Heritage Open Day: the masons' story
Discover how the stone masons have influenced the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate from the moment the first piece of abbey stone was laid.
- Booking essential
Discover how the stone masons have influenced the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate from the moment the first piece of abbey stone was laid.
Masonry demonstrations.
11am-2pm. Tuesday's demonstration will be held by the abbey ruins. Thursday’s demonstration will be held at Fountains Mill. Discover the important work the masonry team do here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal with live demonstrations of ongoing work. You'll have an opportunity to see examples of the techniques and tools used by the team and even have the chance to try out some masonry work yourself. PPE safety equipment will be provided for the interactive elements.
Guided tour: Discover the masons’ marks of Fountains Abbey.
1.30-2.30pm on both Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 September. Did you know there have been over 400 distinctive marks found within and around Fountains Abbey cloister? Join an interactive exploration of these marks. Find out how they can be dated. See precisely where they are and, importantly, where they're not. Observe their different forms before asking yourself, who made them and what they mean? The answer may not be what you expect. You may wish to bring a small notebook and pen.
For the guided tour, please meet at Porter's Lodge by 1.25pm; a 10-15 minute walk from the visitor centre, with a steep incline; a 5 minute walk from the level access West Gate entrance.
Your ticket gives you entry into Fountains Abbey from 10am on the day you've booked.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| All | £0.00 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call 0344 249 1895
- Meeting point
For the guided tour, meet at Porter's Lodge by 1.25pm. For the demonstration on Tuesday, head to the gazebo by the abbey ruins. For the demonstration on Thursday, head to Fountains Mill.
- What to bring and wear
Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. You may wish to bring a small notebook and pen. PPE safety equipment will be provided for the interactive elements.
- Accessibility
Access to the abbey is across a grassy green. When the grass is particularly wet this can be impassable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Access to the mill is on hard standing paths. We have a portable hearing loop available to hire, free of charge, for the guided tour. Pre-booking for hearing loops is essential, please call 01765 608888. Collect it from your guide on the day.
- Other
This event has been curated as part of Heritage Open Days 2025, the country's largest community heritage festival. Ticket holders receive free access to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, including our cafes and shop selling handmade goods and local produce. Free admission is only valid with a Heritage Open Day ticket on either Tuesday 16 or Thursday 18 September. Please give the name you booked your ticket(s) under when you arrive.
Upcoming events
Summer of Play: the circus
Join us for an entire summer jam-packed full of fun and games here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
Summer of Play: Monastic dye demonstration
Come along and see a demonstration of monastic dyeing as part of our jam-packed Summer of Play.
Summer of Play: Monastic wool spinning demonstration
Come along for a demonstration of monastic wool spinning as part of our jam-packed Summer of Play.
Garden and abbey tour
Join one of our volunteer tour guides to discover the secrets and surprises of Studley Royal Water Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site