Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey is a large ruined Cistercian monastery with substantial stone structures still standing today. The site shows the layout of a church, cloisters, and residential buildings that reveal how the monastic community was organized.

The monastery was founded in 1132 and became a major center of Cistercian life in England for centuries. It was abandoned and destroyed during the dissolution of monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1539.

The place represents the way Cistercian monks lived together and organized their daily routines through shared work. Visitors can walk among the remaining walls and imagine the rhythm of monastic communities that once thrived here.

The site is accessible on foot, and visitors can explore at their own pace across different areas of the grounds. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the terrain is uneven with paths winding through the ruins.

The ruins were incorporated into an 18th-century water garden designed in the Georgian style, creating an unusual blend with the medieval remains. This arrangement shows how later landowners repurposed the historical site as a focal point for fashionable landscaping.

Location: Lindrick with Studley Royal and Fountains

Inception: 12 century

Made from material: stone

Part of: Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

Address: Fountains, Ripon HG4 3DY, UK

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-16:00

Phone: +441765608888

Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden

GPS coordinates: 54.10970,-1.58139

Latest update: January 9, 2026 09:47