Fountains to , near

Introduction Map This walk links two important medieval sites near Ripon in North – and Markenfield Hall. In OS Explorer 298: monastic times their lands adjoined. In the th16 century both sites lost their original owners in the turmoil that followed Henry VIII’s break with Rome. In the 20th century, changes of ownership led to restoration and conservation for them both. Distance/Time For more details about these two sites please consult their official websites nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley- 6.5miles (10.5km). Allow about 3 hours. royal-water-garden and markenfield.com Starting Points

Main walk route • Car park at West Gate of Fountains Abbey, shown at point 1 on the map. Alternative route • From Ripon, walk up Whitcliffe Lane and join 6 the walk at point 6. The 36 bus passes the end P Parking of Whitcliffe Lane and Quarry Moor, where a path takes you to Whitcliffe Lane. 5 8 Points of Interest • Take the 36 bus from Ripon or passing the entrance to Markenfield Hall (Hell 4 7 Wath Lane) and join the route at point 9. Alight at the Hollin Hall bus stop. 1 3 Terrain P RIPON - APPROX 4.5 MILES Mainly field paths and through woods, with 8 2 some gentle climbs. In wet weather, sections of the route are very muddy. All paths used are public rights of way and permissive paths. Dogs 13 on a short lead please. Useful Information

9 The West Gate car park is the only car park 10 on the route. It is free to non-members of the . This car park is designated disabled parking so you are asked to park at the 14 back of the parking area. 12 HARROGATE - APPROX 10 MILES There is a regular bus service (36) from Leeds, Harrogate and Ripon. For timetable go to www. harrogatebus.co.uk/times

