English Heritage
Byland Abbey was once one of the great monasteries of England and is an outstanding example of early gothic architecture with a complete monastic ground plan surviving. The Abbey inspired church buildings throughout the north as well as the famous rose window at York Minster.
Byland Abbey Museum is a small, on site museum which houses an important collection of over 140 artefacts excavated from the site. These include the unique 12th century stone lectern from the Chapter House, an inkwell, perhaps used to sign the Deed of Surrender in 1538, as well as amazing examples of painted architectural stone. The museum is completely free for visitors and we are looking for volunteers to help English Heritage open its doors and bring the story of Byland Abbey and its original occupants to life.
•Open and close the Byland Abbey Museum adhering to English Heritage guidelines and using a daily checklist of duties.
•Perform housekeeping within the museum by keeping on top of dust levels and ensuring high levels of site presentation both before opening and after closing the building.
•Welcoming visitors into the museum, providing way-finding information and ensuring they see the whole of the site.
•Engaging with visitors, providing information about the history of Byland Abbey, answering questions and sharing knowledge of the surrounding area and the museum collection.