Lastingham, North Yorkshire

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In the small village of Lastingham, a monastery was founded in 654 by St Cedd, and flourished until the Danes destroyed it in the ninth century. In 1078, Stephen, the Abbot of Whitby, persuaded William I to restore Lastingham, and he set to work on the abbey. William built the crypt, which can still be seen down the stairs. However Stephen and his monks left abruptly to set up a new monastery in York, leaving only the crypt and the apse of the church complete. Amazingly, the crypt has survived unaltered over the centuries.

It’s a self-contained church in its own right and its Norman style is very impressive. Enlarged as a parish church in medieval times, it suffered very little from restoration in 1878.

Lastingham is featured on our 55-minute video Picture Postcard Yorkshire, and can be purchased on line. Click here to find out more.

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