11

© Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 100019628 For more free guides of walking and cycling routes in Nidderdale AONB, visit our website at nidderdaleaonb.org.uk The Route The Route continued The Markenfield to Fountains Trail - historical information 1: From the West Gate car park turn to a metal gate. Pass through onto route. In dry weather you can reach 10: Return from the gatehouse to Hill Road. Here you can turn left to climb Introduction century and the Wars of the Roses some of his relatives fled into exile. right uphill, signed “Harrogate”. Turn a track, with a hedge to your right. Markenfield Hall by crossing the wall Hell Wath Lane and turn right, then How Hill for the views, or right to return Fountains Abbey and Markenfield Hall that we again see a close relationship His wife lived on in the service village left at the fork in the road, signed When the hedge ends, bear slightly at a stile on your right leading down to shortly go through the left hand of the along Fountains Lane and the West Gate have a long and interlinked history. between the Markenfields and the and died in poverty. It is the family’s “, Harrogate”. left downhill and cross the field to a a footbridge, over a stream, and uphill 2 metal gates (way-marked) to head car park. Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132, monks of Fountains Abbey. This came decline which we have to thank for the gate into a wood. across an arable field to Markenfield (south) along a grassy track passing and the first reference to Markenfield through the political unity of another remarkably original condition the house 2: Just after the road bends right, Hall. At this point you will have a fine through three fields and crossing two 14: To visit How Hill, the former chapel appears in William the Conqueror’s John de Markenfield and the Fountains and moat remain in today. leave the road through a gate or 4: Go through the gate and follow view of the Hall. At the end of the field, stiles. of St Michael, cross the road and walk Domesday Book. Interaction began early Abbot John Greenwell, in their support over a stile on your left into a field. the track in the wood, passing an old cross a stile into pasture, walk across 75 metres left and take a permissive on in their respective histories, with the for the Lancastrian claim to the English The field entrance is marked with archway in the Abbey Wall on your the field close to the moat, cross a 11: In the third field, follow the track path through a small gate on your Markenfield family making a number of throne. As you walk from the car park along a National Trust sign and bridleway left, originally part of Mackershaw stile to your right over the stone wall between fences, at the end of which right after a small copse. Climb the grants, of both land and money, to the the Abbey wall, you will be treated to signs. The grassy path leads straight Lodge. This is an entrance to Studley and walk across the car park towards bear right and cross the field on an hill bearing right to reach the chapel. Abbey, in return for spiritual rewards, After the end of the Wars of the Roses, splendid views of Fountains Hall. This on with the Abbey wall on your right. deer park – red deer can sometimes be the gatehouse on the right. Turn left obvious path to a stile. Cross the stile From here there are fine views to Ripon throughout the 12th and early 13th however, the two sites again drifted early 17th century Elizabethan country Continue past a pond in the wood to seen grazing here. Continue along this between farm buildings, then right. and turn right up the narrow way- Cathedral, Minster and possibly centuries. For example, Ralph Le Bret apart. In the early sixteenth century house is a Grade 1 listed property. your left. Stop at the telegraph pole for wide track for about 1km and descend DO NOT go into the courtyard through marked track called Strait Lane. This Selby Abbey. It is thought this was a place (Le Bret being an old family name of both had their own issues to overcome. views of Fountains Hall and a small red to a junction of paths. the gatehouse (see point 9). lane is probably very old and is called of pilgrimage in medieval times (because the Markenfield family) gave Fountains The Markenfields had lost favour The hall was built by Sir Stephen Proctor; roofed barn, behind which are a group of a “holloway”. Continue along it for of the views of 3 religious buildings). Abbey 20 acres of land for himself and with the Tudor dynasty after playing the money to build the house came yew trees known as the Seven Sisters and 5: Here the track from Studley Park Alternatively, if the route above is nearly 1km, passing Christmas tree Look also for the Yorkshire Moors and his family to become ‘sharers in the a part in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a by marriage and some of the stone to said to have been planted by the monks. and comes up from muddy, continue along the track plantations on both sides, to emerge the White Horse to the NW. Return to brotherhood of the church of Fountains rebellion against the dissolution of construct the Hall came from the nearby The wall is said to be the largest remaining the left. Go straight on, following the following the old park wall on your into a field through a small gate. How Hill Road, by walking down hill and the prayers and benefits of the the in 1536. Shortly after Abbey. Proctor even relocated an entire monastic boundary wall in Europe. At two ascending way-marked path to reach right, shortly becoming a newly on the other side, to the left of How Cistercian Order’. Early residents of this Fountains itself became a victim staircase from the Abbey to his new big oak trees, look down at the lumps a gate marked with a Ripon Rowel repaired wall. From here on you will 12: Follow the way-marked path along Hill Cottages, and then right past the Markenfield, gave large tracts of land, of the dissolution when, in 1539, the home. and bumps in the sloping ground which Walk sign. Go through this gate and have occasional views of Markenfield Hall the edge of a field with the hedge on cottages to the road. Turn left and and some money in return for the then Abbot of Fountains, Marmaduke are the remnants of the abbey’s industrial continue straight on, following a line across the fields. Go through a gate your right and views of How Hill to your follow the road back to the car park. Fountains monks saying prayers for Bradley, along with his monks, The hall has had many uses since its area. There is a second pond which may of trees towards a gate. Go through and bear right when the park wall left. At the field end, go through a the family, or, occasionally, interment surrendered the Abbey to Henry VIII’s construction, including stately home, have supplied water or been connected this gate and turn right. moves to your left and follow the track metal gate in the corner into another in the abbey’s burial ground. In 1410 forces. courthouse, estate employee’s lodging with the tanning of leather. Continue past to reach a gate. Go through the gate field with the hedge on your right. Markenfield even provided refuge to the and farmer’s house. Today it is owned 6: th two more ponds, go through the gate You are now on Whitcliffe Lane. and turn right on the tarmac drive. Pass through another metal gate at This walk route has been prepared by ousted Abbot of Fountains Abbey, Roger During the 16 century the Markenfield and managed by the National Trust and and keep to the track, following way- The lane rises and at the top, continue the end, then in the next field go the Historic Parks and Gardens Study Frank. family fell from favour with the royal some rooms are open