Ruins such as those of Fountains Abbey give the clearest idea of life in a large Cistercian monastery in the 13th Century. The Abbey was founded as a very small community in 1135, and the early days were chronicled by a monk at Fountains Abbey to a monk at Kirkstall in 1207. Despite the setback of almost all the buildings being sacked in 1147, life at the monastery flourished and re-building began almost immediately, by Abbot Richard (d.1170), Abbot Robert (d.1179), John of York (1230- 11) and John of Kent (1220-47). From then until the dissolution in 1539, the only addition was a large North tower in 1250. After 1539, the ruins first belonged to Sir Richard Gresham and then to Sir Stephen Proctor, who in 1611 built Fountains Hall. In 1768 the ruins were taken over by William Aislabie, who owned Studley Royal and the two estates joined together, with Aislabie using the ruins as the centrepiece in a landscaped garden, thus creating one of the most perfect settings.
The church is about 360 feet in length, with straight Eastern walls and high transepts; these and several additional features of the building are very similar to other Cistercian monasteries of the same date at Kirkstall, Furness and at Clairvaux and others in France.
For the monastic quarters, Fountains was used as the pattern in England for all Cistercian monasteries. The buildings were alongside the River Skell, thus giving water for brewing, washing and drainage; and were formed around a court. There was a large dormitory for lay brethren, together with an infirmary, and guest houses, and beyond the kitchen and refectory is the warming room, almost perfectly preserved with its vast fireplace over 16 feet long.
Fountains Abbey came into the possession of the Vyner family through Clare George Vyner, who bought it in 1923 together with Studley Royal, on the death of his cousin Frederick, 2nd Marquess of Ripon.