Fountains Abbey is the largest and best preserved ruins of the Cistercian abbey in England. It is located three miles south-west of the city of Ripon, North Yorkshire. Built in 1132, Fountains Abbey was destroyed in 1539 by order of King Henry VIII during the secularization of church lands. Abbey itself as the surrounding royal park Stedli, 1986 is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fountains Abbey was founded 13 monks (including the holy Robert Nyuminsterskim), expelled from the Benedictine Abbey of the Virgin Mary. They patronized Turstan, Archbishop of York, who gave them the land for the establishment of new Cistercian monastery.

In 1143, the abbot was elected abbot Henry Merdak, at the same time the main cathedral abbey was rebuilt in stone. In 1146 an angry mob dissatisfied Merdakom abbot, the abbey burned down, stood only cathedral. In 1150 he became rector of Abbot Richard, who was not only able to recover all the monastery buildings, including the cathedral itself, but also to build new ones, thus attracting more people to the abbey. At the same time the house was built the chapter. Richard ran Fountains Abbey 20 years, and both of his preёmnika - abbots Robert and Ralph could strengthen even more the prestige of the abbey, helping the poor and arranging shelter in the monastery during a terrible famine in 1194.

The peak of prosperity Fountains Abbey came in the first half of the XIII century, thanks to generous donations from the main cathedral was increased in size, and was also attached a monastery hospital. But by the end of the same century the abbey has faced financial problems that force to the beginning of the XIV century, when the northern territory of the Scottish army invaded England. After the plague in 1349 the abbey finally fell into disrepair.

Papal schism 1378-1409 years also had a negative impact on the lives of Fountains Abbey. Since 1410 Cistercian Society of England was experiencing a period of division, and only at the intersection of XV and XVI centuries, the abbey was able to regain lost ground. Prior to this, even when abbot John Darnton was finally carried out restoration work and the main cathedral was restored.

In 1539, on the orders of Henry VIII on the secularization of church lands, Fountains Abbey was dissolved, and 1 October 1540 it acquired a London merchant, Sir Richard Gresham, whose son, Sir Thomas Gresham, in 1565 founded the Royal London Stock Exchange. To recoup the expensive purchase, Sir Richard ordered to destroy the monastery buildings and then sell the building material. In 1597 the abbey passed to Sir Stephen Proctor, who rebuilt the remaining buildings on the estate Faunteyns Hall. In the second half of the XVIII century, the abbey was combined with a royal estate Stedli.

In 1846, thanks to the influence of well-known antiquarian John Richard Uolbrana began archaeological excavations at the site of the Abbey. In 1974 the abbey owned North Yorkshire County Council, and in 1983 the entire territory of 273 hectares occupied Fountains Abbey, place Faunteyns Hall and Royal Park Stedli, bought the National Trust.

Fountains Abbey picturesque surroundings attract many tourists, in fact, there were shooting the various historical films and television series, including the film adaptation was filmed here famous children's book "The Secret Garden."