Fountains Abbey,

Studley Park &

The Nidderdale Way,

North Yorkshire

16th - 18th September 2011

[4]

 

   Anne Boleyn's Seat.
We seemed blessed as Sunday dawned and we awoke to another glorious day. The plan had been to cover Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, though the task to be undertaken first was that of cleaning the kitchen and cottage after we had partaken of breakfast, as Martin likes to see us perform a thorough job. "Moneybags" Steve collected the cash for the weekend. Gordon, as a National Trust member, was entitled to free entrance for himself and one guest. Martin later arranged for this to be shared amongst Tim, Martin and I. We walked on down to the Fountains Abbey in time to catch an organised tour of the ruins by a National Trust guide, an well-informed elderly lady whose tone of voice reminded me a bit of Dame Edna (without the Aussie inflection naturally). It's an extraordinary place and her presentation emphasized the religious mindset and view of the world that existed in the Middle Ages, coupled with the extreme devotion and discipline exhibited by all monks who formed part of the religious order at Fountains Abbey in the 12th century. The monks lived a life of simplicity and without any form of earthly wealth, perhaps very similar to monks in the Buddhist order. Very little was spoken with its confines, in fact many were confined within its grounds only, avoiding all contact with the outside world. Meals were eaten in total silence and their time was spent performing their daily chores or in prayer. Women were barred from accessing the abbey and its grounds, as this was regarded as a distraction to monks in aspiring to the ultimate goal of salvation. Fountains Abbey mill is the oldest 'intact' building on the estate, constructed in the 12th century as a watermill to grind wheat, oats and barley to feed the monastic community: monks, lay brothers, servants, visitors and the needy. It is the only 12th-century Cistercian corn mill left in the UK. A short walk from the corn mill lies Fountains Hall. Much of the stone removed from the Abbey ruins was used in the construction of the hall, an impressive building, though the loss of a son and daughter of the Vyners to the war means that, like the Abbey, the building speaks of a different sort of sacrifice, the sculpture at the entrance to the house reflecting on a sad aspect to its past.
 

Studley Royal stable block. The 16th-century house at Studley Royal, largely destroyed by fire in December 1716, was rebuilt in Palladian style; it burned to the ground in 1946.

 

The Lake, National Trust tea-house and entrance to Studley Water Royal Gardens.

 

 

 

The arches within Fountains Abbey, a a ruined Cistercian monastery, founded in 1132.

 

Abbey tower and monks' cellarium (where food was stored).

 

View of the interior and knave of Fountains Abbey.

 

 
 

Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 following a dispute and riot at St Mary's Abbey in York. Following the riot, thirteen monks were exiled and after unsuccessfully attempting to return to the early 6th century Rule of St Benedict, were taken into the protection of Thurstan, Archbishop of York. He provided them with a site in the valley of the River Skell. The enclosed valley had all the required materials for the creation of a monastery, providing shelter from the weather, stone and timber for building, and a running supply of water. The monks applied to join the Cistercian order in 1132. The abbey operated for over 400 years, until 1539, when Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The Abbey buildings and over 500 acres of land were then sold by the Crown, on 1 October 1540, to Sir Richard Gresham, the London merchant, father of the founder of the Royal Exchange, Sir Thomas Gresham.

Construction of the Abbey began in 1132, with rock quarried locally, although the original monastery buildings received considerable additions and alterations in the later period of the order, causing deviations from the strict Cistercian type. The church stands a short distance to the north of the River Skell, the buildings of the abbey stretching down to and across the stream. The cloister is to the south, with the three-aisled chapter-house and calefactory opening from its eastern walk, and the refectory, with the kitchen and buttery attached, at right angles to its southern walk. Parallel with the western walk is an immense vaulted substructure, incorrectly styled the cloisters, serving as cellars and store-rooms, and supporting the dormitory of the conversi (lay brothers) above. This building extended across the river. At its southwest corner were the latrines, also built, as usual, above the swiftly flowing stream. The monks' dormitory was in its usual position above the chapter-house, to the south of the transept.

Peculiarities of arrangement include the position of the kitchen, between the refectory and calefactory, and of the infirmary (unless there is some error in its designation) above the river to the west, adjoining the guest-houses. In addition, there is a greatly lengthened choir, commenced by Abbot John of York, 1203–11, and carried on by his successor, terminating, like Durham Cathedral, in an eastern transept, the work of Abbot John of Kent, 1220–47, and to the tower, added not long before the dissolution by Abbot Huby, 1494–1526, in a very unusual position at the northern end of the north transept. Among other apartments, for the designation of which see the ground-plan, was a domestic oratory or chapel, 46½ ft by 23 ft, and a kitchen, 50 ft by 38 ft.

Along with the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden, Fountains Abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fountains Abbey legend:  A. Nave of the church. B. Transept. C. Chapels. D. Tower. E. Sacristy. F. Choir. G. Chapel of nine altars. H. Cloister. I. Chapter-house. K. Base court. L. Calefactory. M. Water-course. N. Cellar. O. Brewhouse. P. Prisons. Q. Kitchen. R. Offices. S. Refectory. T. Buttery. U. Cellars and storehouses. V. Necessary. W. Infirmary (?). X. Guest-houses. Y. Mill bridge. Z. Gate-house.
ABBOT'S HOUSE. 1. Passage. 2. Great hall. 3. Refectory. 4. Refectory. 5. Storehouse. 6. Chapel. 7. Kitchen. 8. Ashpit. 9. Yard. 10. Kitchen tank.

 

 

This is what remains of Fountains Abbey founded in 1132. The abbey operated for over 400 years, until 1539, when Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

 

the ruins of Fountains Abbey as viewed from the east.

 

 

The oldest building on the estate, built in the 12th century as a watermill to grind wheat, oats and barley to feed the monastic community: monks, lay brothers, servants, visitors and the needy.

 

View of Fountains Abbey and the River Skell from Mill Bridge.

 

 

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