should be surveyed by an ecologist. The condition of the stone which it has colonised should be monitored. Tiled floor Like the plasterwork and fresco, the tiled floor is one of the most important single elements in the Tuscan Temple.

112

Historic England Landscape advice note (Historic England: 2014). p.4 Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Conservation works undertaken in the 1990s are not fully understood as the report of the works (if one was written) seems to have been mislaid. Advice should be taken from a specialist conservator on how best to establish a benchmark of the condition of the floor now. This might be done using archaeological techniques of drawn or rectified photographic survey which could be annotated or linked to a database etc. The conservator should also advise on the regularity of monitoring of condition. A condition monitoring regime should be implemented following these recommendations. Policy 25 – Tiled floor of the Tuscan Temple Commission conservator’s report on the tiled floor. The report should establish a benchmark of its condition and make recommendations for its conservation and regular monitoring. Recommendations should be carried out as stated in the report. Voids in the plinth Photographic survey is required of the void. It should be included in quinquennial inspection reports. 7.9.4

Ionic Temple

Basement Improve ventilation, heating and surface finishes, particularly in the area below the portico. Heating system The heating system is vital for the safe management of the collections, but also for driving off moisture from the building fabric, and for the comfort of visitors and other users. It needs to work in conjunction with ventilation. The present heating systems in the basement and on the first floor do not achieve these aims sufficiently. Policy 26 – Ionic Temple conservation heating Review the existing conservation heating with a view to improving it in terms of appearance, control and performance, in conjunction with ventilation. Commission a report on options for heating from a conservation specialist heating engineer. Ionic Temple roof void There is evidence of cluster flies and previous evidence and knowledge of insect infestation in the roof void. Access to the roof void was improved c.2000, but there is still a high risk of accidental damage to the ceiling fresco in any works in the void which need to be mitigated. Inspection should be regular and the void should be included in quinquennial inspection reporting. Policy 27 – Ionic Temple roof void Regularly inspect the roof void to check for evidence of cluster flies or other insect etc. infestation or build up. Only specialist contractors should be used to clean any debris. Ionic Temple dining room floor coverings Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

The present rubber mat in the portico and the fitted sisal carpet are intended to remove dirt, mud, stones etc. from visitor footwear. There is clear NT guidance on how much matting is required to manage this, and the present arrangement broadly complies. However, the rubber mat is causing discolouration to the stone flags of the portico and the sisal fitted carpet negatively affects the significance of the interior. Changes should be made and management of the mats adjusted, for example regular beating out of dust and stones. The rubber mat should be replaced with a natural coir alternative, which should be kept clear of debris etc. In the interior, options for lifting the carpet entirely should be investigated, perhaps by treating the surface of the boards (oiling or waxing etc). Policy 28 – Ionic Temple mats and carpets All mats and carpets should be maintained in line with National Trust guidance. All should be regularly removed, turned over and tamped on the reverse to remove dirt and debris. 7.9.5

Gate piers and gate

The gate piers are probably contemporary with the 1750s temples and by the same architect. They are monitored and assessed regularly. Rectified photos were taken in 2009. A new gate that better reflects the significance of the piers is required; there seems to be no evidence for the original gate and research into similar mideighteenth century gates is required to design the replacement. Policy 29 – Gate piers and new gate The gate piers should continue to be repaired and maintained. The design of a replacement gate should match the style of the piers and be based on research into appropriate comparisons. 7.9.6

Ruinous structure to the north of the Ionic Temple (AA feature 004)

This building may be contemporary with the 1750s temples, and appears on the 1806 map. There is no detailed archaeological record of the structure before the current Addyman Archaeology report, and little understanding of its purpose and function in the landscape at Rievaulx Terrace. Policy 30 – Understanding the ruinous structure, feature 004 Commission a programme of archaeological works and reporting to increase understanding of the structure. This should include a measured survey of the walls, and could include some evaluation of the ground within the structure. The condition of the structure has not been monitored and assessed regularly. However, the exposed wall heads appear to have been consolidated with turf topping. Nonetheless, most joints between the rubble masonry are wide open and vulnerable to deterioration by weathering. The walls should be inspected by a structural engineer experienced in conservation of ruinous structures. It is possible that recommendations may include reducing the buildup of earth against the outside face of the south wall. A survey should be commissioned, using the archaeological measured survey as a basis. Recommendations should include ruin consolidation measures, including repointing joints and stabilisation of walls.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Policy 31 – Condition survey and recommendations for ruinous structure, feature 004 The structure should be surveyed to establish its present condition, and recommendations made to retain historic fabric. The structure should thereafter be included in the regular condition survey of all standing structures. 7.9.7

WC building to the west of the Ionic Temple

This building was built in the first half of the nineteenth century, and is the sole survivor of several other buildings shown on the first edition OS of 1853, assumed to be contemporary. The function of the building as a WC is reasonably well established, though how it and its lost contemporary buildings came to be built remains unknown. The condition of the building has not been monitored and assessed regularly. However, it is in good condition, and there has been repointing of masonry joints, painting of external joinery and possibly work on the roof. The building should be included in regular condition surveys of standing structures to monitor its condition. There are no urgent issues relating to its fabric at present. 7.9.8

Buildings – Inspection & Maintenance

The buildings and structures are regularly surveyed and maintained by the National Trust. However, it seems that the WC building and the ruinous structure to the north of the Ionic Temple (Addyman Archaeology feature 004) have not been included in inspections and therefore not in regular maintenance. Regularity of surveys and reporting There was a considerable gap in regular surveying before 2010 (noted in the Tuscan Temple quinquennial report). Most of the medium-term actions of the quinquennial reports of 2010 (Tuscan Temple) and 2011 (Ionic Temple) remain not actioned. Both temples are now due for re-survey. Repairs should be prioritised following the established methodology in the National Trust Conservation Performance Indicator. Policy 32 – Inspection and maintenance Increase the effectiveness of condition inspection, survey, reporting and implementation of recommendations. All standing structures should be included in regular survey, including the WC, structure to the north of the Ionic Temple and the retaining wall. This may require adjustments of resourcing including budgeting.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Photographic survey Separately from regular quinquennial report inspections, the elevations of the temples should be surveyed photographically in sufficient detail to assess the rate of decay. The photographic survey could be rectified. The photographs should be annotated in quinquennial inspection reports and compared. This would allow judgements to be made about whether the next phase of masonry repair to the structures would be in fifteen years’ time, ten years’ time or twenty-five years’ time, etc. This has already been carried out for the gate piers. 7.10

Further research

A research plan for the buildings and structures should be devised by the curator. This should include targeted provenance research for collections items, continued investigation of primary documentary evidence, and all census records for the residents of the Ionic Temple.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

8.0

APPENDIX: BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anon. A Description of Duncombe Park, Rivalx Abbey… &c. (Taken chiefly from Mr. Young's Northern Tour.) Second edition, enlarged and corrected; with two engravings Kirbymoorside: Harrison & Cooper, 1821 Aylmer G. E. ‘Duncombe, Sir Charles (bap. 1648, d. 1711)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8236, accessed 28 Sept 2015] Campbell, C. Vitruvius Britannicus vol iii, 1725: facsimile by Dover: Mineola, 2007 Caroe & Partners Conservation plan: Rievaulx Abbey 1999 Christies sale catalogue, Oriental ceramics and works of art Thursday 2 April 1998 at 10:30am and 2:00pm, Christies South Kensington Colvin, H. A biographical dictionary of British architects: 1600-1840 4th ed. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2008 Davidson S, ‘Project report’ for tiled floor, Clivden Conservation: 1991 Department for Communities and Local Government National planning policy framework 2012 Fergusson P. & Harrison S. Rievaulx Abbey: community, architecture, memory New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1999 Gill, T. Vallis Eboracensis… London: Simpkin Marshall, 1852 Girouard, M. Life in the English country house New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1978 Grove Art Online “Borgnis, Giuseppe Mattia.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 12, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T010142 Hollis & Webb sale catalogue ‘Antique furnishings at Duncombe Park…’ Hollis & Webb auctioneers, Leeds: sale dates 5th and 6th September 1946 Jackson-Stops et al. The Rievaulx Terrace guidebook, National Trust, rev. 1999: 2011 Harris, J. The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, his villa and garden at Chiswick Yale University Press: New Haven & London, 1994 Historic England Landscape advice note 2014 Hodgson c. A history of The Manor Parkside School: 2008. Accessed through http://www.parkside-school.co.uk/, December 2015 Hussey, C. ‘Duncombe Park, Yorkshire’ Country Life 5th December 1957 Landscape Agency Duncombe Park, Helmsley, Helmsley Estates, parkland plan 2014 draft Michel, O. "Casali, Andrea." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 14, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T014534 National Trust Conservation principles 2008 Pevsner, N. The buildings of England: Yorkshire and the North Riding (first ed. 1966) New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2002 Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

Parker, D. ‘Quinquennial Survey, Tuscan Temple, Rievaulx Terrace, Helmsley’ National Trust: 2010 Proudfoot, T. et al. "Stucco and plasterwork." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed October 14, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T081969pg3 The gentleman’s magazine and historical chronicle for the year MDCCCIV vol. lxxiv second part, London: 1804 Weber, S. ed. William Kent: designing Georgian Britain New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2014 Worsley, G. ‘Duncombe Park, Yorkshire II’ Country Life 31st May 1990 Worsley, G. Classical architecture in Britain: the Heroic Age New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1995 Young, A. A six months tour through the north of England… vol. ii, London: Strahan, 1770

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire – Conservation Plan

9.0

APPENDIX: HISTORIC ENGLAND LIST ENTRIES

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

10.0

APPENDIX: DRAWINGS AT A3

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Conservation Plan

7.6 Ecology Report

Ecology Report Enviroscope July 2016

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report Report for The National Trust July 2016

Enviroscope Consulting Ltd York Eco Business Centre, Amy Johnson Way, York YO30 4AG T: 01904 479094

E: office@enviroscope.eu

W: www.enviroscope.eu

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Project:

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire

Client:

The National Trust

Project Number:

525

Document Review Prepared By:

Claire Leather

Reviewed By:

Guy Morrison

Date:

17 July 2016

Issue Number:

Status:

Final

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

CONTENTS 1.

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 1.1

Overview ................................................................................................. 1

1.2

Scope of Study ......................................................................................... 1

1.3

Personnel ................................................................................................. 2

1.4

Survey Constraints .................................................................................... 2

SITE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................ 2 2.1

Background .............................................................................................. 2

2.2

Location ................................................................................................... 2

2.3

Public Access ............................................................................................ 3

SURVEY METHODOLOGY ............................................................................ 4 3.1

Desk Study .............................................................................................. 4

3.2

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ............................................................... 4

3.3

Habitat Evaluation for Bats ......................................................................... 5

DESK STUDY RESULTS ............................................................................... 6 4.1

Designated Sites ....................................................................................... 6

4.2

Ryedale Biodiversity Action Plan.................................................................. 8

4.3

Habitat Designations ................................................................................. 9

4.4

Summary of Previous Ecology Studies ......................................................... 9

4.5

Summary of Species Records ................................................................... 14

4.6

Summary of Current Management Plans .................................................... 15

ECOLOGY SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................... 17 5.1

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ............................................................. 17

5.2

Faunal Observations ................................................................................ 24

5.3

Invasive Species ..................................................................................... 25

EVALUATION ........................................................................................... 25

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................ 28 7.1

Woodland............................................................................................... 28

7.2

Species-rich Grassland ............................................................................ 31

7.3

Buildings ................................................................................................ 31

APPENDIX A – PLANT SPECIES LIST ................................................................. 33 APPENDIX B – BIRD SPECIES LIST ................................................................... 41 APPENDIX C – PHOTOGRAPHS ......................................................................... 45 APPENDIX D – PLANS ....................................................................................... 48

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INTRODUCTION

1.1

Overview This ecological report was commissioned by Southern Green on behalf of The National Trust. The report relates to Rievaulx Terrace which is a historic landscape and woodland. The ecological study has been carried out to inform a Conservation Management Plan which is being produced for the site.

