Fountains Abbey

 

Ripon Cathedral, Yorkshire, England

 This evening, I am reprising a segment of an extended, private tour which focused on Fountains Abbey and the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden, These sites are located in Yorkshire in northern England.

 

First, we departed lodgings in York and drive north towards Fountains Abbey, our intended main visit of the day. However, en-route we came across Ripon Cathedral and with time to spare in the itinerary we stopped at Ripon to provide time for a brief visit of the town and cathedral. However, being Sunday morning a service was imminent and hence our visit restricted. Nevertheless, we had time to get an appreciation for this historic place of worship which comprises an amalgam of architecture styles starting with 7th century Saxon and incorporating Early English, Norman, Gothic and Perpendicular.

 

Next we drove on to our main target of Fountains Abbey and the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden.

 

The Abbey was incepted in the early 1130s and by 1135 was firmly established within the Cistercian order.  The Cistercians were well organised. The Abbey prospered and grew reach a peak of prosperity during the 13th century followed by a reversal in the 14th century and renewed prosperity in the early 16th century. However, the end came in 1539 with Henry VIII’s dissolution. Now a romantic ruin in a superb setting.

 

The principal constituent parts of the Abbey include: Nave, Crossing, Presbytery, Chapel of Nine Alters, Huby’s Tower, Cloister, Chapter House, Infirmary, Abbot’s House, Muniment Room, Warming Room, Refectory, West Range, Guesthouses and Outer Court.

Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire, England

 

Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire, England

 

Fountains Abbey. Yorkshire, England

 

Adjacent to the Abbey is Studley Royal Water Garden, an impressive 18th century pleasure garden which has, deservedly, achieved World Heritage Site status. This was the work of the Aislabie father and son team commencing 1718 and completed about 10 years later.Particular aspects of this creation include: Lake, Canal, Cascade, Banqueting House, Rustic Bridge, Grotto, Moon and Crescent Ponds and Temple of Piety.

Studley Royal Water Garden, Yorkshire, England

We departed the Fountains Abbey/Studley site after 2.00pm and then drove on to lodgings in Glasgow, reaching there about 7.00pm, thus concluding the entire Scotland-England tour