York Guides

By Paul Jeeves  (Yorkshire Post)
A 19th CENTURY inn which stands next to the ruins of one of England's most important abbeys will now help preserve Yorkshire's most historic monuments.

In an unprecedented move by English Heritage, the organisation has bought the Grade II listed Abbey Inn in the grounds of the 12th century Byland Abbey in North Yorkshire.
It was once one of the most important Cistercian monasteries in England.
The £865,000 sale of the pub and restaurant was completed on Monday when previous owner Jane Nordli handed over the keys to English Heritage.
Profits from the inn will now be used to fund the conservation and upkeep of English Heritage's other properties in the region, including Byland Abbey itself. English Heritage directors are confident that in spite of the initial six-figure outlay, the Abbey Inn will start to bring in a profit within five years.
David Bailey, English Heritage's head of visitor operations for the North York Moors and North Yorkshire coast, said: "While other organisations in the sector such as the National Trust have taken on the running of pubs and restaurants, this is a first for us.
"It will provide us with a valuable source of income and help us preserve some of the most spectacular buildings in the area."
Mrs Nordli said: "We are thrilled that English Heritage has bought the inn, because we know that it will be cared for in the future as much as we have cared for it in the past."
All 20 members of staff will continue to work at the Abbey Inn. Mrs Nordli, who grew up in East Morton, Bingley, in West Yorkshire, will continue running it until a new manager is found.