Separate studies have been

commissioned into trees and woodland, and the historic landscape, buildings, archaeology and hydrology of the site. 1.2

Scope of Study The study relates to the boundary shown in Figure 1 and includes an overview of adjoining areas. The scope of works commissioned comprises: 

an ecological desk study of the site and immediate area



an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey of the site



a bat scoping assessment of the buildings on site



an ecology report bringing together knowledge of the site’s ecological interest, management practices and any identified threats or constraints to site management or development. The report also proposes management policies relating to the ecological value of the site.

The field work and report are to the standards set out in current good practice guidelines including Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey 1, Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Assessment Appraisal2 and Bat Surveys – Good Practice Guidelines3.

Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey – A Technique for Environmental Audit, Joint Nature

Conservation Committee, 2010 2

Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Assessment Appraisal, Chartered Institute of Ecology and

Environmental Management, 2012 3

Bat Surveys – Good Practice Guidelines, Bat Conservation Trust, 2012

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1.3

Personnel The field surveys and report were undertaken and prepared by Claire Leather and Guy Morrison. Both are fully qualified, experienced and practising field ecologists, Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv) and a full professional members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM).

1.4

Survey Constraints The field survey provides an ecological baseline reflecting the flora and fauna observed at the time of the survey. Species may change through the seasons in terms of species presence, population size and distribution. Species which may be present at other times of the year may not have been observed during the survey. However, effort to predict the potential for species to occupy throughout the seasons has been made. No specialist fauna surveys were undertaken. Specialist botanical survey, including National Vegetation Classification (NVC) surveys, were not commissioned. Study of the canal and associated wetland features was outwith the commission. Not all previous ecology studies, reports or data known for the site were available for this study.

SITE OVERVIEW

2.1

Background Rievaulx Terrace, managed by The National Trust, is a Grade I Listed site in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest4. The 26ha site comprises a long strip of mown grass terrace, with neoclassical temples at the northern (Ionic Temple) and southern (Tuscan Temple) ends. The terrace is surrounded by woodland.

2.2

Location Rievaulx Terrace is located approximately 3.5km west of Helmsley (SE 57900 84770). The site is set within the open countryside of the North York Moors National 4

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001072

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Park. To the north and east of the site arable land predominates, with woodland and grazing land comprising land to the south and west of the site.

The site forms

the eastern edge of the valley of Ryedale, with the river Rye located to the west of the site. The site boundary is illustrated on Figure 1 below.

Fig 1: Aerial photograph and site boundary 2.3

Public Access Approximately one third of the site is open to public access. In addition to full access to the lawns, there is significant public access in Backdrop Wood as it provides the main route to the terrace and accommodates childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play and public art areas. The remaining woodlands are not accessible, or access is limited along concessionary footpaths. Trust employees and volunteers access all areas of the site.

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SURVEY METHODOLOGY

3.1

Desk Study An ecological desk study was carried out to gather together and digest existing information on the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecological interest. The desk study included a search for statutory sites (local, national and internationally designated sites), non-statutory sites and species which are legally protected or are of particular conservation interest. Ecological data was requested from the National Trust ecologist and other National Trust staff. An internet-based assessment was also carried out using the online Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) database 5 and the National Biodiversity Network (NBN)6. The results of the desk study, together with the Phase 1 ecology survey have influenced the scope and recommendations for detailed species surveys. The desk study included a high level review of the status of species, habitats and designated site status in a legislative and planning context.

3.2

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was carried out during a multiple site visits made in July, August and September 2015. The survey assessed and classified the ecological features of the site using the standard Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (hereafter referred to as Phase 1) methodology7. Phase 1 Habitat Survey plans provides a rapid visual assessment of the extent and distribution of natural, semi-natural and artificial habitat types according to a 5

magic.defra.gov.uk, viewed 16 September 2015

data.nbn.org.uk, viewed 16 September 2015

Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a technique for environmental audit, Joint Nature

Conservation Committee, 2010

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standardised methodology.

The plan incorporates Target Notes which describe

features of note. The context of the site was established by gaining an overview of the land immediately surrounding the site during the field survey.

Further contextual

information was gathered through analysis of aerial photography accessed on Google Earth8. The potential for the site to support legally protected species9 or species of particular conservation interest10 was assessed based on the known range of the species/species group and the suitability of habitats at the site. A search was made for invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam and these were recorded where present. Faunal field signs and sightings noted during the walkover survey were recorded. 3.3

Habitat Evaluation for Bats An assessment of the site’s potential habitat value to foraging and commuting bats was carried out. Particular attention was given to the presence of features favoured by foraging and commuting bats such the trees and waterbodies. A “wider than site” assessment was carried out to understand the site’s value in context and to identify potential links to foraging and roosting habitats and commuting routes in the surrounding landscape.

Google Earth, viewed 16 September 2015

Notable species protected under Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended) 1981,

Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC), and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. 10

Notable species identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP), the Local Biodiversity

Action Plan (LocalBAP) and species and habitats of Principal Importance in England under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 and Red Data Book species.

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The habitat assessment also included a preliminary roost assessment of the buildings at the site, based on recommendations in the Bat Conservation Trust’s Good Practice Guidelines11 for bat surveys. The inspection comprised a daytime assessment of the exterior of the buildings to determine their potential as a roosting habitat for bats. The buildings were assessed from ground level, using binoculars to aid visibility. Signs of bat habitation were searched for, including: 

Free-hanging bats and bats in crevices



Droppings



Bat carcasses



Moth wings and other feeding debris



Scratch marks at entrances to crevices



Staining from fur and urine at and below entrances to crevices



Audible squeaking



Any other signs of bats

The search included the areas immediately surrounding the buildings, and observation of the roof and walls. Attention was paid to the structure of the buildings and the degree to which this typically provides roosting habitat for bats. Trees were not assessed individually for the potential to support roosting bats, however an overview of the potential of the site’s trees to support bats was carried out.

DESK STUDY RESULTS

4.1

Designated Sites There is a network of near-continuous woodland and wood pasture habitat in the steep-sided Ryedale valley. Much of this network is made up of sites of national importance for their natural conservation, comprising Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pits SSSI, Ashberry and Reins Woods SSSI, Rievaulx Woods SSSI and 11

Bat Surveys – Good Practice Guidelines’, 2nd Edition, Bat Conservation Trust, 2012

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Duncombe SSSI and NNR. In 2010, Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest mammal species and its 17 th species of bat was recorded in the Upper Rye Valley and in association with the Windy Pits SSSI. The majority of the Rievaulx Terrace site is designated as Rievaulx Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This statutory nature conservation designation was first applied in 1954, and renotified in 1986. The notification reflects the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national value as a semi-natural ancient woodland on Jurassic limestone on the steep, west-facing slopes of the River Rye; incorporating other habitats including fen vegetation associated with a former canal and calcareous grassland. The boundary of the SSSI is illustrated below.

Fig 2: Aerial photograph showing woodland names, SSSI (blue hatch) and designated ancient woodland (green hatch)

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Located less than 400m to the west of Rievaulx Woods SSSI is Ashberry and Reins Wood SSSI. Ashberry and Reins Woods and its variety of habitats including mixed deciduous woodland, grassland and mire is considered to be one of the richest sites on Jurassic limestone in Britain. At its closest point, Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pits SSSI is located 400m south of Rievaulx Woods SSSI. This nearby SSSI adjoins Duncombe Park SSSI and National Nature Reserve (NNR), located close to Helmsley and to the south east of Rievaulx Terrace. Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pits SSSI is a nationally important site due to the presence of veteran trees formerly managed as wood-pasture, assemblages of wood and fungal feeding (saproxylic) invertebrates, population of oak polypore Piptoporus quercinus, mixed assemblages of hibernating and swarming bat as well as geomorphological features. Duncombe Park SSSI adjoins Castle Hill and Windy Pits SSSI and is notified for its assemblages of invertebrates associated with veteran tree.

Duncombe Park is

probably the richest site in Northern England for insects, notably beetles associated with old broad-leaved woodland and wood-pasture as well as its riparian interest. No non-statutory sites designated for their nature conservation interest are located within or close to the site itself. 4.2

Ryedale Biodiversity Action Plan The Ryedale Biodiversity Action Plan12 sets priority habitats and species for the district and Species and Habitat Action Plans have been drawn up for these. In addition Species and Habitat Statements have been prepared for some species. The following are considered to be relevant to Rievaulx Terrace.

12Ryedale

Biodiversity Action Plan 2007 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2012, Ryedale District Council, 2006

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Species Action Plans

Habitat Action Plans

Species Statements

Tree sparrow

Ancient ash woodland

The Rievaulx beetle

Bumblebees

Ancient oak woodland

Baneberry

Neutral grassland

Oedemera virescens

Chalk & limestone grassland Wood Pasture, Parkland and Veteran Trees13

4.3

Habitat Designations Both Terrace Bank Wood and the majority of Mossy Bank Wood (excluding the very western end) are recognised as ancient woodland14. Ancient woodland is woodland occupying a site that has been continuously wooded since 1600 or earlier.

All

ancient woodland is of high heritage and ecological value. Backdrop Wood is not recognised as ancient woodland. The eastern strip of the woodland is known to have been planted in the early 20 th Century, but the western strip located immediately to the east of the terrace contains a large number of ancient woodland indicator species and its origin is unknown. 4.4

Summary of Previous Ecology Studies There are a number of accounts of the nature conservation interest of the habitats found at Rievaulx Terrace, ranging from species lists gathered by amateur naturalists, National Trust staff and consultant ecologists commissioned to carry out formal ecological studies of the site. The source of and reliability of data is not always clear, therefore information which is referenced to original survey dates and

The Wood Pasture, Parkland and Veteran Trees Habitat Action Plan is not strictly relevant to

Rievaulx Terrace as these habitats are not present. However some very mature trees are present and given the known value of the site for deadwood invertebrate species, and the sites location within a network of similar site in the Ryedale valley, it has been listed above. 14

www.magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap

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reports has been included here and referenced throughout the text. Reference to species conservation status is drawn directly from the respective reports. The following provides a summary of reports produced for the site. 1954 Study A study in 195415, refers to Rievaulx Terrace Woods and nearby Ashberry and Reins Woods, describing the area as botanically one of the richest in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The study describes the ornamental trees and shrubs that border the edge of the terrace lawn, recording fly honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum and butcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broom Ruscus aculeatus. The report also refers to Martagon lily Lilium martagon and Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seal Polygonatum multiflorum as well as blue-eyed Mary Omphalodes verna, the latter not being recorded in subsequent years at the site. The flora of the terrace is recorded with specific mention of columbine Aquilegia vulgaris, wood-barley Hordelymus europaeus and wood forget-me-not Myosotis sylvestris. Clover dodder Cuscuta epithymum, recorded historically at the site, was not found during the 1953 survey and this was attributed to the grass cutting regime at the time. There are no further records of this species at the site in subsequent years and the habitats at the site are not considered ideal for the species. Celandine saxifrage Saxifraga cymbalaria was recorded as being well established in the wood below one of the temples in 1953, but again there are no subsequent records of this species at the site.

An account of the flora of Rievalux Woods, Miss C.M. Rob, Catton Hall, Thirsk, April 1954

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1977 Study A survey of National Trust Properties in Yorkshire was carried out in 197716. This report was not available. There are references to some of its findings in the subsequent site-wide Bio Survey carried out in 198917. 1989 Study The Bio Survey compiles and reports on the species records gathered by naturalists over a span of approximately forty years. These include invertebrate, mammal, fish, birds, lichens and amphibian records, as well as botanical records.

