Conservation projects at Fountains Abbey

Working in Studley Royal deer park at Fountains Abbey

In 1986 we became a World Heritage Site and, together with our property business plan, our World Heritage Site management plan forms the guidelines for our conservation work on site.

All in a day's work

Risk assessments, project timelines, research, reports, client briefs, costings and funding, interpretation and engagement... is all part of our work to care for this special place and that's what we're all about.
 
In 1986 we became a World Heritage Site and, together with our property business plan, our World Heritage Site management plan forms the guidelines for our conservation work on site.
 
Together with our partners, it’s our role to ensure this exceptional landscape is looked after now and in the future. Managing the impact of flooding, adapting to climate change, conservation work, sharing the stories of this amazing place are all key priorities in the work we do.
 
As well as conservation work, day-to-day repairs and work on visitor facilities, there's also work to keep the holiday cottages looking great.
 
A number of energy-efficiency projects have also been completed over the last few years including new roof insulation for the Visitor Centre and the installation of a ground source heat pump.
 
If you join as a member or volunteer, have coffee in our restaurant or buy a treat from our shop, you're supporting our work and helping us look after this beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
 
Below you'll find details of some of our current projects.
 
 

Current projects

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  • Work taking place to repair river walls at Fountains Abbey

    Repairs to Abbey East Green river walls 

    We are re-building the wall that stabilises the river near De Grey’s walk. Work will take place over the summer when the river water levels are low enough to work safely.

  • Rustic Cottage one of the lost garden buildings of the estate

    Rustic Cottage dig 

    Last September archaeologists dug trial trenches to find the remains of Rustic Cottage – one of the lost follies of the estate.

  • A historical painting of Tent Hill

    Tree clearing on Tent Hill

    Last summer we completed tree clearing on Tent Hill. We're currently working to restore a lost folly here – a tent which once sat on top of the hill.

  • A Nebot painting of the formal part of the water garden

    Statue conservation in the water garden 

    The statues of the water garden are wearing a new shade of white following conservation work last autumn...

A historical illustration of the abbey Nave from 1830.

Restoring masonry in the abbey

Look out as we reinstate large pieces of decorative masonry within the abbey ruins. These were originally placed around the ruins by William Aislabie after he purchased the abbey ruins in 1767. The masonry was removed in the 1960s and has been kept in storage until now…

Red deer at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire

Work on the deer park wall

The Studley Royal deer park wall is seven miles long and in need of constant repair. The deer park was originally surrounded by a wooden paling boundary which was replaced with a stone wall during the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Our team of stone masons have restored about 2 miles of the wall so far and this year they are working on the area behind St Mary’s church.

The laurel lawn at Studley Royal

Looking after the 'laurel lawn'

Each year a team of gardeners and volunteers spend 1500 hours hand pruning the ‘laurel lawn’ at Studley Royal with secateurs. The bank is too steep to use any kind of machinery and hand pruning better keeps the vibrancy of the bright green laurel leaves – the technique used is similar to that used in tea picking.