Gezicht op de ruïne van de Abdij van Furness c. 1857 - 1867

Garnett and Sproat made this photograph of the Furness Abbey ruins. Images like this capture a widespread fascination with ruins in 19th-century Britain. The dissolution of the monasteries was a key event in the English Reformation, where the British monarchy seized church land and wealth. Furness Abbey, once a wealthy and influential monastery, was abandoned. This photograph shows the remains of Furness Abbey, where the architecture has crumbled and nature is reclaiming it. These images evoke a sense of the past and a reflection on the passage of time. Photography, becoming more widespread, played a crucial role in documenting and disseminating images of ruins. The institutional aspect of photography comes into play as it shapes collective memory. Photographic archives and historical records can illuminate the changing attitudes towards the cultural heritage. This image serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between history, memory, and representation.