These

records should be referred to in the full Bio Survey Report. The Bio Survey reports on botanical and invertebrate surveys carried out at the site in 1989; and are summarized below. Giant bellflower Campanula latifolia and wood melick Melica uniflora were recorded at the base of Terrace Bank Wood. Green hellebore Helleborus viridis was recorded. Around ten plants of this species, considered rare in northern England, were recorded near the extraction track at SE 577847. Wood-barley as well as toothwort Lathraea squamaria, the latter a parasitic plant of elm and hazel, were recorded in the woodland. Both are species associated with long established woodland, with wood barley being a nationally scarce species18. In Mossy Bank Wood and Backdrop Wood mountain currant Ribes alpinum, a nationally scarce plant of limestone, was recorded. The strip of neutral â&#x20AC;&#x201C; calcareous grassland below the terrace lawn was highlighted as the most interesting grassland feature at the site. Much of the sward was described

Survey of National Trust Properties in Yorkshire for the Wildlife Conservation Importance

Dept. Biology, University of York, Usher M.B. and Priest S.N, 1977 17

National Trust Biological Survey, M. Scruby and J. Lister, K Alexander and D. Clements,

July1989 18

Nationally scarce defined as occurring in between 16 to 100 hectads in Great Britain

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as being rather coarse, with a shorter more species-rich sward being found around the top of the vistas and at the northern end of the terrace. The invertebrate fauna of both the woodland and grassland habitats was studied. Terrace Bank Wood was found to be the richest woodland for invertebrates. Species recorded previously at the site include the Rievaulx beetle Oedemera virescens and Leptura sexguttata, both of which Red Data Book inveretebrates 19. Other records of beetle rarities included Saperda scalaris and Ischnomera sanguinicollis. Records of grassland invertebrates include a wide variety of hoverflies, two rare flies - soldier fly Stratiomys potamida and a parasitic fly Alophora hemipteran, grassbugs Miridae, the soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva and sawflies and soldier fly Chloromyia Formosa. The Bio Survey noted that the juxta-position of the ancient woodland rich in deadwood and the sunny, sheltered, species-rich grasslands and woodland rides to be a particularly valuable combination of habitats for deadwood invertebrate specialists. 1999-2000 Study In 1999-2000 a specialist invertebrate survey20 was undertaken of Rievaulx Woods. Rievaulx Woods is described as an outlier to Duncombe Park, a site which has been designated as a National Nature Reserve for its wood-decay invertebrates. The network of sites, including Rievaulx Woods, is described as one of the richest coleopteran sites in Yorkshire. Rievaulx Woods itself is considered to be of local and Yorkshire nature conservation quality for saproxylic coleopteran.

British Red Data Books: Insects, , Shirt D.B ed, Nature Conservancy Council, 1987

Saproxylic Coleoptera Survey at Studley Royal Park, Beiningbrough Park and Rievaulx

Woods, A.B.Drane, National Trust, 1999-2000

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A total of 220 beetles were recorded at the site of which 55 are saproxylic with many other dependent on tree fungi. It found that a large number of the species at Rievaulx Woods are at, or close to, their northern range in the British Isles. The report describes the main entomological interest as being on the steep wooded slopes of Terrace Bank Wood and is semi-natural ancient woodland.

Backdrop

Wood, described as secondary woodland, has mature beech and retained felled timber and a significant saproxylic population. The grassy slopes below the lawn are noted to be of value as a nectar and pollen resource for insects. In Backdrop Wood the retained dead beech trunks and their fungal associates (including Polyporus squamosus) are identified as the best habitats for saproxylic species. Beech bark on cut logs is noted to support significant populations of sub cortical species including the local Trypodendron domesticum, the very local Pediacus dermestoides and the scarce minute Ptinella denticollis. Fungi growing on the decaying beech supports locally scarce Biphyllus lunatus, the very local Pseudotriphyllus suturalis and the small local Mycelaea subterranean. In Terrace Bank wood the mature hazel coppice is identified as being of value, with dead poles supporting fauna characterized by Orchesia minor and the very local O. undulata and the local weevil Aculles misellus and the scarcer A. roboris. Live hazel poles support the Gonioctena pallida and the weevil Polydrusus ntollis are found occasionally. On oak trees cantharids of the Malthinus and Malthodes genera are common. A fourth record for North Yorkshire was identified at the site - Microrhagus pygmaeus which occurred scarcely in the ground layer. Associated with rotten tree stumps, the scarce Scaphisoma boleti was encountered frequently. The very local saproxylic Quedius xanthopus was found in leaf litter, including a rich community of staphylinids, scydmaenids and ptilids including the scarce Smircrus filicarnis. The grasslands below the lawn are described as having significant importance for insects, although the invertebrate fauna here is considered to be under recorded. The scarce weevils Brachysomus echinatus and Trichosirocalus horridus were recorded in the grasslands.

Flowering shrubs associated with the grasslands

support rare cerambycids such as the scarce Saperda scalaris and Stenostola dubia plus the very rare Mordellechroa abdominalis, the very local Ischnomera cyanea and the very rare Red Data Book species Rievaulx beetle Oedemera virescens, the

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latter also using the flowery slopes. This species is dependent on deadwood as a larva and the adults require nectar sources in late spring. This survey failed to confirm presence of the 6 spotted longhorn beetle Leptura sexguttata, a species associated with ancient ashwoods and known to occur at nearby Ashberry Woods. 4.5

Summary of Species Records Birds A total of 63 bird species have been formally recorded at the site. These are listed in Appendix B. This list has been compiled using various data sources including the Bio Surveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bird survey21, records from previous breeding and wintering bird surveys at the site22 plus recent bird records provided by local bird ringers23. In summary, the site supports a diverse range of birds and the woodlands are considered to be rich in birdlife.

There are historic records of pied flycatcher

breeding in Terrace Bank Wood but these are not believed to have bred in the recent past. Of the birds recorded at the site fifteen species of bird considered to be of Amber List status and eleven are considered to be of Red List status. Red List birds being of highest conservation priority and Amber List being the next most critical group24. Red list species include tree sparrow, which is also a Ryedale BAP Priority Species. Mammals Bat records for the site comprise records from the Bio Survey of brown long-eared, pipistrelle species and noctule bat roosts in buildings. The brown long-eared roost

National Trust Biological Survey, M. Scruby and J. Lister, K Alexander and D. Clements, July

1989 22

G. Toase (pers. com. referenced in National Trust Biological Survey, 1989) and J H Hemsly

pre 1980 23

J. Pewtress (pers. com.)

Birds of Conservation Concern, RSPB 2009

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is understood to be in the Ionic Temple. There is also a record of noctule bats having roosting in mature trees on the property 25. Records from 200226 refer to noctule, pipistrelle species and Daubentonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roosts. There are records of roe and fallow deer as well as casual records of species including fox, stoat, rabbit, hare, weasel, hedgehog, mole and rat. Amphibians There is a 2002 record of palmate newts in the canal at the base of Terrace Bank Wood27. National Trust staff report that palmate newts are reported to be sighted regularly across the whole site, particularly around the base of both temples. Palmate newts are retrieved from the basement of the Ionuic temple on a regular basement. The pond in the Gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House is considered to support a large population of palmate newts. Invertebrates The invertebrate interest of the site has been described in section 4.4. Further records have been provided by the National Trust28 which comprise records from the Yorkshire Naturalists Union and an unavailable invertebrate report 29. 4.6

Summary of Current Management Plans Currently there is no management plan for Rievaulx Terrace as a whole. Rievaulx Woods SSSI is subject to a Site Management Statement 30.

National Trust Biological Survey, M. Scruby and J. Lister, K Alexander and D. Clements, July

1989 26

Bat Visit Report, David Bullock, 2002

Data Extract from Recorder, Stephen Morley, National Trust, 2015

Contract Insect Survey Report, 1991

Site Management Statement Rievaulx Woods SSSI, English Nature, 1997

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The Site Management Statement sets out the nature conservation objectives for the SSSI as follows: 

Maintain and enhance the areas of mixed woodland, including old trees and dead wood;



Maintain the areas of limestone and neutral grassland



Maintain the areas of open water and fen

The SMS sets out how The National Trust plan to manage the site, as agreed with Natural England. In summary this states the following management actions: 

Continue to clear viewing area through the trees on a rotational basis at the rate of no more than two areas / year.



Protect coppice stools by leaving brash from felled trees around the stools – leave larger pieces of wood within the more mature trees adjacent to the coppiced areas.



Leave as much standing deadwood as possible within the constraint of ensuring public safety.



Where trees are considered a danger adopt a policy wherever possible of removing affected limbs and leaving as much of the tree in situ as safety allows.



Leave as much deadwood as possible on the woodland floor as a wildlife habitat.



Continue the current management regime on the grass banks above the woodland of early and late season cutting with all cuttgins removed.



Investigate the options of restoring the canal to open water.

Natural England publish Views About Management (VAM) statements for SSSIs. This gives an account of the basic management needed to conserve and enhance the features for which the SSSI was designated, and forms a legal part of all SSSI notifications.

The VAM for Rievaulx Woods31 is similar in content to the subsequent

Site Management Statement. Rievaulx Woods SSSI has been subject to three condition assessments. The most recent assessment in 2011 concludes that the SSSI’s condition is Unfavourable

Rievaulx Woods SSSI Views About Management, English Nature, 2005

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Recovering. The SSSI was assessed as being Unfavourable Recovering primarily due to the high levels of regenerating sycamore. Unfavourable Recovering means that features for which the site has been designated are not fully conserved but the necessary management mechanisms are in place. Provided the recovery work is sustained, the feature is expected to reach favourable condition status in time.

ECOLOGY SURVEY RESULTS

5.1

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Throughout this section, refer to Appendix A for a full plant species list and Appendix D for Habitat Map. The following Phase One habitat types were recorded at the site: 

Broad-leaved semi-natural woodland (A1.1)



Broad-leaved plantation woodland (A1.2)



Scrub (A2.1)



Parkland / scattered trees (A3.1)



Neutral grassland (B2.2 SEMI-IMPROVED OR B2.1 UNIMPROVED)



Calcareous grassland (B3.1 unimproved or B3.2 semi-improved)



Amenity grassland (J1.2)



Natural Inland Cliff – Basic (I1.2)



Introduced shrub (J1.4)



Buildings (J3.6)

Grassland Description The flat, mown terrace grassland supports a neutral grassland community including diminutive forms of self-heal Prunella vulgaris, broad leaf plantain Plantago major, daisy Bellis perenne, white clover Trifolium repens and meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris.

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The SSSI grassland at the top of Terrace Bank Wood comprises species-rich neutral and calcareous grassland. The grassland is characterised by common knapweed Centaurea nigra, red cl over Trifolium pretense, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, crosswort Cruciata laevipes, barren strawberry Potentilla sterilis, early purple-orchid Orchis mascula, cowslip Primula veris, harebell, salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, quaking oat grass Briza media, bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, thyme Thymus praecox, and mouseear hawkweed Hieracium pilosella.

The mown amenity grassland gives way to

species-rich grassland on the west-facing upper slopes of the terrace.

This

grassland strip is between 3m – 8m wide and bordered by Terrace Bank Wood at its base. The grassland is comprised of neutral and calcareous grassland. Some areas of the grassland are ranker than others and these areas are target noted on the Phase One plan. Within ranker areas of the grassland tall grasses including false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius, Yorkshire fog Hocus lanatus, cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata and red fescue Festuca rubra are frequent. Robust herbs such as hogweed Heracleum sphondylium and knapweed and bramble Rubus fruiticosus agg. also occur more frequently in these ranker areas, suppressing herbs and fine grasses. Ranker grassland occurs notably where natural regeneration is occurring close to or within vistas or where scrub is encroaching on grassland. Ranker grassland was observed near Vista Obscura and between Vista nos. 9 and 10. The finer swards are more species-rich and support fine grasses and herbs at greater frequency. Grasses include quaking oat-grass, yellow oatgrass Trisetum flavescens, crested dog’s tail Cynosaurus cristatus and herbs include bird’s foot trefoil, lady’s bedstraw, cowslip, glaucous sedge Carex flacca, salad burnet, lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis ssp. vestita, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, crosswort,

harebell,

creeping

cinquefoil

Potentilla

reptans,

ox-eye

daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare, barren strawberry, early purple-orchid and mouse-ear hawkweed hieracium pilosella. There are recent records for occasional common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsia and marsh orchid Dactylorhiza sp. on the bank, and a historic record for bee orchid Ophrys apifera. However, none of these species were observed during the survey.

