English Heritage

The stately ruins of Furness Abbey are cradled in a lovely, wooded valley. Thanks to a major conservation programme, and a reconstructed stairway, there’s now even more to explore here.

Founded by Stephen, later King of England, Furness became England’s second richest Cistercian abbey. Its red sandstone ruins include the tower and recently conserved east end of the great church; the chapter house; and almost the entire cloister east range.

We’ve also reconstructed the ‘night stair’, which monks used to descend from the first-floor dormitory to the church during the night. Climb to observation platform and enjoy a monks’ eye view of the ruins.

An exhibition at Furness Abbey features striking effigies of knights; the rare silver-gilt 12th-century ‘Furness Crozier’; and gemstone ring from an abbot’s grave.

We’re hugely grateful to the FCC Communities Foundation for funding conservation and access work, and to the volunteers of the Furness Abbey Fellowship for their invaluable support.