Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Having seen TV programs and films set at Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal near Ripon in Yorkshire we were keen to see the 650 acres of water garden, abbey ruins and deer park first-hand.

The abbey is vast in scale, having formerly housed more than 500 monks. Founded in 1132, the abbey became very rich and prosperous. So much so, it became the wealthiest monastery in the UK owning vast areas of land across western Yorkshire.

Much of its wealth was based on the trading of wool and lead, two of the Yorkshire Dales’ most abundant resources. The abbey operated for 400+ years before its dissolution in 1539 under the order of Henry VIII.

Studley Royal Water Garden was one of the leaders in the ‘English’ formal garden style that swept across Europe during the eighteenth century. It was created by father and son John and William Aislabie. Eye catchers and follies were a common feature within ‘English’ gardens. Elegant ponds and cascades entwined with rustic bridges, classical temples and statues.

The garden is currently under-going a revival, so sections were closed and bulldozers were on site but this did not detract from the experience.

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