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Alongside the woodland edge dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercury Mercurialis perennis and common dog violet Viola riviniana occur within the grasslands. At the southern end and at the edge of some of the vistas (eg. Ferndale, edge of Castor) blackthorn Prunus spinosa scrub and coppiced hazel Coryllus avellana, regenerating ash Fraxinus excelsior, sycamore Acer campestre and dogwood Cornus sanguinea are shading the grassland. In several places fly honeysuckle and blackthorn scrub is noted to have encroached across the full width of grassland. The grassland has value as a sheltered and rich source of nectar for invertebrates, and of value to the invertebrate fauna associated with deadwood in the adjoining ancient woodlands. Butterfly records include ringlet, common blue, red admiral, small tortoiseshell and meadow brown. Current Management The lawn on the terrace is managed by frequent close mowing. The species rich grasslands on the bank are subject to a management regime to maximize species-diversity. The grasslands are cut twice a year in late summer and early autumn. All arisings are removed. No fertilisers or pesticides are added. Woodland â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Terrace Bank Wood Description Terrace Bank Wood is ancient woodland forming part of Rievaulx Woods SSSI which also incorporates Mossy Bank Wood and canal features at the base of the wood. The woodland is comprised predominantly of pedunculate oak and ash and frequent beech and sycamore. There are relatively large number of mature pedunculate oak and ash trees within the wood. Sessile oak Quercus petraea is present towards the southern end of the wood. Downy birch Betula pubescens occurs occasionally, and wild cherry Prunus avium, Scots pine Pinus sylvestris and small-leaved lime Tilia cordata occur rarely in the canopy. The woodland has good structural diversity and a diversity of age classes. This is due to the steep slopes, the effect of Dutch elm disease creating clearance, the recent felling of sycamores through the woodland and the variety of species. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

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There is a good understorey dominated by hazel, with frequent or occasional field maple Acer campestre, holly Ilex aquifolium, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, and semimature wych elm Ulmus glabra, ash and sycamore. A wide range of other trees and shrubs occur more rarely in the understorey including: blackthorn, crab apple Malus sylvestris, spindle Euonymus europaeus, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, mountain currant and guelder rose Viburnum opulus. Ground flora is diverse due to topography, geology and soils and includes frequent ancient woodland indicators including bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercury, woodruff Galium odoratum, wood melick, early purple orchid, primrose Primula vulgaris and wild garlic Allium ursinum plus number of less common species including green hellebore, giant bellflower and columbine and a report of bird nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, although the latter was not observed during the survey. There are small stretches of shaded limestone outcrops on which mountain currant grows. Growing at this location, well away from its other known locations at the site, raises a query as to its native status at the site. Bilberry, recorded previously at the site, was not recorded during this survey and habitats and conditions are not considered suitable for this species. There are thirteen vistas through the woodland giving views from the terrace to the abbey, dating back to the 18th century. These are in varying states of management and accessibility at present. These glades comprise a mixture of coppiced trees, ferns and bramble scrub. The woodland has numerous deadwood features including mature trees containing deadwood in the crown and mature fallen trees and limbs. Standing deadwood is less frequent and most deadwood is shaded or moderately shaded. The woodland supports many mature trees cracks, cavities and other features which may be used by roosting bats. There was no evidence of significant tree diseases eg. ash dieback in the woodland.

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Current Management Woodland management work, including clearance of the vistas, is carried out infrequently (last known works in 2010). Brash, used to protect coppice regrowth, is present in the glades. Timber has been removed as firewood. Sycamore control work has been carried out manually with no use of herbicides and sycamore stump regrowth is evident. Bird boxes have been placed in the woodland and are in varying states of disrepair. Small corn-feed hoppers are present in the woodland and associated eutrophication of soils around feeders is evident. Woodland - Mossy Bank Wood Description This north-facing slope woodland forms part of Rievaulx Woods SSSI and is ancient woodland. Mossy Bank Wood is contiguous with Terrace Bank Wood, separated only by a defunct dry stone wall. The woodland has a canopy of ash, oak, sycamore and beech.

The hazel

understorey observed in Terrace Bank Wood is absent in Mossy Bank Wood except for at the western end of the woodland.

Elsewhere the understorey is largely

composed of beech, semi-mature beech and other trees believed to have been planted in the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

The vegetation is more uniform than in Terrace Bank Wood

and is dominated by wild garlic that grows abundantly on the damp, north facing slope. The ground flora is more diverse at the eastern and western ends of the woodland. Overall trees Mossy Bank Wood are less mature than trees in Terrace Bank Wood. This woodland has relatively little deadwood habitats. There was no evidence of significant tree diseases eg. ash dieback in the woodland. Current Management Since tree planting carried out in the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, there is no evidence of any management intervention in Mossy Bank Wood.

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Woodlands - Backdrop Wood Description So named because it forms the back drop to the terrace, this woodland was planted in two stages. The western portion of the wood is believed to have been planted in the 18th Century and the eastern portion is believed to have been planted in the 20th Century. The remains of field boundaries are evident in this area of woodland. Both areas of woodland are dominated by beech Fagus sylvatica, with some ash, sycamore and European larch Larix decidua, and occasional common lime Tilia x europaea. In the longer established woodland this is accompanied by variegated sycamore and whitebeam Sorbus aria and wild cherry. The eastern section of the woodland is a plantation dominated by beech and with ash, sycamore and European larch also planted within. This is a uniform stand with a sparse understorey of elder and occasional planted yew. The ground flora is surprisingly rich for a woodland not considered to be ancient. Ground flora is dominated by dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercury and also supports ancient woodland indicators such as woodruff, wood speedwell Veronia montana, primrose and moschatel Adoxa moschatellina. Notable species include baneberry Actaea spicata which is represented by a single clump and wood-barley Hordelymus europaeus which is represented by several small colonies. Baneberry, a nationally scarce32 plant species is associated with ancient ash woodland. Baneberry is a Ryedale BAP priority species. Wood-barley is nationally rare. Native bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta are also present in the wood. Bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

This prohibits anyone digging up bluebells in the countryside, and

prohibits landowners from their land for sale. A wide variety of shrubs have been planted along the western edge of the woodland and these include native species including mountain currant, spurge laurel Daphne

Scarce Plants in Britain Nationally scarce is defined as a species which is found in only 16-

100 10km squares nationally

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laureola, fly honeysuckle and butcher’s broom. Mountain currant is a nationally scarce species and fly honeysuckle is a nationally rare species. The continued presence of Martagon lily and Solomon’s seal was confirmed, both of which are unusual plants in the woodland. There is a moderate amount of deadwood through this woodland. A number of mature ash trees within the western section of the wood have been pollarded and retained, together with stumps of mature beech trees felled in the 1990’s. There are no fallen dead trees. There was no evidence of significant tree diseases eg. ash dieback in the woodland. Current Management It is understood that approximately a quarter of the mature beech trees were felled in the mid 1990’s in the western section of the wood. Recent tree work includes limited tree felling and pollarding. Limited woodland management has been undertaken to integrate various children’s play areas and public art works into the woodland. Buildings Description Both the Ionic Temple and the Tuscan (Doric) Temple are Grade 1 Listed buildings33. The Ionic and Tuscan Temples are located and northern and southern ends of the grass terrace.

These 18th century limestone buildings are not permanently

occupied, being accessed occasionally by National Trust staff and visitors. The Visitor Centre, although of more modern construction, has features within the roof particularly that mean it has potential to support roosting bats.

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001072

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Bat roosts have been recorded in all three buildings. Pipistrelle and brown longeared bats are known to roost in the buildings, the latter being recorded in the Ionic Temple. Numerous clusters of bat droppings were recorded on the stonework of the Tuscan Temple in summer 2015, indicating bat roost presence in the building.

No bat

droppings were found at the Ionic Temple but sweeping of the stonework was noted on one occasion, which would remove evidence of bats. All bat species are afforded full UK and European protection 34 and are UK and Ryedale BAP Priority Species. Lichen flora on the temples is not abundant and lichen removal may be performed routinely. No bird nesting was noted in the buildings. The buildings do not appear to be floodlit. 5.2

Faunal Observations Casual fauna records include ringlet, common blue, meadow brown, peacock, red admiral and speckled wood butterflies. A range of birds were seen or heard during the survey. These include: chiff chaff, blackcap, garden warbler, wren, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, blackbird, house sparrow, dunnock, chaffinch, greenfinch, starling, great spotted woodpecker, tree creeper, jackdaw, carrion crow, rook, wood pigeon, collared dove, pheasant, sparrowhawk, tawny owl and buzzard. It is likely that the site is used by a number of common and widespread mammals including small mammals, foxes and hedgehog. Signs of grey squirrels, roe and fallow deer were observed within the woodland, rabbits and moles.

All species of bat and their roosts are protected under Schedule 2 of The Conservation of

Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence for anyone to intentionally kill, injure or handle a bat; possess a bat (whether alive or dead); disturb a roosting bat, or sell or offer a bat for sale without a licence; or damage, destroy or obstruct access to a place used by bats for shelter, whether they are present or not.

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The site offers potential foraging for badgers and there historical records of a badger sett, but no evidence of badgers (foraging signs, tracks, pathways or setts) were noted on the site, or within the accessible vicinity of the site. A badger sett is known to be present on site, close to the green hellebore colony in Terrace Bank Wood. Badgers were actively using the sett up until 2007, when disturbance to the sett was observed by National Trust staff. 5.3

Invasive Species Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus is a steadily invasive non-native shrub first known introduction date being 1863 (i.e. after the landscaping Rievaulx Terrace in the 1760â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s). The plant is present along the boundary between the terrace lawn and Backdrop Wood. Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris is present infrequently within the grasslands. Ragwort is a native plant of wildlife value with recognized biodiversity value and its eradication is not sought by its inclusion as a specified weed in the Weeds Act 1959. Control is required if there is risk of the plant spreading and the plant poses a threat to livestock. Spear thistle Cirsium vulgare, broad leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense are also present within vistas and woodland clearings. These species are also listed in the Weeds Act 1959 but are not considered a threat at the site.

EVALUATION This section comprises an assessment of the desk study and field survey described above and provides an evaluation of key features of the site. The key features, summarized below, encapsulate what is important about the site from a nature conservation perspective. Site Designation ď&#x201A;ˇ

Rievaulx Terrace forms part of a network of sites in the Ryedale Valley recognized for their nature conservation importance at a national scale.

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

The majority of Rievaulx Terrace comprises Rievaulx Woods SSSI.

This

recognizes the site as nationally important for the semi-natural ancient woodlands of Terrace Bank Wood and Mossy Bank Wood, both listed on the UK Ancient Woodland Inventory, and the species-rich grassland of the terrace slopes. 

Natural England consider that the necessary management mechanisms are in place to bring Rievaulx Woods SSSI is considered to be into favourable condition from its current unfavourable recovering status.

Habitat & Flora 

The site supports Ryedale BAP Priority Habitats ancient oak woodland, ancient ash woodland, neutral grassland, chalk and limestone grassland and Priority Species baneberry and tree sparrow.



The site contains semi-natural ancient woodland with a diverse structure and high species diversity. Terrace Bank Wood contains small-leaved lime, which appears be occurring as a native species and is locally notable tree species.



A number of notable plant species occur in the woodlands and species-rich grasslands. Mossy Bank Wood and Backdrop Wood support mountain currant

(nationally

scarce),

Backdrop

Wood

supports

wood

barley

(nationally scarce) and baneberry (nationally scarce). Terrace Bank Woods supports green hellebore, a rare plant in Northern England. 

