Tintern Abbey is among the most significant monastic ruins of Wales. It is a national icon that today stands in roofless splendor on the River Wye’s banks almost 500 years after its catastrophic collapse from grace (Thomas, 2009). The gothic masterpiece, which became a romantic emblem of the beauty, was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks.
One of the reasons why the Abbey should be designed beyond all others is its architectural design, which fundamentally uses an arch structure. The building has a gothic architecture, which reflected the practical needs of sprawling, global empire. As seen in the images in the Appendix, all of the building has arched windows (Thomas, 2009). This architectural design is unique, as it was borrowed from Rome, and it should be preserved.
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Besides, the Abbey’s historical and cultural contexts make the building worthy of the UNESCO funds. During the Romantic age, many painters and poets like Wordsworth and Turner visited the Abbey due to its beauty. The Abbey fell into ruins after the Monasteries were dissolved during the sixteenth century. King Henry VII put to an end the monastic life in Wales, Ireland and England ( Georgievska, 2017) . The Cistercian way of life ended, after lasting for 400 years, and the Abbey was granted to the King’s visitors by Abbot Wyche in 1536.
The Abbey is a famous tourist attraction with a fascinating history. During the seventh and eighteenth centuries, the Abbey became popular due to its romantic qualities and was visited frequently. Also, during the nineteenth century, the building’s ruins were a key tourist site, and it began creating issues as most tourists would carry pieces home as relics ( Rabon, 2016) . Thus, the Crown purchased it in 1901 for preservation. However, visitors are still allowed today.
In conclusion, this building deserves the UNESCO funds for its restoration because there is a need to preserve and restore its unit architecture, and also to protect its historical and cultural context. By restoring the Abbey, future generations will be able to visit it and see its architectural design. The building could also be a major tourist attraction if it is restored and open to the public.
References
Georgievska, M. (2017, June 22). Tintern Abbey is the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales . The Vintage News. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/02/27/tintern-abbey-is-the-best-preserved-medieval-abbey-in-wales/
Rabon, J. (2016, August 11). Know a Ruin: A Brief History of Tintern Abbey in Wales . Anglotopia.net. https://www.anglotopia.net/british-history/know-ruin-brief-history-tintern-abbey-wales/
Thomas, J. L. (2009). Tintern Abbey . The Castles of Wales. https://www.castlewales.com/tintern.html
