Founded in 1156 by Cistercian Monks who had arrived from France following the Norman Conquest, this enchanting Abbey eventually became one of the busiest and wealthiest religious houses.

It takes its name from the medieval word for valley, and the River Ure or Yorre, ‘Jur’. Now in private ownership, this beautiful site is carefully managed with conservation in mind and it is noted for more than 180 species of wild flowers and shrubs growing amidst its ruins. It is a place of great beauty, tranquility and history and is a wonderful site to visit. The Abbey also has a tearoom, which has a scale model of how the Abbey would have looked.