A number of notable shrubs, which were possibly planted at the time of the site’s landscaping, are fly honeysuckle (nationally rare35) and mountain currant (nationally scarce).



Bluebells are also present at the site. Bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

This prohibits anyone

digging up bluebells in the countryside, and prohibits landowners from their land for sale. Scarce  Invertebrates

Nationally rare refers to species which occur in 15 or few hectads in Great Britain.

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

The network of sites in Ryedale, including Rievaulx Woods, is described as one of the richest coleopteran sites in Yorkshire and part of a network of similar sites in Ryedale.



The woodlands and species-rich grassland at Rievaulx Terrace are recognized as being of value in Yorkshire for their importance to deadwood invertebrates.



Terrace Bank Wood was found to be the richest woodland for invertebrates, but Backdrop Wood and Mossy Bank Wood are also of high value supporting species whose conservation status is nationally rare and scarce.



Species include the nationally rare Rievaulx beetle Oedemara virescens is present at the site, dependent on both species-rich grasslands and longestablished woodland.



The juxta-position of the ancient woodland rich in deadwood and the sunny, sheltered, species-rich grasslands and woodland rides are a particularly valuable combination of habitats for deadwood invertebrate specialists.

Bats 

Rievaulx Terrace is located within a landscape rich in bat foraging and roosting habitats and is close to Windy Pits SSSI, a site of national value for its rich assemblages of hibernating and swarming bats.



Rievaulx Terrace is considered to be of high value to commuting, foraging and roosting bats.



The Ionic and Tuscan Temples and the National Trust Visitor Centre all have records of bat roosts, including brown long eared, noctule and pipistrelle species.



There are records of noctule bat roosts in trees at the site.

Birds 

The woodlands at Rievaulx Terrace are considered to support a rich bird fauna including species of conservation concern

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MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS The following management recommendations reflect the importance of the site in nature conservation terms, current site management objectives and any identified threats and opportunities. Management recommendations take into account the desk study information available, the findings of recent fieldwork and discussions with the National Trust. Future specialist species and habitats surveys at the site may prompt review of management recommendations to reflect any new nature conservation priorities or interests.

7.1

Woodland The following recommendations are made for the management of woodlands. Works marked with an * are optional lower priority recommendations:

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All Woodlands a. Retain all standing, fallen and felled deadwood, unless a risk assessment suggests removal advisable. b. Woodland works to be carried out between September and February inclusive to avoid disturbance to nesting birds. c. Carry out woodland work in autumn / early winter during dry weather to avoid damage to vegetation, particularly vernal species such as bluebells. d. Take account of the location of notable plants during any woodland management work and establish temporary protection during works. e. Assess (through bat scoping surveys) early mature / mature trees for potential to support roosting bats in advance of tree works.

Undertake bat activity

surveys as identified by the initial scoping survey.

Where bat roosts are

identified in trees proposed for felling, first consider tree retention and if this is not possible apply for a European Protected species licence / prepare a bat mitigation plan as advised by an ecologist. f.

Carry out further specialist invertebrate surveys of the woodland in order to understand species diversity and inform site management for invertebrates.*

g. Carry out breeding bird surveys of the woodland to understand species diversity and inform site management for birds.* h. Carry out a lower plants survey of the woodland.* i.

Monitor natural regeneration that occurs following intervention.

Carry out

sycamore control to allow native species to develop in the understorey. j.

Set up permanent monitoring quadrats to monitor changes in woodland species composition and abundance over years.*

k. Monitor for invasive species and significant tree diseases such as ash dieback. Terrace Bank Wood a. Management of the vistas to be on a cyclical basis to minimise disturbance. Each vista to be coppiced on a 5-7 year rotation, following annual assessment of priorities before cutting two vistas. l.

Sufficient brash to be stacked on top of coppice stools, particularly hazel and elm, to minimize browsing by deer. Stem wood to be piled on the edge of adjacent woodland to provide habitat for deadwood invertebrate and fungi.

b. All mature trees on the edge of vistas retained with careful pruning to remove branches encroaching on the vistas. Shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn and elder should be retained to provide pollen and nectar sources for invertebrates. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

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c. Around planted oak trees, consider limited tree felling to create canopy clearings. d. Approach to future extraction in the woodland should limit vehicles to the logging and canal tracks. Drag timber to the tracks using lines to minimise damage to soils and ground flora. e. Previously cut sycamore within woodland to be recut and treated with herbicide. f.

Discuss broader sycamore management issues at the site with Natural England.

g. Propagate the native small-leaved lime through seed collection.

Plant any

successfully propagated saplings into the wood to enhance woodland resilience.* h. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Haloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thin around the three mature small-leaved lime trees to allow natural regeneration and layering.* i.

Replace bird boxes with opening bird boxes to allow bird ringing in the woods.*

Mossy Bank Wood a. Thin the planted section of the woodland (central and eastern end of woodland) by 20% in the next 5 years.

Focus on removal of early mature / mature

sycamore and beech. Retain ash and oak wherever possible. Retain all existing understorey, particularly hazel and field maple.* b. Approach to future extraction in the woodland should limit vehicles to the National Trust access track at the top of the wood. Drag timber to the tracks using lines to minimise damage to soils and ground flora. c. Monitor and identify tree obstructions and clear tree growth away from paths. d. Erect bird boxes.* Backdrop Wood a. Thin the eastern edge the woodland by 20% in the next 5 years. Focus on removal of early mature beech, sycamore and larch. Retain ash where present. Retain all existing understorey, particularly yew trees and hazel.* b. Monitor and identify tree obstructions and clear tree growth away from paths. c. Consider vulnerability of baneberry to trampling by public and take action to minimise risk. Consider possibility of propagating baneberry and establishing elsewhere within woodland.* d. Avoid excessive tree felling around known wood barley locations as shade preferable and ensuing weed growth may out compete wood barley. e. Carry out management of invasive shrub snowberry. Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

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Consider approach to grey squirrely control and agree effective measures on site and in conjunction with neighbouring landowners where possible.*

7.2

Species-rich Grassland The following recommendations are made for the management of species-rich grassland: a. Maintain two cuts a year in late summer and autumn. b. Leave summer arisings in-situ for 1 week prior to removal. Remove autumn arisings immediately. c. Pay particular attention to the removal of rank growth / thatch from the limited areas of grassland that are showing signs of rankness, in order to maintain species diversity. d. Coppice selected trees on the adjacent woodland edge to create a shrubby layer on the boundary within the grassland and woodland, and to increase light levels to the grassland. Limited encroachment by fly honeysuckle should be managed by cutting back this shrub to reinstate the grassland. e. Investigate how species-rich grassland hay could be used to enhance grasslands on site or locally, supporting eg. Buglifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s B-Lines Ryedale.* f.

Do not dispose of grassland grass cuttings in the woodland edge.

g. Continue to avoid use of fertilisers on the grasslands. h. Set up permanent monitoring quadrats to monitor changes in species composition and abundance over years.* i.

Assess the impact of trampling of the grasslands by visitors as they take photograph and / or picnic. Consider measures to manage these impacts, if significant.

Carry out a specialist invertebrate survey of the grassland in order to understand species diversity and inform site management for invertebrates.*

7.3

Buildings The following recommendations are made for the management of buildings: a. Bat emergence and re-entry surveys of all buildings on the site are recommended in order to identify bat roosts and species.

This is essential

where works to the buildings is proposed.*

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b. Where bat roosts are identified which are likely to be affected by any works, consult an Ecologist to identify if a European Protected species licence / bat mitigation plan may be required in advance of works. c. Carry out a lichen survey of the structures on site and identify any conservation measures based on the findings of the survey.* d. Carry out any works to the buildings outside of the bird nesting season where nesting birds are known to be using the buildings.

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APPENDIX A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLANT SPECIES LIST

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Species

Common Name

Acer campestre

Field Maple

Acer pseudoplatanus

Sycamore

Achillea millefolium

Yarrow

Actaea spicata

Baneberry

Adoxa moschatellina

Town-hall-clock

Agrostis capillaris

Common Bent

Agrostis stolonifera

Creeping Bent

Ajuga reptans

Bugle

Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita

Lady's mantle

Allium ursinum

Ramsons

Alnus glutinosa

Alder

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Ragweed

Anemone nemorosa

Wood Anemone

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Sweet Vernal-grass

Anthriscus sylvestris

Cow parsley

Aquilegia vulgaris

Columbine

Arctium lappa

Greater burdock

Arrhenatherum elatius

False Oat-grass

Arum maculatum

Lords-and-Ladies

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum

Black Spleenwort

Asplenium ruta-muraria

Wall-rue

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady-fern

Bellis perennis

Daisy

Betula pendula

Silver Birch

Betula pubescens

Downy Birch

Blechnum spicant

Hard-fern

Brachypodium sylvaticum

False brome

Briza media

Quaking-grass

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Species

Common Name

Calendula arvensis

Field Marigold

Calendula officinalis

Pot Marigold

Campanula latifolia

Giant Bellflower

Campanula rotundifolia

Harebell

Carex flacca

Glaucous Sedge

Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam

Centaurea nigra

Common Knapweed

Cerastium arvense

Field Mouse-ear

Cerastium fontanum

Common Mouse-ear

Chamaerion angustifolium

Rosebay Willowherb

Chenopodium album

Fat-hen

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage

Circaea lutetiana

Enchanter's-nightshade

Cirsium arvense

Creeping Thistle

Cirsium dissectum

Meadow Thistle

Cirsium palustre

Marsh thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Spear Thistle

Cornus alba

White Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

Dogwood

Corylus avellana

Hazel

Crataegus monogyna

Hawthorn

Cruciata laevipes

Crosswort

Cynosurus cristatus

Crested Dog's-tail

Dactylis glomerata

Cock's-foot

Daphne laureola

Spurge Laurel

Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. cespitosa

Tufted Hair-grass

Digitalis purpurea

Foxglove

Dryopteris affinis

Scaly Male-fern

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Species

Common Name

Dryopteris dilatata

Broad Buckler-fern

Equisetum arvense

Field Horsetail

Equisetum palustre

Marsh Horsetail

Euonymus europaeus

Spindle

Fagus sylvatica

Beech

Festuca rubra

Red Fescue

Filipendula camtschatica

Giant Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet

Fraxinus excelsior

Ash

Galium aparine

Cleavers

Galium odoratum

Woodruff

Galium verum

Lady's Bedstraw

Geranium robertianum

Herb-Robert

Geum urbanum

Wood Avens

Glechoma hederacea

Ground-ivy

Helleborus viridis

Green Hellebore

Heracleum sphondylium

Hogweed

Holcus lanatus

Yorkshire-fog

Homogyne alpina

Purple Colt's-foot

Hordelymus europaeus

Wood Barley

Hordeum murinum

Wall Barley

Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Bluebell

Hypericum perforatum

Perforate St John's-wort

Hypochaeris radicata

Cat's-ear

Ilex aquifolium

Holly

Juncus effusus

Soft-rush

Larix decidua

European Larch

Lathyrus pratensis

Meadow Vetchling

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Species

Common Name

Leontodon autumnalis

Autumn Hawkbit

Leontodon hispidus

Rough Hawkbit

Leucanthemum vulgare

Oxeye Daisy

Lilium martagon

Martagon Lily

Lolium perenne

Perennial Rye-grass

Lonicera periclymenum

Honeysuckle

Lonicera xylosteum

Fly Honeysuckle

Lotus corniculatus

Common Bird's-foot-trefoil

Luzula campestris

Field Wood-rush

Luzula sylvatica

Great Wood-rush

Lychnis flos-cuculi

Ragged-Robin

Lysimachia nummularia

Creeping jenny

Malus sylvestris

Crab Apple

Matricaria discoidea

Pineappleweed

Melica uniflora

Wood Melick

Mercurialis perennis

Dog's Mercury

Mycelis muralis

Wall Lettuce

Myosotis sylvatica

Wood Forget-me-not

Orchis mascula

Early-purple Orchid

Petasites albus

White Butterbur

Petasites fragrans

Winter Heliotrope

Petasites hybridus

Butterbur

Petasites japonicus

Giant Butterbur

Petasites palmatus

Palmate-leaved Butterbur

Phyllitis scolopendrium

Hart's-tongue

Pilosella officinarum

Mouse-ear-hawkweed

Pinus sylvestris

Scots Pine

Plantago lanceolata

Ribwort Plantain

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Species

Common Name

Plantago major

Greater Plantain

Poa annua

Annual Meadow-grass

Poa pratensis

Smooth Meadow-grass

Poa trivialis

Rough Meadow-grass

Polygonatum multiflorum

Solomon's-seal

Polypodium interjectum

Intermediate Polypody

Polystichum aculeatum

Hard Shield-fern

Potentilla reptans

Creeping Cinquefoil

Potentilla sterilis

Barren Strawberry

Primula veris

Cowslip

Primula vulgaris

Primrose

Prunella vulgaris

Selfheal

Prunus avium

Wild Cherry

Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry Laurel

Prunus lusitanica

Portugal Laurel

Prunus padus

Bird Cherry

Prunus serotina

Rum Cherry

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn

Pteridium aquilinum

Bracken

Quercus petraea

Sessile Oak

Quercus robur

Pedunculate Oak

Ranunculus acris

Meadow Buttercup

Ranunculus auricomus

Goldilocks Buttercup

Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser Celandine

Ranunculus repens

Creeping Buttercup

Rhinanthus minor

Yellow-rattle

Ribes alpinum

Mountain Currant

Ribes uva-crispa

Gooseberry

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Species

Common Name

Rosa canina

Dog-rose

Rubus fruticosus agg.

