The Valley that Built my Ancestors- Rievaulx Abbey

In the rain‑soaked ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, the story of this valley begins. Long before my ancestors lived in Hawnby, Bilsdale, or the scattered farms of the North York Moors, this place shaped the land, the economy, and the lives of everyone who came after. In this episode, we explore: the French Cistercian monks who founded Rievaulx in 1132 how the Abbey controlled land across Bilsdale, Hawnby, Arden, and the high moors the quieter sisterhouse at Arden Priory and the nuns who lived there the collapse of monastic power during the Dissolution how the valley shifted to private estates and tenant farming the world the Chapmans stepped into in the early 1600s All Saints Hawnby and the parish life that followed This isn’t just a ruin. It’s the beginning of a story — the story of how this valley shaped the people who eventually became my family. If you enjoy cinematic history, genealogy, and real family stories, subscribe and follow along. There’s more to unlock. #NorthYorkMoors #RievaulxAbbey #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #YorkshireHistory #Documentary #AncestorUnlocked