Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

• Official name: Studley Royal Park Including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey
• Location: Yorkshire, England
• Type: Cultural
• Year of inscription: 1986

Studley Royal Park Including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey is a World Heritage site in Yorkshire, England. The park is best known for its lavish ornamental gardens, which are rare surviving examples of those created by the upper class of the British Empire during the eighteenth century. In these gardens are examples of artistic landscaping, a water garden, an extensive deer park, classical statues, various vistas. The gardens are well known for their scenic views of the nearby river valley.

Studley Royal Park was unusually well-preserved by its many owners, who took care to make only necessary changes to the property. Those changes made were well-documented, providing researchers with valuable information about the possible alterations made to other such sites.

In addition to the gardens, the 650-acre property is home to ruins and structures from several eras of English history. It contains the ruins of Fountains Abbey, the largest monastic ruins in England. Fountains Abbey was once the richest religious building in England. Viewers and researchers may visit parts of these ruins, which contain the internationally renowned cellarium, which features 300 feet (91 meters) of large, vaulted ceilings, as well as much of the original church.

The abbey itself and other structures from the twelfth through fourteenth centuries receive continuous conservation efforts. Studley Royal Park also contains historic structures that were built by its owners throughout the centuries. These include St. Mary’s Church, Fountains Abbey Mill, and Fountains Hall.

History

Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 by a group of Benedictine monks from St. Mary’s in York. The monastic group that inhabited York was extravagant and prone to lavish expenditures. Finding such a lifestyle offensive, some monks split from this order to pursue a simpler lifestyle and devote more time to religious endeavors. These were the monks who originated Fountains Abbey. They chose the name Fountains Abbey in honor of the large number of nearby springs.

While Fountains Abbey provided the monks with simpler surroundings to devote themselves to religious practices, they struggled with the many issues plaguing the rest of the region. Throughout the fourteenth century, their property was raided by nearby Scots. This placed a continual economic strain on the monastery, as their valuables and resources were stolen and damaged. The abbey was placed under additional strain by the outbreak of the Black Death in 1348, a bubonic plague pandemic.

Fountains Abbey experienced a revival during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Marmaduke Huby, who became one of the best-known abbots of Fountains Abbey, worked to restore the ailing abbey, including its reputation. Because of his efforts, Fountains Abbey ushered in a new wave of monks. Huby oversaw the construction of a bell tower called Huby’s Tower at Fountains.

During the mid-sixteenth century, abbot William Thirsk was investigated by King Henry VIII for plotting against the ruler. Henry executed both Thirsk and Adam de Sedbergh, the abbot of nearby Jervaulx Abbey. In 1534, Henry became Supreme Head of the Church of England, which gave him complete authority over monasteries, convents, friaries, and priories throughout the United Kingdom (UK).

Henry began a set of administrative measures that would later be known as the dissolution of the monasteries. He closed numerous religious organizations, appropriated their assets, and sold their lands. Fountains Abbey was shuttered at this time, and its residents and monks were removed from the premises without state pensions.

Fountains Abbey was not adapted to any religious purposes after it was seized by the state. Instead, the buildings on the property and 500 acres of land were sold to the merchant Sir Richard Gresham. The property remained in Sir Richard’s family, passed down through his descendants, until its 1611 sale to Sir Stephen Proctor, who constructed Fountains Hall, an Elizabethan Mansion built with some stone from the abbey ruins. Following the Proctor’s death in 1619, Fountains Hall was purchased by the Messenger family.