Bramble

Rubus idaeus

Raspberry

Rumex obtusifolius

Broad-leaved Dock

Ruscus aculeatus

Butcher's-broom

Sanguisorba minor

Salad burnet

Sambucus nigra

Elder

Scrophularia nodosa

Common figwort

Senecio jacobaea

Common Ragwort

Silene dioica

Red Campion

Sorbus aria

Common Whitebeam

Sorbus aucuparia

Rowan

Stachys sylvatica

Hedge Woundwort

Stellaria media

Common Chickweed

Symphoricarpos albus

Snowberry

Syringa vulgaris

Lilac

Taxus baccata

Yew

Teucrium scorodonia

Wood-sage

Tilia cordata

Small-leaved Lime

Trifolium pratense

Red Clover

Trifolium repens

White Clover

Trisetum flavescens

Yellow Oat-grass

Tussilago farfara

Colt's-foot

Ulmus glabra

Wych Elm

Urtica dioica

Common Nettle

Veronica chamaedrys

Germander Speedwell

Veronica montana

Wood Speedwell

Viburnum lantana

Wayfaring-tree

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Species

Common Name

Viburnum opulus

Guelder-rose

Vicia cracca

Tufted Vetch

Vicia sepium

Bush Vetch

Viola odorata

Sweet Violet

Viola riviniana

Common Dog-violet

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

APPENDIX B â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BIRD SPECIES LIST

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Species

G Toase

1987

records

Helmsley records

B breed’g

1992-

2012-

2015

RSPB Birds of

1994

2015

Enviroscope

Conservation

records

casual

Concern

records

Status

W winter’g Blackbird

Blackcap

Blue tit

Brambling

Bullfinch

Carrion crow

Chaffinch

Chiffchaff

Coal tit

Collared dove

Cuckoo

Dunnock

Garden warbler

Goldcrest

Goldfinch

Great tit

Greater spotted

Amber

x X

Red

Amber

woodpecker Green

Amber

woodpecker Greenfinch

Grey heron

House martin

Amber

House sparrow

Red

Jackdaw

Jay

Kestrel

Long-tailed tit

Magpie

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

x x

Amber

July 2016

Species

G Toase

1987

records

Helmsley records

B breed’g

1992-

2012-

2015

RSPB Birds of

1994

2015

Enviroscope

Conservation

records

casual

Concern

records

Status

W winter’g Mallard

Amber

Marsh tit

Mistle thrush

Moorhen

Nuthatch

Partridge

Pheasant

Pied flycatcher

Pied wagtail

Redpoll

Redstart

Red Amber

x x

Amber

Redwing

x x

Robin

Rook

Siskin

Song thrush

Sparrowhawk

Spotted

Red

Starling

Red

Stock dove

Amber

Swift

Amber

Tawny owl

Teal

Tree pipit

Tree sparrow

Treecreeper

Red

flycatcher

Amber

Tree sparrow

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

x x

Red

July 2016

Species

G Toase

1987

records

Helmsley records

B breed’g

1992-

2012-

2015

RSPB Birds of

1994

2015

Enviroscope

Conservation

records

casual

Concern

records

Status

W winter’g Tufted duck

Amber

Whitethroat

Willow tit

Willow warbler

Wood warbler

Woodcock

Woodpigeon

Wren

Yellowhammer

Amber Red

x 1

Amber Red Amber

x 1

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

x Red

July 2016

APPENDIX C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PHOTOGRAPHS

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Photo 1. View of close-mown grass of terrace

Photo 2. View of Rievaulx Abbey through vista,

giving way to unmown species-rich grassland on

and species-rich grassland in foreground.

slopes

Photo 3. View of Backdrop Wood

Photo 4. View of the terrace lawns and Ionic Temple

Photo 5. View of Tuscan Temple

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

Photo 6. View of deadwood habitat

July 2016

Photo 7. View within Terrace Bank Wood

View 8. View of boundary between Backdrop Wood and the terrace lawns.

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

APPENDIX D â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLANS -

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Plan

Rievaulx Terrace, North Yorkshire Ecology Report

July 2016

Key

Broadleaved woodland - Semi-natural

Broadleaved woodland - Plantation 15

Scrub - Dense 10

Scrub - Scattered

15 8

Introduced shrubs

Amenity grassland 5

Neutral grassland - Unimproved

12 13

Calcareous grassland - Unimproved 7

Tall herb & fern - Non ruderal

8 7

Rock outcrop

Building

6 Water - Pond/ditch

Wall

Fence

3 2

18 18

1 19

Site boundary

Target Notes

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Terrace Bank Wood - Semi-natural ancient woodland. Mossy Bank Wood - Part semi-natural woodland ancient woodland. Backdrop Wood - Mature beech trees. Backdrop Wood - Semi-mature beech trees. Species-rich calcareous and neutral grasslands on bank. Maintained vistas through Terrace Bank Wood (nos. 1-13). Mown amenity grassland on the terrace. Ionic temple - Bat roost previously recorded. Tuscan Temple - Bat roost observed. Visitor centre building - Bat roost previously recorded. Baneberry clump Wood barley colony Mixed shrub beds on edge of terrace contain mountain currant, fly honeysuckle, spurge laurel and butchers broom. Collapsed drystone wall separating Mossy Bank and Terrace Bank Woodlands. Rock outcrop with mountain currant. Deep ditch and bank on woodland boundary. Green hellebore colony. Small-leaved lime trees. Water-filled ditch on line of former canal (excluded from survey).

Target Note - See notes below

York Eco Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor York YO30 4AG T: 01904 479094 E: office@enviroscope.eu Client:

The National Trust Project:

Rievaulx Terrace North Yorkshire Drawing:

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Plan Scale

Date

Drawn

Checked

1:4,000 @A3

26/10/15

Project No.

Drawing No.

Revision

525

7.7 Listing Descriptions

Listing Descriptions Historic England

DORIC TEMPLE - 1149251 Grade I Listed Building IONIC TEMPLE - 1315950 Grade I Listed Building RIEVAULX TERRACE - 1001072 Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens RIEVAULX ABBEY - 1175724 Scheduled Monument

DORIC TEMPLE List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: DORIC TEMPLE List entry Number: 1149251

Location DORIC TEMPLE The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: North Yorkshire District: Ryedale District Type: District Authority Parish: Rievaulx National Park: NORTH YORK MOORS Grade: I Date first listed: 04-Jan-1955 Date of most recent amendment: 18-Mar-1985

Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: LBS UID: 328347

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List entry Description Summary of Building Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

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History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details SE 58 SE RIEVAULX RIEVAULX TERRACE 5/121 Doric Temple (Formerly listed as 4.1.55 Tuscan Temple on Rievaulx Terrace) GV I Temple. Wrongly shown on OS map as Tuscan Temple. 1758. Probably by Sir Thomas Robinson. Sandstone ashlar, lead roof. Circular, peripteral dodecastyle plan. Doric columns raised on podium. 10 steps to half- glazed fielded-panel door. 3 round-headed sash windows with thick glazing bars. Metope and triglyph frieze with paterae and bocrania. Low drum and hemispherical dome. Interior: Medieval floor tiles from Rievaulx Abbey. Door beneath pediment carried on brackets. Swags and heads above windows. Moulded modillion cornice with leaf frieze. Coâ&#x2C6;&#x20AC;ŕ¸&#x201A;ered ceiling with painting of Ganymede in centre. Pevsner, Yorkshire: The North Riding, 1966; Hussey, 'Duncombe Park, Yorkshire - II', Country Life, December 12, 1957. Listing NGR: SE5773384408

Selected Sources Books and journals Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire: The North Riding, (1966) 'Country Life' in 12 December, (1957) 'Country Life' in 5 December, (1957) Other Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 32 North Yorkshire, National Grid Reference: SE 57732 84407

Map

ÂŠ Crown Copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. ÂŠ British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1149251 .pdf (http://gisservices.HistoricEngland.org.uk/printwebservicehle/StatutoryPrint. svc/442735/HLE_A4L_Grade|HLE_A3L_Grade.pdf) The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 27-Oct-2015 at 04:17:48.

IONIC TEMPLE List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: IONIC TEMPLE List entry Number: 1315950

Location IONIC TEMPLE The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: North Yorkshire District: Ryedale District Type: District Authority Parish: Rievaulx National Park: NORTH YORK MOORS Grade: I Date first listed: 04-Jan-1955 Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: LBS UID: 328346

Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the oě&#x201E;&#x2026;ć&#x203A;?icial record but are added later for information.

List entry Description Summary of Building Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details SE 58 NE RIEVAULX RIEVAULX TERRACE 3/120 Ionic Temple 4.1.55 GV I Temple. 1758. Probably by Sir Thomas Robinson. Limestone ashlar, lead roof, stone stack. Rectangular with tetrastyle portico. Podium with flight of 12 steps to entrance in Ionic portico with dentilled pediment. 6-panel door in cyma recta moulded doorcase. Ridge stack to rear. Interior: panelled room. White marble fireplace with caryatids and open-scrolled pediment above. Coved painted ceiling by Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis (1701-1761). Pevsner, Yorkshire: The North Riding, 1966; Hussey, 'Duncombe Park, Yorkshire - II', Country Life, December 12, 1957. Listing NGR: SE5793185076

Map

The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1315950 .pdf (http://gisservices.HistoricEngland.org.uk/printwebservicehle/StatutoryPrint. svc/286749/HLE_A4L_Grade|HLE_A3L_Grade.pdf) The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 27-Oct-2015 at 04:11:07.

RIEVAULX ABBEY List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: RIEVAULX ABBEY List entry Number: 1175724

Location RIEVAULX ABBEY, MAIN STREET The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: North Yorkshire District: Ryedale District Type: District Authority Parish: Rievaulx National Park: NORTH YORK MOORS Grade: I Date first listed: 04-Jan-1955 Date of most recent amendment: 18-Mar-1985

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Details SE 58 NE/SE RIEVAULX MAIN STREET (east side, o∀ข) 3/111 Rievaulx Abbey 5/111 (Formerly listed as Abbey) 4.1.55 GV I Abbey Church and monastic buildings, now ruinous. C12, C13, C14, C15. Sandstone and limestone. For descriptions see DoE Guidebook. Scheduled Ancient Monument. Peers, Rievaulx Abbey, DoE o∀ขicial guidebook; Pevsner, Yorkshire: The North Riding, 1966. Listing NGR: SE5763084998

Selected Sources Books and journals Rievaulx Abbey Rievaulx Abbey Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire: The North Riding, (1966) National Grid Reference: SE 57632 84971

Map

The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1175724 .pdf (http://gisservices.HistoricEngland.org.uk/printwebservicehle/StatutoryPrint. svc/444353/HLE_A4L_Grade|HLE_A3L_Grade.pdf) The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 27-Oct-2015 at 04:18:11.

