Kirkham Priory
Nestled over on the banks of the River Derwent in North Yorkshire is the rather romantic ruins of Kirkham Priory. Now this site was a big one during WWII, but we'll get into that in a mo, otherwise it was quite a stunning structure and still brings great peace to this day. This was once an Augustinian Priory. Founded in the 1120s by Walter l'Espec, yes the lord of Helmsley who also built Rievaulx Abbey that we have covered before. Of course it was another one that fell thanks to the Big Bully King and thus it is in ruins today, but the site also has its own folklore attached. According to legend, so likely untrue but you never know (we're still sore about the 'legend' surrounding Glastonbury Abbey so we take the word of Monks with a pinch of salt), Kirkham Priory was founded in remembrance to l'Espec's only son who died when a boar startled his horse. He died near what became Kirkham Priory. Now if we look at...
