This is Britain’s largest monastic ruin, it was founded by 13 monks in 1132 who wanted an simpler life, they later became Cistercian monks.

After the dissolution of the monasteries, the crown sold the abbey and all its 500 acres of land to a merchant Sir Richard Gresham. It passed through several generations of his family until it was sold to Stephen Proctor, and sometime between 1598 and 1604 he built the Elizabethan mansion Fountains Hall. It was built partly from stone from the Abbey ruins.

The Studley Royal Estate which was once separate land up until 1767, was inherited by John Aislabie in 1693, following his expulsion from parliament in 1721 up until his death in 1742, he devoted his time to the creation of the Water Garden. His transformation of the gardens was completed by his son William who had purchased the Abbey ruins in 1767, and he continued to landscape the grounds.

The house passed on through different owners until it was brought by the City Council in 1966, and the National Trust took over ownership in 1983. It is now a visitors attraction.

The Abbey ruins is said to have a few strange occurrences and ghost one being the sound of a choir chanting, and the nearby hall is said to be home to a blue ghost said to be Stephen Proctors daughter, and an Elizabethan man who is seen emerging from the walls.