RIEVAULX TERRACE List Entry Summary This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage for its special historic interest. Name: RIEVAULX TERRACE List entry Number: 1001072

Location The garden or other land may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: North Yorkshire District: Ryedale District Type: District Authority Parish: Rievaulx National Park: NORTH YORK MOORS Grade: I Date first registered: 10-May-1984 Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: Parks and Gardens UID: 2074

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Details A terrace laid out in c 1758 with views of the valley of the Rye and the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. The layout of the Terrace with the emphasis on unfolding views rather than formal axes was a departure which has been described as 'a landmark in the development of English Landscape style' (Jellicoe et al 1986) and 'a superlative example of large-scale landscape gardening' (Pevsner 1966). HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT The Terrace at Rievaulx is on land owned by Rievaulx Abbey until the Dissolution of the Monasteries when it was granted to Thomas Manners, Earl of Rutland, who already owned the neighbouring estate at Helmsley. The estates passed to George Villiers, first Duke of Buckingham, who married the heiress Katherine Manners. Aăż&#x2020; er the death of the second Duke of Buckingham in 1687 the estates were sold to Sir Charles Duncombe who bequeathed them on his death in 1711 to his nephew Thomas Duncombe who laid out the terrace at Duncombe Park (qv) in 1718. His son, the second Thomas Duncombe, laid out the Rievaulx Terrace c 1758. The estate remained in the family, who were created earls of Feversham in 1868. Following the death of the last Earl in 1963 the site passed to the National Trust in whose ownership it remains (1998) while the ruins of the Abbey were acquired by the Government in 1917 and passed into the care of English Heritage, in whose ownership they remain (1998). DESCRIPTION LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING Rievaulx Terrace lies immediately south and east of the village of Rievaulx in an area which is rural and agricultural. The c 23ha site lies on a ridge overlooking the valley of the River Rye and the remains of Rievaulx Abbey alongside it. The boundaries are formed by a road called Rievaulx Bank on the north side and fences around the precincts of the Abbey and the edge of Terrace Bank Wood

on the west side. A fenced band of woodland runs along the east side of the site. ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES The entrance to the site is from the B1257 via a drive which leads south-west to a C20 shop and exhibition area. A path leads through woodland to a gap in the trees where there is a set of C18 stone gate piers with pedimented caps which leads onto the Terrace. This entrance seems to be contrived so that views of the temples and the Abbey ruins below are not immediately available and are discovered as the visitor moves from the entrance onto the Terrace. The Abbey is reached from the south end of Rievaulx Bank in Rievaulx. The Duncombe family visited Rievaulx from their home at Duncombe Park, which lies c 3km to the south-east. There is a tradition that Thomas Duncombe wished to link the two sites more directly with a viaduct across the valley and the discovery of large quantities of dressed masonry in the valley which links Rievaulx to the Helmsley road tends to support the theory. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Rievaulx Abbey (listed grade I; scheduled ancient monument) is a Cistercian foundation of 1131 with most of the remains dating from the C13. The extent of the ruins and their good state of preservation is partially explained by the fact that there were absentee landlords in the years aăż&#x2020; er the Dissolution. Subsequently there was a conscious desire to preserve the ruins for their romantic appeal. Writing of the site Pevsner says: 'for the picturesque traveller it is an exquisite feast' (1966). The Abbey site is in a sheltered position on level ground on the east bank of the Rye. The well-preserved elements of the Abbey Church with its tall lancet windows are particularly prominent in views of the ruins from the Terrace. The site is in the guardianship of English Heritage (1998). GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS The Terrace is articulated about two buildings of c 1758 thought to have been designed by Thomas Robinson (see for example Hussey 1967). The designs are based on models well known in the C18 through engravings in translations of Palladio, with the Ionic Temple recalling the reconstruction of the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome and the Tuscan Temple the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli. The Ionic Temple (listed grade I) stands on a platform at the north end of the Terrace. A flight of stone steps on the south side of the building leads up to a pedimented portico of unfluted Ionic columns from which there are views

south along the Terrace. The building was heated, with a single room above a two-room service basement which provided accommodation for a gardener and facilities for preparing food. The upper room is richly decorated and contains some original furnishings (1998). At the south end of the Terrace the Tuscan Temple (listed grade I) is a circular drum with a dome encircled by detached Doric columns supporting an entabulature with triglyphs and bucrania. The interior has a painted ceiling with elaborate plasterwork and medieval floor tiles from the Abbey ruins. Although the order used is Doric the Temple seems always to have been called the Tuscan Temple, probably because the columns have no bases. The grassed terrace follows a curving course between the two temples which are c 700m apart and not fully visible from one another. Each one comes into full view of the other, framed by trees, as a promenade is made along the Terrace. The band of woodland which acts as a backcloth on the east side of the Terrace has a waved edge which emphasises the curve of the Terrace. On the west side there is a curving scarp and the land falls very steeply to the west. The slope is covered with trees (largely replanted, late C20) and thirteen vistas have been cut through them recreating vistas described in the C18. The result is a sequence of views of the valley and the river backed by the tree-clad slopes of Ashberry Hill with the Abbey ruins in the foreground. An early C19 guide (quoted in guidebook 1992) to the site recommended turning to the south from the central entrance and walking to the Tuscan Temple before returning and continuing to the Ionic Temple. The Tuscan Temple is also the starting point for Arthur Young's 1771 description of the site (ibid). A vista from the Tuscan Temple gives a glimpse of Rievaulx Bridge (listed grade II) c 400m to the south-west, and there are changing views of the valley as the visitor walks northwards. The Abbey ruins first appear in a view of the tall lancets of the Abbey church's (liturgical) east end and the disposition of the ruins and surrounding scenery changes as the visitor proceeds. As the Ionic Temple is approached there are views directly to the north transept of the church with tall lancet windows. In addition to the views into the valley there are spectacular long-distance views to the west along the whole length of the Terrace, over Ashberry Hill and to open land beyond. Young comments on the changefulness and variations in the view. At one particular spot he describes 'scattered trees appearing among the ruins in a stile too elegantly picturesque to admit description: It is a casual glance at a little paradise, which seems as it were in another region'. This aptly sums up

the relationship of the Terrace with the ruins, one in which the invitation is to view them from a distance and to see them in the context of changing landscape views, rather than explore them at close quarters. REFERENCES A Young, A Six Months Tour through the North of England 2, (1771), pp 79-87 [quoted in guidebook] C Hussey, English Gardens and Landscapes (1967), pp 140-6 Apollo 95, (1972), p 418 N Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire The North Riding (1966), pp 299-307 G & S Jellicoe et al, The Oxford Companion to Gardens (1986), p 471 The Rievaulx Terrace, guidebook, (National Trust 1992) Maps OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1856 Description written: October 1998 Amended: March 1999 Register Inspector: CEH Edited: October 1999

Selected Sources Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details

National Grid Reference: SE 57943 84975

Map

The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1001072 .pdf (http://gisservices.HistoricEngland.org.uk/printwebservicehle/StatutoryPrint. svc/1108/HLE_A4L_Grade|HLE_A3L_Grade.pdf) The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 27-Oct-2015 at 04:02:15.

7.8 Maintenance schedules

Maintenance Schedules National Trust / Southern Green Ltd February 2016

Soft Landscaping 2.1 Grass cutting (tractor mower)

Grass cutting (tractor mower)

Verges along entrance drive and around car parking areas

2.3

Grass cutting (manual mower)

Area south of entrance drive, along edges and fenceline

2.4

Grass cutting (manual mower)

Triangle between entrance drive and Rievaulx Bank, as far as road sign

2.5

Rolling

All grassed areas

2.6 2.7 2.8

Weeding Leaf blowing Shrub pruning

Edge of entrance drive, by granite setts Entrance and driveway All shrub areas around entrance and along driveway

x x x

Monthly during growing season In autumn/winter, as required Spring/autumn, depending upon species

Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture 3.1 Check for potholes Maintain limestone chippings

3.3 Maintain timber spacers 3.4 Maintain entrance signage 3.5 Maintain street furniture Access & Security 4.1 Ensure site is secure out of hours 4.2 Ensure site is secure out of hours 4.3 Keep pedestrian access routes safe and free of obstructions 4.4 Keep pedestrian access routes safe and free of obstructions

Entrance and driveway

Parking areas

x x

x Check weekly for potholes or other damage and repair as required Keep clear of weeds, rake and dress to maintain appearance Check and repair as necessary Check and repair as necessary Check and repair as necessary

Between car parking bays Main entrance gate from B1257 Cycle racks, bins

x x x

Main entrance gate from B1257 Main entrance gate from B1257 Permissive path from the car park down to Rievaulx village Paths around shop and entrance area

x x x

Daily operation Daily operation Daily operation when property is open

Daily operation when property is open

Dec

Contractor

2.2

Nov

x Check weekly for overhanging branches or other obstructions to access

Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using tractor mower (preferably early morning, before site opens to public) Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using tractor mower (preferably early morning, before site opens to public) Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using manual mower (preferably early morning, before site opens to public) Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using manual mower (preferably early morning, before site opens to public) As necessary to maintain even surface

3.2

Large grassed area south of entrance drive

NOTES

Oct

Tree pruning

Sep

1.3

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

At least annually and after high winds, make weekly checks for hangers or deadwood in branches Annually (usually in winter/spring)

Aug

Thin out self-sown saplings

Jul

1.2

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

Jun

Trees & Woodland 1.1 Inspect trees for fallen branches or damage

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

May

Volunteers

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS NT Staff

AREA

Apr

OPERATION

Mar

ITEM

Feb

The main entrance, entrance drive, car parks, visitor arrival area and woodland immediately adjacent

Jan

SCOPE:

Person Hours

1. Entrance & Car Park

x Avoid disturbance to birds

x Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists

x x

x x x

Area is outwith property boundary, but maintained by NT Avoid spring bulbs growing by the fence to the north and south of the entrance gate Take care to avoid damage to parked cars

Area is outwith property boundary, but maintained by NT Avoid spring bulbs growing by the fence to the north and south of the entrance gate Leave grass box off mower and leave arisings

x Avoid rolling in very wet weather or when ground is saturated

Shrub pruning to be overseen by member of NT staff

x x x

x x

x x x

x x

Does this path close when the property does?

4.5 Gritting of roads and paths Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Mole control 5.2 Litter picking Buildings, Structures & Landscape Features 6.1 Visitor centre - general maintenance 6.2 6.3

Toilets - general maintenance Offices - general maintenance

Paths around shop and entrance area

All grassed areas All areas along entrance and driveway

x x

Is this ever required? x As required Daily during open season, as required for the rest of the year

x x

x x Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

SCOPE:

The Terrace, Ionic and Doric Temples, shrub edge along the perimeter of the backdrop wood

ITEM

OPERATION

Sep

Oct

First cut clockwise (mower spreads arisings to the right) to avoid clippings going over bank onto wildflowers. Remainder to be cut anticlockwise. After initial circuit, divide the terrace into sections at narrow points and work from south to north up the terrace. This allows Terrace to be cut in stages, reducing overlapping and allowing drivers to see where previous operation finished. Terrace takes 4-5 hours to mow.