The Studley Royal Estate was originally a separate property from Fountains Abbey. Though adjacent to Fountains Abbey, it was owned by Johan Aislabie, an English politician and merchant. Aislabie was best known as a sponsor of the South Sea Company, which is often referred to as the South Sea Bubble. Speculation about the high value of the company’s stock in 1720 caused many to invest heavily, only to face ruin when their shares collapsed later during the same year. This happened to Aislabie, which resulted in his expulsion from Parliament. Following the end of his political career, Aislabie spent the rest of his life creating Studley Royal Estate’s famous Water Garden and developing its 650 acres. Inspired by the work of French landscape gardeners, the Water Garden featured sweeping geometric patterns and well-crafted scenic views. Aislabie’s work was continued by his son William, who purchased the Abbey ruins in 1767 and merged the two into a single property. William then landscaped the Abbey grounds, restoring them to resemble those in the Studley Royal Estate.

Following William Aislabie’s death, the large property was passed down through his family. Throughout the decades that followed, it was continually well-maintained. The full property, including both the Abbey ruins and the Studley Royal Estate, was purchased by the West Riding County Council in 1966, marking the first time in centuries that the estate was no longer privately owned. It was placed in the holding of the Department of the Environment to ensure that it was properly managed and maintained. In 1974, ownership of the Studley Royal Estate was transferred to the North Yorkshire County Council. In 1983, the property was purchased by the National Trust, an organization dedicated to the conservation of historic and natural landmarks. The Studley Royal Estate quickly became one of the National Trust’s most popular properties. In 1986, the property was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Significance

To be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a property must satisfy at least one of ten criteria. These criteria mark a property as a location that holds significant historical, cultural, natural, or educational value. Studley Royal Park satisfies two of those criteria. According to criterion i, a site must contain a masterpiece of human creative genius. Studley Royal Park satisfies this criterion through the property’s general landscaping and arrangement. The combination of the historic medieval ruins, the Water Garden, and the careful arrangement of the entire property are considered a unique artistic accomplishment.

Criterion iv mandates that a site must contain an outstanding example of a building, an ensemble, or a landscape that illustrates significant stages in human history. Studley Royal Park contains the ruins of Fountain Abbey, which was once the wealthiest abbey in England. These ruins give visitors and researchers a window into monastic life in historic England. The property also satisfies this criterion through Fountain Hall and the entire park. These areas show the displays of wealth and power created by the upper classes of eighteenth-century England.

In addition to the specific criteria for its inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Studley Royal Park contains numerous features of historic and cultural significance. Like many culturally significant parks and gardens, the appearance of Studley Royal Park has changed over time. The layout and appearance of the property have been changed by various owners over centuries of maintenance. The park has also been impacted by world events, climate change, and the growth of many native species of plants. Due to continued historic conservation efforts at Studley Royal Park, many of these changes have been carefully documented. This gives researchers a better understanding of how such sites may change over time, granting them valuable insight into the current state of other surviving gardens. It may also provide researchers with additional tools for preserving such sites.

Modern conservation efforts have sought to preserve the appearance of the gardens, even at the expense of historical accuracy. For example, when the Water Garden was damaged by bad weather and flooding, modern engineering technology was utilized to preserve its appearance. Because so few examples of historic ornamental gardens remain open to the public, those maintaining Studley Royal Park prioritized maintaining the appearance of the park for the public over maintaining total historical accuracy. Additionally, several buildings on the property have been partially restored and reopened to visitors. These include the Cistercian Water Mill, Fountains Hall, and Porter’s Lodge. Conservation plans prioritize the health of these structures, limiting visitor traffic at times to reduce any damage they have inadvertently caused.

Bibliography

“Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.” World Heritage UK, worldheritageuk.org/world-heritage-sites-uk-list/england/fountains-abbey. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

“History of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.” National Trust, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden/features/studley-royal-water-garden-at-fountains-abbey. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

“Marmaduke Huby, Abbot of Fountains (1495-1526).” The Cistercians in Yorkshire Project, www.dhi.ac.uk/cistercians/people/marmaduke-huby.php. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

“Studley Royal Park Including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/372. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

“Top 10 Unbelievable Facts About Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.” Discover Walks, 22 May 2022, www.discoverwalks.com/blog/london/top-10-unbelievable-facts-about-fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.