Nestled within the tranquil expanse of Yorkshire’s famed Harewood Estate lies a treasure steeped in tradition—the awe-inspiring Stupa. But this isn’t just any old stone structure. It’s a story of coming together, blending Yorkshire grit with Buddhist reverence, to create something truly special.
Back in 2003, when the notion of building a Stupa took root at Harewood, they called upon us, the folks who know Yorkshire gritstone like the back of our hands, to lend a hand. It was a chance to be part of something bigger, something with spiritual depth right here in our own backyard.
Now, building a Stupa ain’t like slapping together your usual bricks and mortar. No, it’s a whole different ball game—one that demands respect for tradition and a keen eye for detail. So, when a bunch of Bhutanese monks, led by Llama Sonam, showed up, we knew we were in for a journey.
Llama Sonam, with his lifetime of Stupa-building wisdom, didn’t speak a lick of English. But luckily, we had Phub Dhorji, a monk with a Yorkshire twang and a knack for translating, to help us bridge the gap.
The design of the Stupa? Well, let’s just say it took more than a few cups of Yorkshire tea and some lively debates at Greystone Farm to figure it out. With sketches flying and ideas bouncing around, we slowly pieced together the puzzle, guided by Llama Sonam’s quiet wisdom and Phub Dhorji’s smooth talk.
Every stone, every curve of the Stupa told a story. From the locally sourced Yorkshire gritstone we used for the walls to the expert craftsmanship of folks like Peter Hird and Ian Copeland, it was a labour of love from start to finish.
And when it was all said and done, and the monks’ chants filled the air, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride wash over us. As the sun set over Harewood Estate, illuminating the Stupa in all its glory, we knew we’d created something truly special—a sanctuary of peace and tradition rooted right here in Yorkshire’s own backyard.
