Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near to the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 407 years becoming one of the wealthiest monasteries in England until its dissolution in 1539 under the order of Henry VIII. The abbey is a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust and part of the designated Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a dispute and riot in 1132 at
Hutton Conyers who held land here in the 12th century. Just outside the village, Roman remains of a watchtower have been found, articles from which now reside in the Museum in Ripon. The Leeds and Stockton branch of the North Eastern Railway used to pass through the village. Hutton Conyers is known for being the last village in England to have a steam-powered post office, closing in 2009. The village lies within the Skipton and Ripon UK Parliament constituency. It also lies within the Masham and Fountains electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council and the Wathvale ward of Harrogate District Borough