The history of Fountains Abbey

Thirteen monks were expelled from a Benedictine house at St Mary's Abbey, York, following a dispute and riot in 1132. They were taken under the protection of Thurstan, Archbishop of York, who provided them with land in the valley of the River Skell. The enclosed valley had all the natural features needed for the creation of a monastery, including stone and timber for building and a supply of running water. The six springs that watered the site inspired the monks to give it the name of Fountains.

For over four centuries, the monastery became one of the wealthiest in England thanks to its large and diverse landholdings. It was eventually dissolved in 1539 as part of the English Reformation and its estates were sold. The abbey is now within Studley Royal Park, a landscaped garden created in the eighteenth century. Even in its current state, Fountains is described by Historic England as the best preserved of English abbeys and the finest picturesque ruin.

The abbey is protected for its historic significance as a grade I listed building and a scheduled monument. It forms part of the Studley Royal including the ruins of Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site. Today, it remains open to the public as one of the best preserved Cistercian abbeys, with surviving structures including the chapter house, refectory, and lay brothers' dormitory, as well as the guest houses, abbey mill, and bridges.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons