Partners > Fountains Abbey

At Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal the Converting Sacred Spaces project will focus on two main areas; the conservation of the High Altar and the river walls, and the interpretation of the Abbey.

Geometric multi-coloured floor tiles were discovered during the early excavations of the abbey and were used to form the High Altar in the Abbey Church in the eighteenth century. Although Cistercian architecture is well-known for its simplicity and restrained decoration, floor tiles were common. The principal tile colours were green and yellow, and good examples of these can be seen in the Muniments Room at Fountains Abbey. Following a detailed photographic survey, the High Altar will be repaired and missing floor tiles replaced.

The monastic river walls that stretch through the Abbey precinct have deteriorated over the years. Work will begin with an archaeological survey of the current structures. The walls have not been recorded before and may date back to either the monastic period or to the late 18th century when the Aislabie family acquired the Abbey and incorporated it into their grand water garden. The masonry will then be re-pointed and in the worst areas, re-built using local stone from the river bed.

An audio tour, currently in development, will complement the existing guided tour programme and other interpretation on offer to visitors. The audio tour will take visitors, young and old, on a journey through time, allowing them to experience what life in a busy monastery would have been like.

And finally, a new all weather building will be created within the ruin of the Abbey Gatehouse. As well as providing shelter for visitors in the worst of the Yorkshire weather, the building will provide a venue for new interpretation, to be designed to complement that already on offer in Fountains Mill and Museum.