Exploring Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, North Yorkshire, England - 22 August, 2026

Exploring Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, North Yorkshire, England - 22 August, 2026 Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire, near the city of Ripon. Covering more than 800 acres, the estate combines the ruins of a medieval Cistercian abbey with an 18th-century water garden, historic buildings, woodland, gardens and a large deer park. Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks who left St Mary's Abbey in York in search of a more secluded way of life. The monastery became part of the Cistercian order in 1135 and developed into one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in northern England. The abbey was closed in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. Today, the extensive ruins are among the largest and best-preserved monastic ruins in England. The remains include the church, cloisters, chapter house, cellarium and other buildings that demonstrate the scale of the medieval monastery. The imposing tower and long vaulted spaces are particularly prominent features of the site. The history of Studley Royal is closely connected with the Aislabie family. John Aislabie inherited the Studley Royal estate in 1699 and began creating an ornamental water garden in the early 18th century. His son William later expanded the designed landscape and, in 1767, acquired the Fountains Abbey estate. This allowed the medieval ruins to become an integral part of the designed landscape. Studley Royal Water Garden is one of the finest surviving examples of an 18th-century English water garden. The landscape contains ornamental lakes, canals, cascades, statues, temples and carefully designed views. The gardens were created to provide a sequence of changing perspectives as visitors moved through the landscape. The estate also includes Studley Royal Deer Park, where red, fallow and sika deer live among mature trees and open parkland. Another major building is St Mary's Church, designed by the Victorian architect William Burges. The Gothic Revival church was commissioned in the 19th century and completed in 1878. Fountains Hall is another historic building on the estate. Its history spans several centuries and includes connections with the period following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Fountains Mill, another surviving building, was used for corn milling and other industrial purposes until the 20th century. The National Trust acquired Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in 1983, and the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The designation recognises the combination of medieval heritage and the development of the English garden style during the 18th century. Visitors can explore the abbey ruins, water gardens, deer park, historic buildings and extensive walking routes. The estate is located around four miles from Ripon and approximately 11 miles from Harrogate. This video explores Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, looking at the abbey ruins, Studley Royal Water Garden, historic buildings, parkland and the wider landscape that makes this one of the most significant historic attractions in Yorkshire. If you like my films and you’d like to support my film-making then you can tip me here on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/stuartmoss . All tips are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Would you like £15 off of your next hotel booking with Booking.com? if so please click on this link to make your booking: https://www.booking.com/s/9bbbc531 This film is a Moss Travel Media production – http://www.mosstravel.tv If you liked this film, please subscribe to my YouTube channel here:    / stuartmoss   in order to receive updates of my future film uploads. If you like my travel films, you may also like my Moss Home and Garden channel, which is themed around cooking and gardening, you can find that here: www.mosshomeandgarden.co.uk You can also find my travel films and photography updates on the following social media: Facebook:   / mosstravel   *please like my Facebook page* Instagram: stumoss -   / stumoss   Pinterest:   / mosstraveltv   X @mosstraveltv or https://X.com/mosstraveltv YouTube:    / stuartmoss   I hope that you enjoyed this film and will return again in future, your support is really appreciated, by subscribing above you will be kept informed of my travel updates and new films uploaded. Thank you and bon voyage!