to the visitors to marks, then turn right through a metal straight on, passing a picnic seat. 9: You are now on Hell Wath Lane (as right across the field, to reach a third Group with support from Nidderdale household after their involvement in a Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The gate and continue straight ahead, signified on the OS map) leading from metal gate. In the next field corner, AONB and in collaboration with the In the period after 1230 dealings series of rebellions. After the Pilgrimage rest is still tenanted being holiday flats keeping the farm-house on your left. 7: Cross a cattle grid at Bland Close, the A61 to Markenfield Hall. Walk take the gap in the hedge to the National Trust and the owners and between Fountains and Markenfield of Grace, the Markenfield family were and staff accommodation. The track swings left over the stone bear right and continue keeping the up the drive to the farm buildings, left of a wooden gate to walk along Friends of Markenfield Hall. took on a more practical, business-like lucky to escape the severe punishment bridge toward the farm. hedge on your right to reach a stile and where it turns right to the hall a permissive path with the hedge tone. Most records we have relate to meted out to their contemporaries. Fountains Abbey and gate. Cross the stile and continue entrance you may follow it up to on your right to a metal gate onto transactions of land for money. There However, during the reign of Elizabeth The Abbey itself was founded in 1132, 3: This is Hill House Farm. Go through straight on along the way-marked the moat and gatehouse. Here you Whitcliffe Lane. As you walk across was also some exchanging of supplies. I, in 1569 after the family’s second by thirteen monks who had left the a metal gate at the other side of the track across two fields. can admire views of the Hall and these fields you have views of Morcar Around 1314, John de Markenfield rebellion against the new religion, the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary’s in York, bridge. Follow the way-marks to turn courtyard. Here you can admire views of House to the left and How Hill now ahead. oversaw the construction of a lead Markenfields were not forgiven. Owing to live a simpler life in the way of the 8: Soon after, the track is joined from right in front of a large barn, then left the Hall and courtyard. Please respect the conduit built to convey water from to the part Sir Thomas Markenfield fast growing Cistercian order. the right by the old deer park wall Markenfield following a FP sign, and right in front privacy of the residents and DO NOT go 13: Turn left onto Whitcliffe Lane, the well-head on monastic land to played in the Rising of the North his of Markenfield, you have a choice of Hall Continued over .... of more cattle sheds with an FP sign, into the courtyard. following it to the T-junction with How Markenfield. It is not until the th15 lands were confiscated, and he and The Markenfield to Fountains Trail - historical information continued The Abbey The Abbey Wall and Mackershaw After the Markenfields’ lands were The purpose of the chapel is unclear. expanded quickly throughout the 12th Lodge confiscated they were awarded to Was it for celebrations, the reception of and 13th centuries, amassing huge The Abbey wall dates back to the Laurence Meres MP. Later they passed pilgrims or to provide for the spiritual tracts of land from the to construction of the Abbey itself in the to the family of Sir Henry Gates MP needs of the inhabitants of the Vill or the North Sea. The Abbey, the ruins 12th century. The wall originally stood whose daughter married a member of the servants at the granges of Morker of which we see today, was built in at eleven foot or three to four metres the Egerton family. Later it was let out and Haddockstones? It was probably the 12th century after the previous high. Allowing for the lower average as a tenanted farm house. This situation restored by Abbott Huby and sold after buildings had been burnt down as the height of people who existed at the continued until at least 1761, when the the dissolution. result of an external dispute concerning time of its construction the wall would hall was bought by Fletcher Norton, the archbishopric. Fountains Abbey have stood at roughly double the height later ennobled as Lord Grantley, the The site was bequeathed to John became a large and important abbey in of most people. The wall, therefore, direct descendant of the Sir Richard Aislabie in 1716 by the Rev Robert . However, it was not immune gave the Abbey an immediate sense of Norton, uncle of the last Sir Thomas Weelks, rector of Goldsborough, in to changes throughout the 14th century importance and power in the eyes of Markenfield. For the Grantley family exchange for providing a dowry for his and went into decline. In addition, the the surrounding populations. Markenfield remained as a tenanted daughter and settling his debts. community of monks had been affected farmhouse as part of it is today. In the externally by the Black Death arriving Set into the wall part way round this 1980s restoration began in earnest The tower was erected by in England in 1348. Furthermore, by walk is an archway. This is an entrance on the mediaeval hall and it is now in 1718 who used it as a banqueting this time in English history, monasteries to the Abbey grounds, but also existed occupied by a descendant of the family. house and a prominent feature of his were beginning to be seen as outdated to provide access to Mackershaw Lodge. garden design. institutions and people were beginning Mackershaw Lodge was used both as an The reason why Markenfield remains so to look elsewhere, often to their parish estate worker’s house, and gatehouse close to its original design of the 1300s church for spiritual benefits, as opposed throughout the 19th and early 20th is because, unlike other large manor to the monasteries. This is illustrated by centuries. houses, there was no ambitious owner to “improve” the house, or, as often the behaviour of the Markenfields who In the 20th century Markenfield Hall Markenfield Hall happened, knock it down and construct no longer made donations for spiritual and Fountains Abbey have undergone Markenfield Hall is a beautiful, and a large country house or stately home rewards. programmes of restoration and extremely rare, fortified mediaeval in its place. This was the fate of most conservation. has given Fountains Abbey did experience . The owner of the hall manor houses in England dating from a Grade 1 listing to Markenfield Hall. In some revival in the late 15th and early received a licence to crenellate in 1310. the 14th century, making Markenfield 1986, the Fountains Abbey and Studley 16th centuries, when its community The Markenfields were a prominent Hall one of only a handful of such Royal estate was recognised as a World grew from just thirty three monks to and important family in the Northern houses which still exist. Heritage Site. around eighty, reaching somewhat nobility, and had close relations with the near its pre-plague level. However, this Percy family, the most important noble How Hill – Chapel of St Michael the resurgence was swiftly ended during the family in the north of England. Archangel reign of Henry VIII, when the Abbot of According to Walbran the earliest th Fountains surrendered the Abbey at the However during the 16 century the mention of a chapel is 1346. A dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. family fell from favour with the royal document of that date grants 100 days household after their involvement in a indulgences to anyone leaving gifts for series of rebellions. the maintenance of the chapel.