Art & Piety in Medieval North Yorkshire | July 2026

Nestled amongst the sloping dales and heather-clad moors of North Yorkshire are an array of medieval churches and abbeys, each boasting a complex and captivating history. Focusing on material culture and architecture, our brand new tour will unearth the relationships between medieval practices of piety, monasticism and the decoration of sacred spaces to gain an in-depth understanding of the medieval period. 

We will discover traces of civilisation at the preserved medieval village of Wharram Percy, which was abandoned at the turn of the 16th century. The village’s only surviving structure, St Martin’s Parish Church, alongside grassy outlines of peasant houses, will offer a window into the workings of a small medieval society.

A particular tour highlight will be Burton Agnes Hall, an Elizabethan house with immense charm. On first sight, the estate’s Norman manor appears to be a simple brick building, but encased within lies an extremely rare example of a high-status Norman dwelling with a groined and vaulted roof that has endured for over 900 years. Meanwhile, the crypt at Ripon Cathedral presents us with another remarkable account of medieval history; built in 672 CE, it is hailed as the oldest surviving structure within any English cathedral.

Monastic ruins will be a key focal point. The monumental Fountains Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Benedictine monks established the abbey in 1132, seeking a secluded place to worship away from the extravagance of monastic life in York. We should experience this tranquillity for ourselves as we meander through its enduring architecture and beautiful 18th century water garden designed by John and William Aislabie. We will also explore the ruins of the 12th century Premonstratensian Easby Abbey, admiring its picturesque and rugged appearance – inspiration for J M W Turner who painted its image in 1800.

Turning to church interiors, the Priory Church of St Mary in Bridlington is a glorious survival of pre-Reformation splendour with its lofty interiors, strong vertical lines and intricate tracery showcasing distinct Perpendicular aesthetics. Perched above the River Ure, the romantic guise of St Nicholas in West Tanfield is complemented by the orderly brickwork and fine oriel window of the Marmion Tower, a gatehouse dating back to the 15th century. Within the church, a unique pair of 14th century alabaster effigies depicting Sir John and Lady Elizabeth Marmion reside under a peculiar wrought-iron structure, thought to be the only one of its kind in England. Gazing towards the altar, we may discern the carved foliage embellishing a magnificent hammerbeam roof, and the intricate North Aisle window complete with fragments of medieval glass.

We will stay throughout at the Talbot Country House Hotel & Inn. Situated beside the river Derwent, our accommodation has enjoyed a rich history of hospitality, serving as a coaching inn during the 17th century. Today we will enjoy its traditional charm blended with modern interiors and fantastic location in Malton, known as the food capital of Yorkshire.

Tour Director Meg Bernstein, PhD, is an art historian specialising in medieval European art and architecture, with a particular focus on the parish church as a space shaped by community, devotion and design. She earned her PhD in Art History from UCLA, following earlier degrees from Smith College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Yale University. Her research explores how buildings and artworks were experienced in their original contexts, engaging with sculpture, ritual, materiality, and the social life of parish churches between 1150 and 1300. Meg has co-organised major conferences and edited an open-access volume on the art history of the parish church, while also publishing widely on sculpture, wall painting and digital humanities.