Studley Royal Park & Ruins of Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Park
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fountains_Abbey_view_crop1_2005-08-27_edit2.jpg
Author: Klaus with K


Studley Royal Park and Ruins of Fountains Abbey are a World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire, England.

Fountains Abbey are the ruins of one of the biggest and best preserved Cistercian monasteries in England. It was built first in 1132 following a dispute and riot at St Mary's Abbey in York. Thirteen monks from the abbey was expelled, and after an unsuccessful attempt at returning, they established Fountains Abbey with the protection of the Archbishop of York. They monks joined the Cistercian order in 1132.

In 1539, King Henry VII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries, disbanding monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland, following the separation from Papal authority. Fountains Abbey was one of the 825 religious communities dissolved by Henry VII. From the dissolution, the Abbey buildings and 500 acres of land were sold by the Crown to Sir Richard Gresham. It passed through several generations of Sir Richard's family, and was finally sold to Stephen Proctor, who then built Fountains Hall there, between 1598 and 1604. The Elizabethan mansion made used of some of the stones from the ruins of Fountains Abbey.

Chorister's House in Studley Royal Park
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chorister%27s_House.jpg
Author: Madmedea


In 1699, John Aislabie inherited the estate. He began created Studley park in 1718. After his death in 1742, his son William continued his project, buying up the ruins of Fountains Abbey and Fountains Hall. He turned the park into Studley Royal Park, a landscaped area in the picturesque romantic style. Studley Royal Park and Ruins of Fountains Abbey was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 10th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France, on 24 - 28 November, 1986.

The Victorian Anglican Church of St Mary, built in the Gothic style in Studley Royal Park
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victorian_Gothic_Splendour_-_geograph.org.uk_-_349105.jpg
Author: Garry Smales

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 54 6 58 W 1 34 23 in North Yorkshire, England.
Inscription Year: 1986
Type: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: I, IV

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