Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

A brief history of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Situated near Ripon in North Yorkshire the Fountains Abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the grandest and best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in England. It provides one of the best examples and insights into the great medieval religious houses' thriving world. The site is on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. 

A struggling community of monks
They were founded in 1132 by 13 dissident monks after being expelled following a riot, by St Mary's Abbey in nearby York. Given the circumstances of their expulsion, it must have been a shaky start. Still, the thirteen scratched a living in this sheltered Yorkshire valley. They went on to create a Cistercian Abbey which was to become one of Europe's most affluent.

They chose a site by the side of the River Skell that provided them with essential water for themselves and their animals. Forbidden underwear, they wore sandals and habits made of coarse, undyed sheep's wool. They ate very little. Their Cistercian order was silent with communication by signs and much time given over to worship and prayer. 

The golden fleece
They grew into a large business that farmed sheep with the wool sold to Italian merchants. Also, they grew vegetables, bred horses and milled corn. They were also involved in mining metals. Essentially, it became a working village as much as a place of worship. The buildings included a large dormitory with vaulted cellars, kitchens, a refractory and even a prison. Baked bread came from the nearby Abbey mill.

The site grew large and became effectively two monasteries in one. One set of buildings was for the monks with another for the lay brothers. While the monks devoted themselves to prayer, the actual business of running the farm and growing crops fell to the lay brothers who were an unpaid labour force. Unsurprisingly, in these circumstances, the Abbey prospered and became rich.

The monastery's activities were severely disrupted by an outbreak of the black death, which decimated the lay workforce and left the monks with more land than they could manage. They started to let out parcels of land and lived off the rents.

The dissolution of the monasteries
The dissolution of the monasteries during King Henry VIII's reign brought about the closure of the Abbey in 1539 and its partial demolition with stones used for other buildings. The Abbey evolved into a romantic ruin. By the 17th Century romantic ruins were all the rage and the owner John Aislabie added a 'green' water garden. Experience the calm of this extraordinary place of moon-shaped pools, temples, and cascades. 

Touring and accommodation
We would suggest that Fountains Abbey should feature high on your list of places to visit in England. It is a fabulous place, a serene, relaxing place and great for a picnic. Our Tour Designers will customise the Classic tour of England itinerary to your requirements. Another option would be to stay in the City of York for a few days and take a day tour there.

We provide driver-guided tours. However, the train journey from London to York is fast and reliable. You can stay at The Grand York, and we can provide a driver-guide each day to tour the region. Such as day trips to Fountains Abbey, the Yorkshire Dales and Castle Howard – the Duke of Hastings' fictional home in the hit Netflix drama 'Bridgerton'.