Castle or abbey
Fountains Abbey
Near Ripon, North Yorkshire
In 1132 thirteen monks left a comfortable abbey in York to live a stricter life in this wild valley. Their community grew into one of the richest abbeys in England, making its money from wool.
Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.
- When
- Founded 1132, closed 1539
- Where
- 54.1090, -1.5810
- Group
- Castles & abbeys
Visiting
National Trust, open daily.
Nearby mysteries
- Thornborough HengesAncient monument · Near Ripon, North Yorkshire · 7 miles away
- The Devil's ArrowsAncient monument · Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire · 7 miles away
- Vale of York HoardLost treasure · Near Harrogate, North Yorkshire · 8 miles away
- The Royal Pump RoomHoly well · Harrogate, North Yorkshire · 8 miles away
- Mother Shipton's CaveUnexplained · Knaresborough, North Yorkshire · 8 miles away
- Eugene AramExecution site · Knaresborough, North Yorkshire · 9 miles away