Take care to avoid damage to stonework around Temples

Grass cutting (manual mower)

Edges of terrace, around foot of Temples etc

2.3

Rolling

Terrace

Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using manual mower In spring to consolidate

2.4

Weeding - remove self-sown material from shrub fringe Weeding - around foot of buildings

Shrub fringe along the eastern boundary

Monthly during growing season

Ionic and Doric Temples

Monthly during growing season

Land becomes hollow and uneven due to mole activity An even surface looks better and makes mowing quicker and safer Elder (Sambucus nigra) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) are particularly invasive Hand weed to remove weed and grass grwoth around foot of steps and buildings

2.6 2.7

Leaf blowing Shrub pruning - routine pruning to maintain health of the shrubs and the overall shape of the planting

Terrace Shrub fringe along the eastern boundary

In autumn/winter, as required Spring/autumn, depending upon species

x x

2.8

Shrub management - re-shaping of shrub edge as required

Shrub fringe along the eastern boundary

Spring/autumn, depending upon species

2.9

Shrub planting - to replace dead plants Shrub fringe along the eastern boundary and/or areas that have become sparse

Spring/autumn, depending upon species

Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture 3.1 Seating - general maintenance 3.2 Seating - placement of benches on Terrace 3.3 Seating - removal of benches to winter storage (?) 3.4 Signage - opening times and tours Access & Security

All benches on terrace All benches on terrace

x x

Every 5 years Every year, before property re-opens

All benches on terrace

Every year, once property closes

Ionic and Doric Temples

Set out throughout the day, as required

Dec

Aug

Nov

Jul

Mar

Feb

Once a week from late spring, through summer and early autumn using tractor mower. Cut eastern fringe early morning, if possible, as this is where most visitors walk/sit.

Jan

Jun

Contractor

Terrace

2.2

2.5

NOTES

May

Trees & Woodland No woodland in this area Soft Landscaping 2.1 Grass cutting (tractor mower)

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

Apr

Volunteers

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS NT Staff

AREA

Person Hours

2. Terrace, Temples & Shrub Edge

x Shrub pruning to be overseen by member of NT staff Shrubs tend to be in competition with adjacent trees and need to be managed in tandem with this Shrub fringe has a tendency to grow westwards towards the light and encroach onto the terrace itself. Drastic cutting back can become necessary if allowed to continue unchecked for a number of years. Shrub planting to be overseen by member of NT staff

Sand down and re-stain x x x

Set out signs to advise when buildings will be open/closed

4.1

Ensure Temples are secure out of hours Ionic and Doric Temples

Keep pedestrian access routes safe and free of obstructions 4.4 Keep pedestrian access routes safe and free of obstructions Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Mole control 5.2 Levelling mole hills

4.3

5.2 6

Litter picking

Permissive path from the car park down to Rievaulx village Paths leading to Terrace

Daily operation when property is open

x x

Terrace Terrace

Terrace

x As required As required

x x

Daily during open season, as required for the rest of the year

Buildings, Strutures & Landscape Features 6.1 Ionic Temple - general maintenance

Northern end of Terrace

6.2

Doric Temple - general maintenance

Southern end of Terrace

6.3

Gate Piers - general maintenance

Centre of Terrace, at eastern edge

Daily inspections to check Temple is secure, no damage due to vandalism or extreme weather etc Daily inspections to check Temple is secure, no damage due to vandalism or extreme weather etc Weekly checks to make sure gate is in order, pier caps and pillars stable etc.

Does this path close when the property does?

x x

x x Soil raked as thinly as possible and to fill in depressions - remove stones which might be a hazard if thrown by the mower. Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

x Listed Grade I - permission required from HE for any intrusive works or alterations

The 'grass paths', running parallel with the gravel paths and Terace edge The 'grass paths'

2.2

Grass cutting (manual mower)

2.3

Raking and scarifying

2.4

Weeding

2.5

Leaf blowing

2.6

Shrub pruning

Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture 3.1 Maintain limestone chippings

Around foot of visitor centre building and paths All pathways

Around all pathways, to keep routes clear of overhanging branches

x x

3.2 Waymarkers Access & Security 4.1 Ensure site is secure out of hours

Paths running south and west from the visitor centre All waymarkers within woodland

All areas

Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Litter picking

All areas

Buildings, Strutures & Landscape Features 6.1 Play Area - general maintenance

Natural play area in the woodland

6.2

Skyglade - general maintenace

Centre of the woodland

6.3

Animal feeding stations - general maintenance Other woodland features - general maintenance

Bird feeders

Woodland games, dens etc throughout the woodland

6.4

x x

x Avoid disturbance to birds x Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists Note overhead power lines Avoid major works during bird nesting season

Periodically through spring, summer and early autumn to keep access track clear Once a fortnight from late spring, through summer and early autumn Once a fortnight throughout spring, summer and autumn Monthly throughout spring, summer and autumn In autumn/winter, as required

Periodically during growing season to keep paths clear

Keep clear of weeds, rake and dress to maintain appearance Check and repair as necessary

Note overhead power lines

Removal of leaf litter stops earthworms incorporating organic matter down into paths and turning them to mud Shrub pruning to be overseen by member of NT staff

Daily during open season, as required for the rest of the year

Daily checks to ensure no loose timbers, exposed nails, broken elements etc. Daily checks to ensure no loose timbers, exposed nails, broken elements etc. Ensure feeders are filled as an when required

General daily checks to make sure there has been no damage or vandalism

Dec

Nov

The 'feed drive' along the eastern boundary

Soft Landscaping 2.1 Grass cutting (tractor mower)

Oct

x x

Sep

All woodland areas All woodland areas

1.2 1.3

Aug

Thin out self-sown saplings Tree pruning

At least annually and after high winds, make weekly checks for hangers or deadwood in branches Annually (usually in winter/spring) x Check weekly for overhanging branches or other obstructions to access Keep branches pruned back away from overhead lines to east of area

Jul

All woodland areas

NOTES

Jun

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

May

Trees & Woodland 1.1 Inspect trees for fallen branches or damage

NT Staff

Contractor

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS Volunteers

AREA

Apr

OPERATION

Mar

ITEM

Feb

The woodland area to the east of the Terrace

Jan

SCOPE:

Person Hours

3. Backdrop Wood

Weekly checks to ensure areas are tidy and safe

x x

Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

x Feed birds during winter months only??

3 4

Throughout growing season, as required, to maintain clear access for maintenance

1.5 Other activities dependent upon future treatment of vistasâ&#x20AC;Ś Soft Landscaping 2.1 Grass and scrub clearance (brushcutter Logging track, running north-south from or strimmer) Gardeners Compound 2.2

Grass cutting (brushcutter or strimmer) 1.5m strip at the bottom of the bank, above the retaining wall

Once in spring, once in autumn

2.3

Grass cutting (power scythe)

Grassed banks

Once in spring

2.4

Grass cutting (power scythe)

Grassed banks

Once in autumn

2.5

Raking

Grassed banks

One week after grass cutting?

Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture No hard landscaping in this area Access & Security 4.1 Ensure site is secure out of hours

All areas

Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Mole control 5.2 Levelling mole hills

All areas All areas

Rabbit control Filling rabbit scrapes Litter picking

Buildings, Strutures & Landscape Features 6.1 Retaining wall - general maintenance

All areas All areas All areas

Parallel with the edge of the Terrace for the majority of its length

General daily checks to make sure there has been no damage or vandalism

x As required As required

Non required As required Daily during open season, as required for the rest of the year Daily checks to ensure no loose stones, vandalism or other damage etc. Occasional weeding as required.

Dec

x Annually (usually in winter/spring), to avoid bird nesting season

Edge of vistas, to avoid encroachment into sightlines

Sep

Tree pruning

Aug

1.4

Jul

x x

Jun

All woodland areas Woodland fringe at upper (eastern) side, to avoid branches overhanging wildflower areas

May

Contractor

Thin out self-sown saplings Tree pruning

5.3 5.4 5.5 6

All woodland areas

1.2 1.3

At least annually and after high winds, make weekly checks for hangers or deadwood in branches Annually (usually in winter/spring) x Annually (usually in winter/spring), to avoid bird nesting season

NOTES

Nov

Trees & Woodland 1.1 Inspect trees for fallen branches or damage

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

Oct

Volunteers

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS NT Staff

AREA

Apr

OPERATION

Mar

ITEM

Feb

The woodland area to the west of the Terrace, including the wildflower grassland at the top of the bank (all within the SSSI)

Jan

SCOPE:

Person Hours

4. Terrace Bank Wood

Avoid disturbance to birds x Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height or on steep slopes to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists x Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height or on steep slopes to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists

Important to cut back along top of wall for visibility, so remainder of grass cutting can proceed safely First cut in spring, to control Dogs Mercury but before emergence of wildflowers (?) Second cut in Septmeber, after Knapweed has finished flowering Leave arisings to allow seed to fall Rake arisings down bank and spread in woodland, to avoid increasing fertility of wildflower areas

x Soil raked as thinly as possible and to fill in depressions - remove stones which might be a hazard if thrown by the mower.

x x

x Use soil from Nunnington if required Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

6.2

Old stone toilet block - general maintenance

In woods to the north

6.3

Former stable - general maintenance

In woods to the north

Daily checks to ensure no loose stones, vandalism or other damage etc. Occasional weeding as required. Daily checks to ensure no loose stones, vandalism or other damage etc. Occasional weeding as required.

Derelict with no roof - the tops of the walls were turfed in 2012

3 4

Trees & Woodland 1.1 Inspect trees for fallen branches or damage 1.2

Thin out self-sown saplings

1.3

Tree pruning

Soft Landscaping 2.6 Weeding 2.7 Leaf blowing 2.8 Shrub pruning

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

Dec

Nov

NOTES

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

Mar

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS NT Staff

AREA

Feb

OPERATION

Jan

ITEM

Contractor

The woodland area to the north of the Terrace and drive

Volunteers

SCOPE:

Person Hours

5. Mossy Bank Wood

At least annually and after high winds, make weekly checks for hangers or deadwood in branches Annually (usually in winter/spring)

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

Avoid disturbance to birds

Check weekly for overhanging branches or other obstructions to access

Edge of entrance drive, by granite setts Entrance and driveway All shrub areas around entrance and along driveway

Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists

Monthly during growing season In autumn/winter, as required Spring/autumn, depending upon species

Shrub pruning to be overseen by member of NT staff

Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture 3.1 Signage Access & Security 4.1 Ensure site is secure out of hours

For permissive path

Check and repair as necessary

All areas

General daily checks to make sure there has been no damage or vandalism

Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Mole control 5.2 Litter picking

All grassed areas All areas

Buildings, Strutures & Landscape Features No other structures in this area

As required Daily during open season, as required for the rest of the year

Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

OPERATIVE TIMING OF WORKS

Buildings, Strutures & Landscape Features No other structures in this area

All areas?? All areas

Dec

All areas

Nov

Access & Security 4.1 Ensure site is secure out of hours Pest Control & Litter 5.1 Mole control 5.2 Litter picking

Oct

Soft Landscaping No formal soft landscape maintenance Hard Landscaping, Signage & Furniture 3.3 Timber gates - general maintenance At northern and southern end of paths

Sep

Aug

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

Jul

Tree pruning

Jun

1.2

All woodland areas adjacent to drive and at entrance

May

Trees & Woodland 1.1 Inspect trees for fallen branches or damage

NOTES

Apr

PROPERTY OPENING TIMES

Mar

NT Staff

AREA

Feb

OPERATION

Jan

ITEM

Contractor

The canal at the foot of Terrace Bank Wood and the adjacent permissive path

Volunteers

SCOPE:

Person Hours

6. Monastic Canal

At least annually and after high winds, make weekly checks for hangers or deadwood in branches x Check monthly for overhanging branches or other obstructions to access

x Leave deadwood and fallen branches in woodland for habitat benefit, remove fallen branches from path only x Volunteers to take on low-level work only Working at height to be undertaken by trained NT staff or arborists

Check and repair as necessary throughout year

x Gardeners only in on Thursdays, NT staff to assist on other days

Daily operation x As required Monthly during the year