Aldfield, near Ripon
North Yorkshire (North Riding)
England
Circa Date: 1598-1604 w/19th & 20th century alterations
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: Yes
The house from an early 20th century postcard
The ruins of Fountains Abbey from a circa 1913 postcard
Built / Designed For: Sir Stephen Proctor
House & Family History: The stone used to build Fountains Hall very likely came from the monks' infirmary at Fountains Abbey. In the early 20th century the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) were frequent guests at Fountains. During World War II the house and some of the estate's outbuildings were used to house evacuees. The National Trust acquired the Fountains Estate from North Yorkshire County Council in 1983. The NT has divided part of the house into flats, one of which can be booked for holiday stays.
Garden & Outbuildings: After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the ruins of Fountains Abbey came into the ownership of a number of private owners, until they were sold to William Aislabie of Studley Royal in 1768. It was Aislabie who created the most ambitious garden scheme in the north of England, using the abbey ruins, and other follies, as part of his design. The abbey itself was built with Nidderdale Marble, a dark fossiliferous limestone native to Yorkshire. The Fountains Abbey Mill is the only extant 12th century Cistercian cornmill in the UK. In 1966 the estate, which sits within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was purchased by West Riding County Council; it was acquired by the National Trust in 1983. In 1986 the entire park was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations).
Country Life: VII, 696, 1900. LXX, 180 plan, 1931.
Title: Movie Locations: A Guide to Britain & Ireland
Author: Adams, Mark
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: London: Boxtree
ISBN: 0752271695
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade I
Past Seat / Home of: Sir Stephen Proctor, 1600-19. Messenger family, 17th century. William Aislabie, 18th century. Elizabeth Allanson, late 18th century. Elizabeth Sophie Lawrence, 1808-45. Thomas de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey, until 1859. George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, 19th century; Frederick Oliver Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon, until 1923. Clare George Vyner, 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: The National Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01765-608-888
Fax: 01765-608-889
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Historic Houses Member: No