Studley Revealed

Our vision for Studley  

When John Aislabie began creating his masterpiece of Georgian water garden design, he intended visitors to arrive at Studley Royal.   

The ornate gates and lake views have impressed thousands who flocked to explore these spectacular gardens since the 18th century. Today, the visitor centre at the other end of the estate, is our main entrance and most visitors arrive at Studley from the water gardens halfway through their journey through the site. Although the way visitors use this area has fundamentally changed since Georgian times, we want to ensure that the welcome at Studley is fitting of a World Heritage Site.  

We are ready to enhance the appearance and facilities at this part of the estate and to bring the important story of Studley Royal to life.   

Our plans to restore and improve the garden

Over time, we have lost some of the original spirit of the water gardens and the lakeside at Studley Royal and how it was designed to be experienced. The traditional English garden style used ‘conceal’ and ‘reveal’ to hide significant views before revealing them to visitors in spectacular style.  

Views and routes lost over time

Temporary structures and extensions have been added over the years and some of the original garden planting has become overgrown or has self-seeded with species that are not in keeping with the Georgian design. This means important views and walks have been removed or obstructed. The gardens are no longer experienced as their designers’ intended.  

Improving navigation 

Navigation is confusing for visitors and we don’t currently tell the important story of Studley Royal and what makes it a World Heritage Site. The tea-room is frequently overcrowded at peak periods with long queues, which also make access for wheelchair users and pushchairs difficult.  

As a conservation charity, committed to caring for this special place, our vision is to create a new place to tell the story of Studley Royal and more accessible facilities for our visitors.

Enlisting landscape architects

To achieve this, we have engaged world-class building and landscape architects to help us carefully balance the needs of our visitors with the landscape of this special place and the original spirit of the water garden.   

Lost 18th century views will be opened up from the tea-room across the canal and cascades and Studley lake. We will recreate the route that once enabled this area to be accessed from both sides – a path that has been inaccessible since we took on care of the estate.  

Justin Scully, General Manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, says:

"The Studley Revealed project is an exciting part of the ongoing conservation of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal World Heritage Site. It has long been our ambition to improve the appearance of this area of the site and how visitors experience it. Crucially, it means we can create a place for our visitors to learn more about the fascinating history of Studley Royal, its international significance and our role in caring for it, whilst simultaneously having a more enjoyable and accessible experience. 

As General Manager of this special place, I feel that what’re now able to move forward to deliver a delightful presentation of the history, welcome and design of this World Heritage Site."

A World Heritage Class design   

A world-class vision requires world-class designers.   

The building architects are award-winning heritage architects, Feilden Fowles, who specialise in arts and culture design projects. They have grown a reputation for delivering exemplary projects in highly sensitive and challenging historic settings like ours including Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the National Railway Museum.  

The landscape architects are rankinfraser, an Edinburgh based practice. They have over 30 years combined experience of delivering multi award-winning projects from conception through to completion.  

Rooted in history  

This project is part of our longer-term vision to offer historical information about the World Heritage Site and the story of what makes this place special. Our plans are rooted in history and the detailed study of historic maps, images and accounts of how the water gardens have looked and been used since the 18th century.  

Green credentials

Carbon reduction: The building will significantly reduce operational carbon with the introduction of an Air Source Heat Pump, enhanced by the insulation of the walls, roofs and floors which will help reduce thermal heat loss. 

Green roof: The building will feature a green roof which not only helps the design sit sensitively in the landscape but also offers a selection of green benefits, including cooling, insulation and rainwater run off at the same time as boosting opportunities to improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration and air quality.

Materials and construction: The design for the building reuses an already existing building and includes carbon efficient materials, including timber glulam frame, green roof and pile foundations. Designed with the future in mind, the new building uses far less carbon than is typically expected in construction today. In fact, its carbon footprint is already below the industry's 2030 target, helping to reduce environmental impact and support a more sustainable future for this special place.

Design proposals  

The plans will also see the building move from the deer park side of Studley Royal to sit inside the water garden and pay-for-entry part of the site. Following feedback from the local community, it is our intention to have an offer in the Studley car park to serve refreshments for those for those who are not National Trust members and prefer not to purchase a day ticket to access the site. The restaurant and parking at the main visitor centre will remain free for all to access.