in the 12th century cistercian monks founded kirkstall abbey, a daughter house of fountains abbey in north yorkshire. the abbey house museum opposite the abbey tells the story of the community and the town. henry de lacey, baron of pontefract, gave the land for the foundation of the abbey, and kirkstall has a few roads named in his memory. the abbey light railway, which connected the grounds of the abbey with the bridge road commercial area, was closed down in 2012.