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The promise of a picturesque ruin led us to Kirkstall-Abbey, about three miles from Leeds— a little deviation from our road, which amply repaid our trouble. Ascending to the summit of Kirkstall hill, the rich vale in which these remains are situated, watered by the winding river Aire, darkened by deep and lofty woods, and grandly backed by distant hills, opened to us at once a scene of uncommon beauty. The detail of the abbey is equally interesting to the antiquary, as its cathedral presents the compleatest example (as far as it goes) of the architecture of the 12th century, of any in the kingdom. The design is plain, neat, and uniform ; the Saracenic arch inclosing the Saxon one at the western end points out that its erection was previous to the discontinuance of the Anglo-Norman style. Henry de Lacy founded it in 1157, and filled it with Cistercians, whose demesnes were valued at the Reformation at 329l. 2s. 11d.
As our object was to see every thing that Art or Nature presented worth observation within the limits of our tour, we were led to visit Harewood-House, nine miles from Leeds, the seat of Edward Lord Harewood, a magnificent stone mansion, built by the late lord, in 1760; judiciously situated on the slope of a hill, which gives it a view over a park rather pleasing than grand. But nothing within
