Newark Abbey, near Chertsey 1856

John Richardson Major made this photograph of Newark Abbey, near Chertsey, in the mid-19th century. It presents us with the skeletal remains of a religious house. The dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in the 16th century led to the ruin of many such places, their assets seized by the crown, their communities disbanded. This image captures not just the physical decay of the abbey, but also hints at the profound social and religious transformations that England underwent. The starkness of the ruins against the landscape speaks to a time of upheaval and the shifting power dynamics between church and state. By studying historical records, architectural plans, and social histories, we can better understand the complex interplay between religious institutions and the broader sweep of English history. The meaning of art, such as this photograph, is always contingent on social and institutional context.