Fountains Abbey

We hadn't realised that Fountains Abbey was so near to Ripon - about three miles away. So we decided that before we departed the area we would have a quick walk around the Abbey. Neither did we know that Studley Royal - a World Heritage Site, no less - was adjacent. Reluctantly we decided we would have to forego Studley Royal as our schedule required us to be in Sunderland around lunch time.

Leaving the Visitor Centre we headed towards the Abbey, the top of whose tower could be spotted in the distance. However, the first thing we discovered was Fountains Hall (see above). The house was built by Sir Stephen Proctor between 1598 and 1604. It is an example of a late Elizabethan Prodigy House, perhaps influenced by the work of Robert Smythson. The hall was renovated and modernised between 1928 and 1931 and after the war the hall again fell into a state of dilapidation. The National Trust acquired the Fountains Estate from North Yorkshire County Council in 1983 and has restored the hall. Part of it has been divided into flats, one of which is a holiday let. (Wikipedia)

 The main front is very impressive.

We continued along the path towards the Abbey ruins. The Abbey belonged to the Cistercian order and was founded in 1132. Along with many other similar foundations it was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1539.   The Abbey buildings and over 500 acres (200 ha) of land were seized by the Crown, and sold on 1 October 1540 to Sir Richard Gresham. Gresham stripped some of the fabric of the site (stone, timber, and lead) for sale as building materials to help defray the cost of purchase. In 1597 the site was acquired by Sir Stephen Proctor, who further vandalised the monastic complex for stone to build Fountains Hall.

 

The bell tower on the left is known as Huby's Tower. It was built by Abbot Marmaduke Huby (1495–1526). Below is the Crossing.

And here is a view looking along the nave.
 

This is the east end of the church.

I am not sure about this picture, but the Romanesque arches are delightful.

And, finally, this wonderful structure is the Cellarium - or larder.

As I have been writing this, I have come to the conclusion that my project to visit all of England's cities should allow me another visit to the Ripon area to have a proper look at Studley Royal (and the nearby William Burges church of St Mary's) - it could be tacked on to a visit to Bradford or Preston say.