Originally the west face of the abbey church rose in a central pointed roof above its huge rose window, with two small towers either
side of the point. It was the largest abbey church in the UK when it was completed in 1195.
This design, copied from French styles, was unique in northern Britain at the time and is thought to have influenced the building
of other monastic churches and cathedrals such as Ripon and St Andrews in Fife.
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